TURNING GOOD KIDS TO BAD?

In the Dec. 7 article "Inmates go to school to warn students about
drinking, drugs," Cathy Gordon points out how alcohol and other drugs
had a negative impact on the lives of these young prisoners. But the
most obvious fact not testified to by any of the inmates or Gordon:
These kids had problems before they got involved in alcohol and other
drugs.

The article seems to say, "We were all good kids until we used alcohol
and other drugs. Now look what these substances have done to us." It
is impossible for an inanimate object to "make" us do anything.

I am utterly disgusted with the media, police, prosecutors, judges,
defense lawyers and social workers who foster a "drugs-made-me-do-it"
excuse in an attempt to drive up the drug crime statistics. Why not
tell the truth: "I was living a life destined for crime and found
myself using alcohol and other drugs in the course of my social decline."

This worn-out excuse for personal choice only clouds the issue of
individual guilt by allowing drug mythology to overshadow their own
responsibility.

What message would these model prisoners communicate if they stood
before the youngsters and said, "I broke the law a lot and I finally
got caught. I was greedy, too lazy to get a job and I have no self
control"?

That would show what the real problem with our society is today: the
demise of personal responsibility and accountability.

Stuart Kocher, Houston

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady