Public Forum

THE DRUG WAR BEAST

The war on drugs has dug deeper to the bottom of the barrel. The ad that
leads off the $195 million (five-year, $1 billion)
broadcast-newsprint-billboard bonanza is a pathetic, sick, degenerate piece
dreamt up by the likes of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the Ad
Council, the Office of the National Drug Control Policy, America's drug
czar, president and speaker of the House.

The work of each on this score is an embarrassment to American values and
traditions. Prosecuting authorities should weigh the merit of indicting
those responsible for the drug war, for conspiracy to drive ever more kids
to drugs, gangs, corruption, violence and addiction. Shame on the foolish,
vote-mongering scum that run rampant over the American public and the
nations of the world.

Sometimes it's said that an addict has to hit bottom before there is any
hope of recovery and salvation. Maybe the same is true of government.

I'm tired of trying to make people understand that we must fight drugs with
drugs, like firefighters fight fire with fire. We must take the profit out
of the drug trade and the anti-drug war. To my chagrin, this most recent
anti-drug initiative defies this fundamental.

I hate this blood-letting, miserable, counter-productive, brain-crippling,
misguided, misdirected, ill-conceived, out-of-control drug war beast.

Drugs, drug addiction and death are all made to look good in comparison to
the misery and harm caused by the drug war -- that is to say, more drugs,
addiction and death.

Stop the drug war! Save our kids!

And herewith I violate a fundamental rule -- hold your tongue and withhold
pen from paper until you've cooled off. Forgive me. As with so many others,
the drug war brings out the worst within me.

James E. Gierach Oak Lawn

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)