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 - --- MAP posted-by: Beth