Broadcasting 7 days a week, from the Gulag City of Planet Earth, I am the host of Cultural Baggage and the 4:20 Drug War NEWS. These programs air each week on KPFT, Houston at 90.1 FM, on the Sirius Satellite Network, on FM frequencies in 6 other states and one in British Colombia, Canada. My goal is to expose the "Unvarnished Truth" about the drug war. The war of terror is really just the war on drugs, with afterburners. The mechanism of demonizing those who might have chemical weapons has been used for a century in America to go after mostly men of color, with drug concoctions considered so dangerous as to be a threat to the continuation of our society. [continues 1314 words]
Re: "Boat with drug cache seized in Persian Gulf Officials link cargo of 3,780 pounds of hashish to al-Qaeda," Saturday news story. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, much of the steel for the bombs came from the United States. Only with the beginning of war did U.S. mills stop providing cheap steel for Japanese tools of destruction. There were great lamentations about U.S. government encouragement of this trade. Sixty years later, we have again empowered our enemies. [continues 102 words]
The loss of task force funds to the law enforcement community must surely create a great deal of fear in economic times like these (The Daily News, June 18). The drug war is a cash cow, a means whereby rights are often short-circuited, where drugs are sometimes planted or stolen and all too often, lives destroyed over minor amounts of drugs. Informants, undercover officers and district attorneys try their best to look tough on crime so as to continue to reap the rewards of the "easy pickings" of arresting drug users. [continues 98 words]
I use MAP each week to prepare my radio shows for Pacifica Radio. I use MAP to source data for writing LTE's and letters to my elected officials. I recommend MAP to my audiences on the air, at speeches I give and in every handout I prepare. MAP is our WMD. Our Weapon of Mass Dissemination. (I only hope we don't need to accumulate another 100,000 documents to end this asinine drug war.) THANKS to Mark, Richard, Jo-D, Matt, and all my friends out there who make such a difference. Dean Becker for 4:20 Drug War News & Cultural Baggage - The Unvarnished Truth [end]
Dean Becker guest columnist Like a baby who feels safe and hidden from the world if his face is covered, perhaps Sara Follin seeks to gain comfort in hiding from U.S. drug policies. After reviewing her column ("Drugs impair your education," Opinion, Feb. 28), I realized that her initial look at these drug laws shows strong awareness of their inadequacies. Her take on the USA Patriot Act considers the violation of centuries-old civil rights sought with this act. Most striking is her take on the Higher Education Act, which forbids student loans to be given to anyone caught smoking a joint but still allows murderers, rapists and child molesters to tap the government till. [continues 364 words]
Drugs are more available, more pure and less expensive than ever before. The trillion dollars spent on prohibition has been of great benefit - for the drug cartels. On Dec. 13, the outgoing chair of the United States Government Reform Committee, Dan Burton, stated: "Don't just talk about killing people like Pablo Escobar, who is going to be replaced. What would happen if we started addressing how to get the profit out of drugs?" In 1995, former CIA Director William Colby stated: "The Latin American drug cartels have stretched their tentacles much deeper into our lives than most people believe. It's possible they are calling the shots at all levels of government." [continues 54 words]
I appreciated the Chronicle's excellent Dec. 15 article about the "drug war" ("War on drugs nets small-time offenders / District attorney hears from black leaders / More than 75 percent of cases involve tiny amounts"). I have written many times with my concerns about these practises that have run amok, so it was wonderful to read your bold words saying many of the same things. Please accept my heartiest congratulations for your recording of the truth. Dean Becker Houston [end]
Your Aug. 1 editorial is sub-headed, "Substance abuse endangers many." I agree, but drug prohibition itself is responsible for daily neighborhood shootouts, dangerous concoctions, police corruption and disdain for the law. The editor wants a guarantee that the side effects of control and regulation would not harm more than just users. Americans want guarantees for every waking moment. We are the most litigious, incarcerating society on earth. We portend to be the world's moral leader; it's our way or the highway. Those who embrace prohibition say it's their moral imperative to lock up those who refuse to embrace their idea of a perfect society. [continues 198 words]
