METAPHORICAL WAR ON DRUGS CANNOT BE WON

I'm writing about Robert Sharpe's thoughtful letter ("Decriminalizing
marijuana would save public resources" AC-T, Dec. 26). The war on
drugs is just a metaphor. A metaphor that has transformed the United
States into the most incarcerated nation in the history of human
civilization.

The war on drugs metaphor was created by the Nixon Administration to
go after African Americans without appearing to do so, according to
the diary of H. R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff. Based upon its
original goals, the war on drugs has been a tremendous success. Real
wars are fought against other nations with armies, navies and air
forces. Metaphorical wars cannot be won. Who is going to surrender and
sign the peace treaty?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.