Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2003
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2003 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Dollie I. Boyd

WHAT ABOUT WAR ON DRUGS?

What troubles me most about President Bush's fierce determination to
go to war with Iraq is his failure to complete missions in other key
areas. No, I'm not referring to Afghanistan or Osama bin Laden, but
the war against drugs being fought on our own home front everyday. Now
here's a war that's been allowed to continue under our very noses 24
hours a day seven days a week.

And guess what? We're losing it!

Drugs are a deadly enemy that we've failed to stop from invading our
country despite the fact that it has long been responsible for much of
the crime. Our streets are a war zone riddled with violence and
destruction, where many people are being ambushed every day into using
drugs, selling drugs or committing drug-related travesties.

Crack babies emerge from the womb crippled with the disease of this
horrible war. Schools face massive confrontation by this staunch
opponent, and families are being torn apart in the conflict.

The effects of drug abuse wreak havoc of unimaginable proportions on
the minds and bodies of the victims who have fallen prey to its
sabotage. Its explosive presence has snuffed out the lives of
countless Americans, many of whom suffered slow deaths.

Talk about the ravages of war! If a mere fraction of the billions
being spent to thwart a "possible threat" overseas could be allotted
to battle the raging reality on our own doorsteps, perhaps we'd have a
fighting chance.

Dollie I. Boyd, Loop
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake