Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 Source: Manchester Times (TN) Copyright: Manchester Times 2004 Contact: http://www.manchestertimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1863 IN THE WAKE OF BONNAROO Another Bonnaroo has come and gone. For the most part, fans of the music festival were polite and respectful and most had a wonderful time. Tragically, the abuse of drugs and alcohol has taken the lives of two young out-of-towners, robbing them of all life had in store, leaving their parents to mourn bitterly for their return. One father's memory of Manchester will forever be, "that's where I came to identify my 22-year-old daughter, who died from a drug overdose at Bonnaroo." The greatness of the event has been dampened by the sadness that lingers over it like a dark cloud, robbing the joy that should have accompanied such a defining moment in history. Whatever happened to good, clean fun? Is it necessary to get totally smashed out of our minds to enjoy anything? How can we make memories when we don't remember what we did? The young Bonnarites, whose lives had just begun, chose to get high rather than face life's realities. It was not enough that they were attending the greatest music festival in America. Why cloud such a real experience with the haze of drugs? Regretfully, when drug pushers entice young folks into thinking they can escape reality, they aren't kidding. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh