COUNTRIES, LIKE PEOPLE, CAN BE ABUSIVE

David Murray, special assistant in the U.S. Office of National Drug Control
Policy, is warning that if Canada decriminalizes marijuana "the existing
harmony between the two countries will be ruptured" (Canada's drug policy
draws U.S. warning, May 2).

Does this sound familiar? Last month, we were being threatened because we
chose not to participate in a war that had not been sanctioned by the
United Nations. This month our "friends" are threatening a rupture in
relations between Canada and the U.S. if we adopt a drug policy with which
they do not agree.

When one party controls a relationship by threats and intimidation, this is
not a friendship. I have worked for many years with men who threatened,
intimidated, violated and controlled their female partners. This behaviour
is abuse. It is no less so when the two parties in the relationship are
countries.

Jan Robson

Burnaby