Editor, The News: I too am appalled by society's acceptance of drug-related crime, as outlined by letter writer Erika Leclair ('Not tolerant of drug abuse,' Viewpoint, Feb. 21). Leclair was assaulted and she is right to call it a ridiculous paradox. To my eyes, the paradox exists because of the decades-old superstitions and moral posturing that have defined the drug war. In a world where these currently illegal drugs could be made available for adult use under strictly controlled and regulated means, assaults for drug money will become a rarity. [continues 405 words]
The war on marijuana goes back to 1914 when El Paso passed an ordinance allowing police to arrest any Mexican by saying they had marijuana in their pockets. The "reefer madness" that swept across the country owes its existence to Henry Anslinger, the first drug czar, who used the testimony of a veterinarian appearing before congress to say that marijuana was dangerous. Stephen Hale, a fair and experienced, former prosecutor is running for district attorney of Galveston. Hale thinks these lies have gone on for far too long. Hale thinks we should not prosecute misdemeanor marijuana cases, saying, "we're not the Taliban. Our country is supposed to be a country of tolerance, not intolerance." Hale will visit the New York Times Drug Policy Forum at www.nytimes.com, March 5 at 7 p.m. central. His thoughts will join those of prior guests like Gov. Gary Johnson, Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman and dozens of others. Dean Becker Houston [end]
Washington spent $3.2 million for commercials during the Super Bowl. These ads "suggest illegal drug sale profits may help fuel terrorism." Certainly it's true in part; everybody knows millions of dollars leave our shores each year on their way to dictators, drug lords and criminals of every variety. What our government does not address is the 1.2 million non-violent drug users who are already terrorized each year by those riding this eternal gravy train. The terror may include death, arrest, prison, loss of children and possessions. [continues 71 words]
Drug prohibition instigates evil worldwide. Prohibition takes something of minimal value and changes it into something of immense value. In the effort to grow, process, ship and sell drugs, many criminals join in this financial feast. Evil is hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths from AIDS. Wicked is 1.6 million non-violent drug users arrested each year. Mean is $100 billion meant for education used, rather, for the prison-industrial complex. But the greatest evil of drug prohibition is the collusion of our government. Dean Becker, Houston [end]
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the steel for the bombs came from the United States. Only with the beginning of war did US mills stop providing cheap steel for Japanese tools of destruction. There were great lamentations about US government encouragement of this trade. Sixty years later, we have again empowered our enemies. Following the recent suicide bombings, House Speaker Dennis Hastert formed a task force to combat drug trafficking, which he called "the financial engine that drives many terrorist organizations." Rather than ending the 87-year-old drug prohibition, (which would leave our enemy with a worthless stockpile of vegetables,) the efforts of the task force have already managed to raise the price of drugs, to further empower our enemy. Sixty years ago, liberty was assured by the acumen of our great leaders. Our current leadership remains steadfast in their desire to fill the pocketbooks of criminals, drug lords and our terrorist enemies. Dean Becker Houston, TX [end]
Dear Editor, Like the frog dropped into a pan of cool water, we are content with the mechanism of the "drug war". Yet, like the frog that never realises the fire has been lit, we seem unable to realise our predicament. We jumped into this drug war, we have lit the fire by providing millions of dollars for interdiction, prisons, police and informants. If we pay attention, we can see there is also a relevant body count to our drug war. People whom we should care about are dying because of drug prohibition. [continues 148 words]
For nearly 500 years, colonialist powers like England, Spain and later the US made it their business to impose their will on lesser countries, to force new religions and morals on all the "heathen cultures" of this earth. In the process, they vilified and demonised the use of such drugs as marijuana, coca and opium which previously had been a recognised part of many religions, many cultures for thousands of years. In the early 20th century, corporate heads foresaw gleaming profits in prohibiting the use of certain plants. They claimed that Chinamen on opium were a threat to a decent society, that Mexicans and blacks would rape white women after smoking marijuana, that prison or death were too good for users and that the religious underpinnings of these drugs were sacrilegious and evil. [continues 342 words]
