THREE MORE TALES FROM THE FRONT IN THE U.S. DRUG WAR

First, let me say I'm not writing any more articles about the drug war. Ten
years is enough!

And I must admit my writings have not changed things one iota. I am coming
to believe that no one can end the drug war.

Like 70-year locusts (alcohol prohibition in the "Roaring 20s" to drug
prohibition in the "Shooting 90s"), the drug war just has to run its course
and die a natural death.

I wouldn't even scribble this note but for the mother who called my law
office today demanding justice.

It seems her 14-year-old daughter was pushed around and her 17-year- old
son was rousted by the Cook County Sheriff's police (gang, drug or tactical
force - they're all the same), during a police action in drug-infested Robbins.

The mother's side of the story is that the police mistook her son for a
drug dealer from the white-powdered streets near her house.

Even if this mother's statement of facts is correct, there is no remedy. I
explained, "It's just life in a drug-war society. There is no Bill of
Rights. There is no justice. There is no fairness. There is no reason.
That's just the way it is. Call the newspapers - tell them, not me, "I advised.

No sooner had I gotten rid of her and another mother calls me. A local
attorney referred her the night before. It seems her son is a School
District 230 high school student who is accused of smoking marijuana or
possessing drug paraphernalia (a pipe suitable for smoking cannabis).

I tell her I cannot attend the hearing because I have a conflict. And no,
the hearing cannot be rescheduled. Moreover, drug-war hearings have only
one conclusion - expulsion. Flush the kids down the zero- tolerance toilet.

Distraught mother number two told me that another sophomore student who was
on the honor roll and excelled in sports was expelled a year ago under
similar circumstances (violation of some tenet of marijuana prohibition
infractius). The straight-A student was flushed, so what can a mother of a
below-average sophomore expect, with or without Clarence Darrow?

Suggesting a pro se plea that this anguished mother might ply to school
officials, I summarized my school discipline philosophy for her: When a
student does something wrong, you don't prevent the kid from doing what he
or she is supposed to do; the student does what he or she is supposed to do
plus something constructive and not otherwise required.

Of course, that and Ghengis Khan will get you a cup of coffee at any school
board drug hearing.

Before I forget this morning's vow not to write about this stuff, I think
I'll call Mayor Richard M. Daley and report that Chicago's drug war is not
yet won either.

Why? Because in a third call this morning, a client tells me she refuses to
close on her real estate purchase contract because her new neighbors are
openly selling drugs in front of the South Side home she contracted to buy.
The term "neighbors" as used here is a prohibition euphemism for drug
dealers. And conversely, drug dealers are neighbors.

"They're so brazen. As I parked my car in front of my house-to-be, they
were exchanging drugs for money over the front fender of my car in broad
daylight," she said.

"Report them to the police," I implored.

"That's easy for you to say," she replied.

"I'll report them for you," I volunteered. "Or if you want, I'll march in
front of your house with you - if you're willing to carry signs that call
for an end to the drug war."

"No, I'm afraid," she exclaimed.

"Well, I'm not sure that drug-dealing in proxsimitus is a legal excuse for
refusing to close the sale," I cautioned as I adjusted my legal hat.

"Better to lose my earnest money than my life," she replied.

She's got some jurisprudence there.

James E. Gierach
Oak Lawn