AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR

To the editor:

The Progressive has always been proud of its consistent antiwar
stance, which caused me to wonder why, as I read the August issue, you
neglected to include any articles that address America's longest war:
the ninety year old "war on drugs." Particularly during the past
fifteen years, those conducting this war--waged only against certain
kinds of drugs have violated just about every principle for which
progressives stand.

Government officials routinely lie about alternatives, our civil
liberties have been trampled on, and many outcomes of this war are the
most racist since slavery, At the present time in this country, it's
political suicide to even suggest a change. The public must be alerted
so that it will mobilize support to approach drug abuse as a medical,
rather than criminal, problem.

FRANCES BURFORD
Houston, TX