Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jun 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Suzanne Levinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/conde.htm (Conde, William)

CONDE'S TENACITY ADMIRABLE

I am writing this letter after seeing Bill Conde's sign on Interstate
5 announcing his annual World Hemp Festival in July, which takes place
on his private property near Harrisburg. The sign announces the name
and dates of the festival, and then states: "War on Drugs is Treason."

What a brave man! Here he has been harassed, year after year, by the
police, who went to the trouble and taxpayer expense of showing up
uninvited and undercover at the festival last year. He has been
publicly pressured to give up supporting his beliefs and if he had
been able to sell his lumber business, would have moved to Belize last
year. But through it all, he stuck to his principles and is going
ahead with the festival again this year, a real slap in the face to
law enforcement officials who apparently have too much time on their
hands. Now here is a real American, true to the spirit of our
foreparents, who in their wisdom foresaw the dangers inherent in a
police state and sought to prevent it with the Constitution.

I admire Conde. He is a rarity in this spineless town. He is an
inspiration to the rest of us who may cower all too quickly in the
face of moralistic hysteria.

Suzanne Levinson

Eugene
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager