SHOW COMPASSION FOR DRUG ABUSERS

My heart goes out to the governor's daughter and her own private hell. I
empathize with her for I, too, was a substance abuser more than two decades
ago.

But Noelle Bush is lucky. She is the governor's daughter and the
president's niece. Noelle won't have to live by the same rules the rest of
us do. She won't be abused by the drug war system her father and uncle
helped create.

Currently, the United States holds 25 percent of the world's prisoners, and
the vast majority in jail are just like Noelle, a nonviolent drug offender.
If you are poor or not well-connected, you will be treated much differently
than Noelle.

Noelle is lucky because she will be given the best treatment money and
power can buy. Others in her situation would be sent to jail and abused by
hardened criminals.

I will pray for her recovery. And when she recovers, please beg her father
and uncle to show compassion for others that were in her situation.

Tripp Spring, Indian Harbour Beach