Pubdate: Fri, 03 Jun 2005
Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA)
Copyright: 2005 New England Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/897
Author: Tyrone  Ward
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

MISGUIDED CITIZENS

To the Editor of THE EAGLE:

For years the local media have reported on juvenile lawbreakers in Great 
Barrington. The reports have been a wake-up call to every responsible Great 
Barrington parent. It appears that parents and supporters of the drug 
dealers, now organized as "Concerned Citizens," missed or ignored the call. 
Drug dealers use students to sell addiction to their acquaintances and 
underclassmates, using peer pressure. They choose to ruin the lives of 
school  kids and others in order to support their personal lifestyle rather 
than work an honest job. The occurrence of crime mushrooms as drug users 
rob and steal to pay  the dealers.

These damnable people know that addiction is sometimes permanent, fatal and 
that it puts more money in their pockets. Some persons are tormented by 
desire for drugs until they overdose and die. A great jazz trumpet man and 
addict, Charlie Parker, stated, "One can get drugs out of their body but 
can't get drugs  out of the mind." Countless other wonderful people have 
overdosed and died.  Still with us are despicable drug pushers.

And the "saddened and appalled" parents and supporters of the alleged drug 
dealers of Great Barrington present themselves as "Concerned Citizens" when 
there has been trouble in Barrington for years. Where were the "Concerned 
Citizens" these prior years? The greatest coincidence - they just 
became  motivated and issue-oriented upon the booking of their children. 
These "saddened appalled citizens" have 2,000 signatures of support. They 
then presume the right to snap at the heels of our D.A. and persist that 
the law be bent to accommodate their children.

The group should jack up its perception of parental responsibility, values 
and justice, and get supporting signatures from persons and families whose 
lives  have been ripped apart by drugs; bring them to our D.A.! The 
enforcement organization which took the step to protect our students from 
this predatory behavior has my greatest appreciation and respect, as does 
District Attorney Capeless, and Vice Principal Howard Trombley at Monument 
Mountain Regional High School. Years of reports of violence suggest that 
perhaps some authorities such as probation officers have been so lenient 
that some young people don't understand there is consequence for violating 
civil and criminal law. If so, the authorities are equally to blame.

Tyrone Ward

Pittsfield
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