DARE IS JUST ANOTHER COG IN THE ANTI-DRUG PROPAGANDA MACHINE

I would like to know why people like Dick Mendenhall (Dec. 1 column)
support the D.A.R.E. program so much when he himself said, "I don't know
how many kids pay real attention, genuinely internalize and actually avoid
drugs and violence as a result of hearing the D.A.R.E. message, but it's
certainly better than no message at all." So basically what he is saying is
that it is better to lie to kids than say nothing at all. The fact is
D.A.R.E. does not work; if anything it has been proven to have a negative
long-term effect on kids. You can not lie, try to scare or use 50-year-old
"reefer madness" propaganda on kids today -- they are way too smart. Most
intelligent kids and adults realize that our drug laws cause more harm than
good. Your sheriff himself says that 60-70 percent of the people in jail
are there because of drug-related crimes. And, the majority of those are
not hardened criminals. They are mostly middle-or lower-class youth who
were in the wrong place at the wrong time. And don't think kids don't see
the hypocrisy in the amount of people in jail for smoking a joint, which
never killed anyone, when there is a bar opening every week in Athens. I
guess it's OK to drink a drug as long as it is heavily taxed. People need
to realize that their kid is worth more in prison than on the streets to
many businessmen. We live in a nation where prison industry lobbyists wine
and dine our politicians to prevent our kids from having the freedoms they
have now. Please people, don't believe the drug-war propaganda. Compare the
real facts and figures not the ones provided by people who would lose
profits if we have more sensible drug laws and less government control over
our lives and our kids.

Mark Knicks Jefferson

PARENT OF D.A.R.E. STUDENT SUPPORTS THE ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM

My daughter goes to school in Madison County, where she had the D.A.R.E.
program in the fifth grade and will again in the seventh. I am very glad
there is a program that comes to the schools to talk kids about the danger
of drugs. It doesn't just mention illegal drugs but also teaches that
smoking and drinking are also using drugs. I am happy that these are also
included in the program. I think adults need to learn this lesson. It is
great that someone cares enough about our children to want to help them. As
Christy O'Connell mentioned in her (Dec. 5) letter: If it helps one or two
children, then it is worth it. Who knows, it may be your child that gets
saved so don't cut the program down! As for those who are against it,
you're adults, so it's not up to you to decide to drop the program, it's up
to the kids! Ask them what they want and how they feel about the program,
then decide. I think the sheriff is doing an excellent job and he should be
thanked for caring, not criticized.

Teresa Christian Colbert