THE EDITOR, Sir: THE REV. Carmen Stewart has urged Christians not to support the recommendations or any moves to decriminalise marijuana usage. The district elder said decriminalising it would only be to the detriment of local society. (By agreeing), "we are saying that we are giving justification to criminals". I would say that by agreeing to continue as before we are giving justification to criminals that benefit from the drug war. How many lives need to be destroyed by the drug laws for such 'Christians' to be happy. Who has ever died or destroyed for the herb? Only criminals and those caught in their crossfire. Would Jesus, the Son of God, send a man to prison for smoking a herb designed by God the Father? Hypocrites! I am etc., DEAN BECKER Houston, Texas [end]
Dear Editor, Thomas Jefferson grew thousands of opium poppies beside his Monticello home. If he lived in today's America, we would be compelled to arrest him as a drug lord. Jefferson's friend, Ben Franklin, was known to use opium for his ailments, as did many Americans. Throughout the millennia, people on every continent have used what are now termed "illicit" drugs. Until 1914, all such drugs were legal. It was only with the advent of multi-national corporations and their influence on politicians that drug laws were crafted. [continues 69 words]
For nearly 500 years, colonialist powers like England, Spain and later the United States, made it their business to impose their will on lesser countries, to force new religions and morals on all the "heathen cultures" of this earth. In the process, they vilified and demonized the use of such drugs as marijuana, coca and opium which previously had been a recognized part of many religions, many cultures for thousands of years. In the early 20th century, corporate heads foresaw gleaming profits in prohibiting the use of certain plants. They claimed that Chinamen on opium were a threat to a decent society, that Mexicans and Blacks would rape white women after smoking marijuana, that prison or death were too good for users and that the religious underpinnings of these drugs were sacrilegious and evil. [continues 348 words]
THE EDITOR, Sir: WHERE IS reason? I read the news from Jamaica and it grieves me to see the continued violence. Much like my hometown of Houston, Texas, your war is my war is the drug war. Much of the destruction inflicted on both societies is the result of drug prohibition. Like Jamaica, we have suffered with the deaths of many policemen, overdose deaths of children and a general disdain for the rule of law. Again, the reason is prohibition. We must realise the truth, this war that now approaches 88 years of existence is unwinnable. The war against alcohol was fought and lost in just over a decade. The drug war 'powers that be', the politicians, the task forces and the agencies, the prison builders and the weapons makers; literally millions of 'drug warriors' work very hard to make sure drug prohibition lasts forever. The perpetual drug war will end when Jamaicans, when Texans, when rational people everywhere say: "No More!" I am etc., DEAN BECKER, Houston,Texas Via Go-Jamaica [end]
On May 21, 2 drug peddlers were killed, another wounded in Houston over 45 pounds of low grade Mexican pot. The dead peddlers left 3 children without fathers. Tuesday, 2 cops are killed in Houston, another is critically injured by gunfire. The reason? Drugs. In the morning, a sheriffs deputy is shot in the head by a "gang banger" who wanted to escape 2 to 5 years of incarceration. Because of prior scrapes with the law, the small amount of drugs he had in his pocket would have earned a mandatory sentence. (2 more fatherless children.) [continues 167 words]
Last week, on Monday, two drug peddlers were killed and another wounded in Houston over 45 pounds of low-grade Mexican pot. In a world where marijuana is legal, this amount of pot would have minimal value and there would be no reason for these murders. The dead peddlers left three children without fathers. The next day, two cops are killed in Houston, another is critically injured by gunfire. The reason? Drugs. Without our Draconian drug laws, the drugs these men had in their possession would be worth pennies and the "fight or flight" reaction of these killers would not have been triggered. It is time to end the drug war. [end]
In Houston during recent weeks, two men suspected of peddling drugs were killed and another was wounded over 45 pounds of low-grade marijuana. In a world where it was legal, this amount of pot would have very little value and there would be no reason for these deaths or for the three children to be left without fathers. Last week, two policemen were killed and another critically injured by gunfire over drugs. During the same week, a sheriff's deputy was shot by a man who, because of his prior scrapes with the law, would have earned a mandatory sentence. Another two children left fatherless. Another Houston police officer was shot last week and his partner is in intensive care from a gunshot wound by a drug dealer who wanted to escape incarceration. [continues 96 words]
