DON'T BLAME ALL RAVERS FOR THE ACTIONS OF A FEW

Dear Editor,

I read your editorial comment, Event caused much damage (The Banner, July
15) and was completely shocked.

While I cannot apologize enough for the incidents that occurred over the
weekend, I can assure you rave-goers do not inject drugs with needles,
which your your comment seems too imply: "garbage -- including, residents
say, needles -- strewn around the area."

Your comment alone has done more damage too our youth than you can imagine.
Not only are the residents of Orangeville upset with the fact that a few
incidents occurred over the weekend at an event of over 5,000 people, but
now they think that these youth are injecting illegal narcotics. I am not
excusing, nor saying the behaviour of a very small percentage of the
attendees is right. But publishing this information is absurd.

Have you ever considered that these were needles from, say, insulin
injections? Diabetes is a very real problem. How about posting some good
things about this event, like how much money it brought to the local economy.

This event was cleared through the Town of Mono. What did the town think,
there would be no loud music during a three-day electronic music festival?

Please don't give the rest of us a bad name, for the actions of a few people.

James Maddeaux,

The Bassline Cartel