Editor's note: The Times received many letters concerning the City
Council resolution including language about discussing legalization
of drugs. Some of these were written before the resolution veto was upheld.

BRAVO, BRAVO, BETO O'ROURKE

It amazes me that so many people in El Paso have reacted so
negatively to the progressive, insightful resolution set forth
unanimously by the governing body of the city to encourage an active,
healthy dialogue about the merits (or lack thereof) of the current
war on drugs and the possibility of legalizing narcotics as a way of
combating the terror plaguing Mexico.

It is preposterous to think that City Council is really a disguised
special-interest lobby working on the behalf of the drug cartels in Mexico.

"This action makes me wonder whose payroll they are on. Perhaps one
of the Juarez cartels?" (Sunday letters to the editor).

These sensational, loaded statements should be left to far-right-wing
conspiracy theorists and have no place in a respectable publication or debate.

Rep. O'Rourke did a very commendable and courageous thing in
rekindling the debate over the legalization of narcotics.

It is unfortunate, however, that this progress was seemingly offset
by the many people in El Paso who seem to be chained to conventional,
archaic ideologies of morality and propriety.

Jonathan Ayala

East El Paso