Pubdate: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 Authors: Lee Eisenstein & Chris Buors TOKERS STOKED We Thought Smoking Pot Made People Laid-Back And Complacent - But Apparently Not Dear Editor, Given the trivializing and misleading nature of Troy Landreville's column [Politicians gone to pot, April 6, Advance News], one thing stands out clearly. The people quoted from the Marijuana Party were intelligent, factually informed, and principled. It is the Langley Advance News, and not the Marijuana Party, who have their "heads in the clouds." Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, California Dear Editor, Troy Landreville uses the oldest trick in the book of persecutions in man's never-ending inhumanity to man: invalidation of others to validate oneself. Troy stigmatizes cannabis users as having their heads in the clouds [Politicians gone to pot, April 6, Advance News]. He can now join the ranks of the Christian Crusaders, The Spanish Inquisitors, and Germany's Nazi's in understanding the exhilarating feeling of superiority such stigmatizations reveal. Cannabis users are the most persecuted persons on planet Earth. I would challenge any Inquisitor such as Mr. Landreville to a fight on the field of honour. We would see if he wants to persecute me as badly as I want my freedom. Mr. Landreville would find out my head is not in the clouds, and my sense of timing, direction, and aim would not be diminished. I would gladly smoke a cannabis joint right before I shot him between the eyes; we would then settle who is superior to whom. I would be willing to bet Mr. Landreville would keep his mouth shut and not feel so superior if mankind still owned the right to protect our dignity on the field of honour. I bet Mr. Landreville would turn out to be a coward. The one thing all cowards have in common is that they think ten men with badges and guns sent to arrest a cannabis smoker is a fair fight. Chris Buors Winnipeg, Manitoba Editor's Note: Dudes. Mellow out, man. Troy was just taking pot shots at some fringe-element politicians. And remember, this is British Columbia, where the grass is greener - and ALL politicians are on the fringes. We didn't expect to create such a buzz across North America. We certainly didn't expect death threats from Winnipeg! Troy's sense of humour shouldn't get him stoned. It's ironic: the Crusaders killed more Christians on their way to battle than they did Moslems - their "enemies" who initially welcomed them with open arms when they got to the Holy Land. The Inquisitors and Nazis also laid ostensible claim to lofty causes, but actually devastated entire populations with their religion-based persecution. Marijuana use may seem like a religious experience to those who smoke it - but anyone who compares the almost ineffectual anti-pot laws in this country to religious persecution that has killed millions of people should lay off the green stuff for awhile. It's obviously clouding their judgment. Hey. Don't bogart that joint, my friend. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth