PRIVATE HIGHS

I just wanted to say, in response to Jamie Pietras's question, "But
can a six-year-old differentiate how something could be against the
law yet morally justifiable?" ["It's Just a Book," February 28,
villagevoice.com], that absolutely one can. I grew up in a dry county
in Alabama; my father worked outside the county and would sometimes
bring home a little beer, or bourbon, or gin (all of which I was
allowed to have in small amounts when I was even younger than six). I
don't remember what my parents said to me about it, but I understood
from the time I was a small child that just because something is
against the law doesn't mean it's bad or immoral, that the relevant
question is, does it hurt anyone else? and if not then it is no one's
business and it's a stupid law. As a result, I had no qualms about
trying pot (and a number of other things) when I was older, and if I
had had children I would have taught them to ignore stupid laws, that
the government doesn't have the right to control our private lives.

Linda W. Hegenbarth,

San Francisco, California