AMERICA'S DANGEROUS MORAL CRUSADE

Res Gestae

As a writer, I don't only write for myself. My satisfaction is beyond
having written an article and has it published in this column. I write
because I want other people to know my thoughts, my sentiments, my
desires, my philosophy. I write because I want to build
relationships.

Should writing is only meant to my satisfaction, I would not have
ventured into column writing. I would have kept my pieces in my
diaries instead.

But, since writing for me is making relationship, I would be more
interested in knowing that indeed someone reads my articles... my
thoughts. This is the reason that having received a text message or
email to compliment me for or in reaction to certain topic I wrote
gives me a feeling of fulfillment in my writing endeavor. And, I have
that another experience this week.

In response to my column "Not a statement of fact, but a statement of
possibility" last March 20-21 issue of TNT, an American reader, Robert
Sharpe, who is a Policy Analyst, sent me his assessment on the
possible rationale of the US report labeling the Philippines a "drug
smugglers' paradise".

I have to reiterate that though said report would gain this country
the necessary support in its anti-drug campaign, I vehemently condemn
it on the premise that, according to PDEA Chief, Director Anselmo
Avenido, "it was not a statement of fact, but a statement of
possibility."

This country suffers too much political unrest, enough to scare
investors. Putting it another negative label as haven of drug
traffickers would do to our economy more harm than good. I believe,
having well-meaning investors in our country is far more significant
and lasting good effect than any US aid for anti-drug campaign can
make in our economy.

Relative to my personal reaction on that US State report, Mr Sharpe
warns us of the real intention of the United States in giving such
"statements of possibility". Mr Sharpe has this to say:

"xxx before the Philippines imprisons more of its own citizens for
drug offenses in order to please the United States, it should consider
the experience of the former land of the free and current record
holder in citizens incarcerated. Here in the United States, police
searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools, and random
drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties, while failing
miserably at preventing drug use.

The drug war is in large part a war on marijuana, by far the most
popular illicit drug. The University of Michigan's Monitoring the
Future survey reports that lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the
U.S. than any European country, yet America is one of the few Western
countries that uses its criminal justice system to punish citizens who
prefer marijuana to martinis. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been
shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive
properties of tobacco.

Despite clear evidence that draconian laws fail to deter use [of
marijuana], the U.S. government uses its superpower status to export a
dangerous moral crusade around the globe. The short-term health
effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term
effects of criminal records. Unfortunately, marijuana represents the
counter culture to misguided reactionaries intent on prosecuting their
version of morality. The Philippines should Just Say No to the
American Inquisition."

An American himself encourages us to Just Say No to the American
Inquisition. Then, do we still have to prefer US State Department's
"statement of possibility" over the urgent need of our country to
salvage its economy? If by issuing said reports the US can advance its
moral crusade across the globe, Filipinos must put it a halt with its
own crusade to afloat its economy amid the political turmoil!