Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2000
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2000 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102
Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Author: David A. Tate

PRISONERS OF `WAR'

To the editor:

The story of the young Cuban boy caught up in a political struggle for
his freedom tugs at the heartstrings. There was even talk of Congress
passing a bill that would allow Elian Gonzalez to remain in the United
States.

Yet where is all of our compassion and crocodile tears when you
consider that at this very moment more than 1 million Americans are
illegally and unconstitutionally imprisoned as a direct consequence of
the war on drugs? We have actually been fighting this ridiculous war
for 105 years with little success. Our jails and prisons are bulging
at the seams. The brilliant solution to this crisis is to simply build
more and bigger prisons. Wall Street considers private prisons a
growth industry.

It is quite apparent that an end to this "war" is nowhere in sight.
Still we pursue this foolish course that allows the United States to
claim the dubious distinction of being second only to Russia in the
percentage of its citizens incarcerated.

One young Cuban boy; 1,080,000 Americans.

For whom shall we weep?

DAVID A. TATE
Coffeyville
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