Letters To The Editor

GLORIFYING THE LIFE OF A DRUG ADDICT

I AM NOT a regular reader of The Roanoke Times (nor do I plan to be
one). The word "tasteless" isn't strong enough to describe your April
4 news article "A 'mystical' life remembered." The mystical life in
question was a drug addict who slashed his wrists in the Roanoke
jail, not the mystical life remembered on Easter Sunday by most Christians.

I won't speculate on whatever passes for celebrity status in Roanoke,
but surely this man's death rates only a few lines at best. I am
offended by the reporter's sly defense of Mr. "Starsparks'" promotion
of illegal drug use for "religious purposes." Your reporter also
characterized drug laws as "stringent" as well as drug use being victimless.

How are we going to convince our kids to stay off drugs when The
Roanoke Times eulogizes people like Steven Brick and refers to
drugged-out old hippies as the "alternative crowd?" If anything, his
passing is a sad commentary on a life that could have been productive
but was terribly wasted.

J.J. White
Raphine