Pubdate: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 Source: Ledger, The (FL) Copyright: 2004 The Ledger Contact: http://www.theledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795 Author: Brigette August Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) PREVENT PAIN OF METH I am a survivor of the "Meth Tour of Polk County." I am going to make a plea to your heart. If you saw the pain and terror in the eyes of a drowning child, would you reach out to save her? Then why are we not reaching out to save the members of our community, someone's child, drowning in addiction. Let me say this to you -that addict is someone's child -- someone's mother, father, brother or sister. If you're selling it, could you do it if you could see firsthand the tears and the pain of their children that are watching what is happening to their parent? If you're a friend leading another astray with the promises of party good time, would you do it if you got to witness the pain and tears your friend cries when alone in the shower? Are you being a good friend then? When you see people acting crazy in the streets, do you stop and laugh? Do you say they're shot out or call them chicken head perhaps? Would you do it if you could see the pain and heartache in the eyes of their families that knew them before methamphetamine. Have a spark of compassion for your neighbor before passing judgment on someone, which is not our job anyhow -that is God's. If this causes even one person to reach out and prevent the pain and terror from the eyes of just one child, like the ones I have had to come and see in the eyes of my own children, then our pain has not been in vain. I urge you to contact MAMA (Mothers Against Meth-Amphetamine) at Leland Ministries in Bartow. Evil only wins when good people do nothing. Brigette August, MAMA Volunteer, Auburndale - --- MAP posted-by: Derek