Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jan 2002
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Huntsville Times
Contact:  http://www.htimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n036/a03.html?2207
Author: Mett Ausley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?158 (Club Drugs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ANTI-RAVE HYSTERIA

Trinka Porrata's recent anti-rave presentation ("Parents, kids get scary 
taste of drug scene," Jan. 9) is not the initiative of a lone crusader, but 
reflects a systematic nationwide campaign by drug enforcement bureaucrats 
to spread disinformation and panic.

Teens in the '60s and '70s may recall similar parent-aimed hysteria about 
rock concerts, replete with preposterous claims about the dangers of 
then-novel marijuana.

Keenly aware their efforts to eradicate drugs are futile, publicity-seeking 
authorities have elected to make raves a surrogate target. Public 
unfamiliarity with "club drugs" makes them an ideal bogeyman for the 
standard propaganda technique of exploiting fear of the unknown.

Ecstasy and raves may go together like moonshine whiskey and bluegrass, but 
rave promoters and venue owners are often subjected to high-profile 
prosecution for little more than presenting the electronic techno music and 
dazzling light shows typifying these events.

Against this backdrop, the inevitable arrests of a few kids with contraband 
are trumped up into major narcotics conspiracy charges against the 
entrepreneurs.

Few such allegations have been proved, but the actions effectively shut 
down the events and deter others. However, the ultimate goal is achieved 
when politicians, hallucinating this contrived threat is real, dance 
synchronously to the propaganda organ's hypnotic music to give the 
bureaucrats more power, prestige and funding.

Mett Ausley, Lake Waccamaw, N.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl