Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2001 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Michael Bilson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

LET'S WIN THIS TIME

Now that we are in the middle of our "war on terrorism," it is interesting 
to note how successful we have been at America's other wars. The war on 
poverty started in the 1950s. Chicago's homeless shelters are at capacity, 
and they are now turning people away. These are family shelters with young 
children that are homeless in our own community.

Yet, our government gave the Taliban $113 million last year not to grow 
poppy plants to stop opium production. The Taliban: our partners in the war 
on drugs. More than $500 million has been raised for the victims of the 
Sept. 11 attacks. These are people who had high-salary jobs, life insurance 
and death benefits for spouses and children. We have more than 5,000 
homeless children in this country with no source of income or medical 
coverage. Don't they deserve some help from fellow Americans?

And of course, the war on drugs keeps our prisons full with nonviolent 
offenders who are addicts needing treatment, not lockup. Somehow, we have 
the money and resources to pay to keep these nonviolent offenders locked up 
and fed three meals a day, but the innocent, homeless children of America 
have nowhere to turn. No planes are dropping food packages for them. 
America has not been victorious in its war on poverty or drugs. We can only 
hope the result will be different with the war on terrorism.

Michael Bilson, Berwyn
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager