IT'S THE SQUEAKY GATE THAT NEED THE OIL!

TOM PARSONS' self-righteous letter (CT, May 17) regarding the "choice"
made by those who fall into the trap of addictive drugs surprised and
saddened me.

To distinguish between those who choose to suffer and those who do not
(implicitly labelling people "deserving" or "undeserving") is to
forget our humanity.

There is nothing noble about a society that ignores the pain and
suffering of any particular group of people.

Many Australians endanger their health through a lifetime of poor
eating habits, inadequate exercise, smoking and excessive consumption
of alcohol. These people all "choose" to live in an unhealthy way: do
they therefore also "choose" to develop cancer, heart disease and the
range of other illnesses that are often directly attributable to an
unhealthy lifestyle? Should we therefore refuse to help them, on the
grounds that they have made their choices and must live (or die) with
them?

I hope that we are still a generous society, prepared to care for all
those who are suffering, regardless of the mistakes they may have made.

In answer to Mr Parsons, it is the squeaky gate that gets the oil
because it is the squeaky gate that needs it most.

KATHRYN KERR
Cook