DON'T BELIEVE 4/20 RHETORIC

As a student at CU, I must comment on the supposed "4/20 Riot" that was
exposed in Monday's paper. I don't know who Dan Enfield has been talking to,
but the silent masses of CU students who represent the real opinion of our
beloved campus believe 4/20 is a day to congregate in a peaceful gathering
to celebrate Mother Earth's wonderful gift of marijuana. The tradition of
4/20 has been around since the 70's and it has been a day for stoners to
assemble to share ideas, experiences, and have a good time. It evolved from
a phrase meaning "a time to smoke pot" but it is far from just a day to
smoke, as we could smoke any other day of the year.

People that plan on gathering on 4/20 never had any intent to riot in
protest of the supposed "crackdown". In fact, the purpose of the gathering
is to maintain the peaceful and united presence of our community. The
celebrations by the students at CU Boulder are not unlike those on any other
college campus throughout the country. To add the holiday 4/20 to the "link
of an unending chain of controversy at CU" would be a mistake because as it
has been happening for years, even before all the controversy that currently
burdens our school. It cannot go unnoticed that alcohol (a legal substance)
has played a negative role in parties and caused riots whereas marijuana is
never linked to a death or destructive activity.

Don't you think for CU to rid itself from its bad rap that it ought to
recognize the peaceful intentions of 4/20? Dan Enfield, I promise if you
pull up a lawn chair and look around, all you'll see is hugs (especially
with trees), smiles, red-eyes, and not flaming, overturned cars.

Steve Roth

Boulder