PUBLIC CONFESSION FILLED WITH EXCUSES

Re: A personal struggle revealed, May 12.

Despite the fact that Health Minister Smitherman stopped using
illegal drugs in time to be elected to the Ontario government, he
still hasn't taken complete responsibility for his illegal behaviour
of buying and using illegal drugs.

His public confession would have been much more honest and believable
if he had just admitted he broke the law, acted in a self-destructive
manner and then described how he got his life back on track.

Instead, his public confession is littered with justifications and
excuses. He didn't use drugs that were "injected." Does that make it
less illegal and immoral?

We all have tragedies and sorrows in our lives, yet don't end up
committing illegal acts. How sad that he brought into his public
confession "the passing of my dad," which brings disrespect to his
father by linking his decision to use party drugs to his father's
stroke. He even draws in his grandfathers as more rationale for his
own poor choices Gamblers, both of them. Maybe it's in my genes.

There is no direct relationship between any of these life events or
ancestral traits and the use of illegal drugs.

Every personal event he brings into the story sounds like he
continues to justify and excuse his illegal actions and behaviour.

Given all that, accepting the post of minister of health for Ontario
was yet another poor decision on his part. That post requires someone
of integrity and honesty. His blaming, rationalizing, excusing and
justifying his illegal behaviour doesn't cut it. Resigning as
minister of health would be a better choice.

Carolyn V. Forbes

Burlington