ANTI-DRUG AD UNFAIRLY JUDGES CARING MOTHERS

A new drug-free promotional television ad features a son and his
hard-working mother constantly being attentive to him and on his case about
not using pot/drugs. The end of this commercial shows a happy-go-lucky boy
carrying the groceries for his mom. The last sentence is that he is a good
boy, drug-free because - "she is a good mom." As the mom of a child lost to
drug addiction, I was overcome with disbelief that our government could be
so shallow and short-sighted as to sponsor a campaign that labels moms of
drug-free children as good, leaving the conclusion that moms of addicted
children are bad.

Sometimes we are so quick to judge others and think, "Oh that would never
happen to me."

I was one of those doting parents who as I held my babies tight thought
that I would be a perfect "stay-at-home" mom with ruffled curtains, a
white-picket fence, an oven mitt in one hand and the strong arm of
discipline as the other, and the "evils" of the world would never invade my
space.

We learn the hard way that the pedestal we sometimes place ourselves on can
melt right beneath our feet. To quote Hillary Clinton, "It takes a village
to raise a child." We should be that village through actions, empathy and
humility and not by attaching labels and condemnation.

Sharon Coker

Simpsonville