STARR'S DRUG FOCUS WAS WRONGHEADED

In a Sunday Forum column, Kenneth W. Starr states "illegal drugs and
the glorification of the drug culture are profoundly serious problems
for our nation."

It is legal for businesses to sell bongs because the intent is to
inhale tobacco smoke. There is no direct reference to the use of
illegal drugs on the banner "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." No matter what
connection Starr made between "bong" and "marijuana," it is not a
legal connection. I think Starr is playing with people's emotions and
social awareness that drugs are bad.

Also, public schools are going too far. These are government-funded
facilities; why do they think that the Bill of Rights does not apply to them?

They may have a mission of education, but shouldn't the more
important mission be that of teaching us our rights as American
citizens? If we are legally obligated to attend school and our rights
are not respected during that time, what kind of message are we
getting about how to handle our opinions?

Is the Bill of Rights just a list that we are to memorize for tests
and that doesn't apply to our everyday lives?

Andrew Cramer, Mount Horeb