Pubdate: Wed, 16 Oct 2002
Source: Hendersonville Star News, The (TN)
Copyright: 2002 The Hendersonville Star News
Contact:  http://www.hendersonvillestarnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1666
Author: Chris Buors

ADDICTION IS A MORAL JUDGMENT

Letter writer K. Kendrick is mistaken if he thinks addiction is a disease 
like cancer. Cancer does not involve a moral judgment and cancer can strike 
anybody. Addiction can not strike an abstainer.

Addiction is a moral judgment. It was know as lust for pleasurable 
experiences and gluttony, some people just don't know when to quit for 
thousands of years. Since Jefferson separated church and state mankind has 
simply learned how to do it's moralizing in medical terms. There has always 
been those who have rejected the dominate values in any given culture and 
yes some people do choose to self destruct.

Thomas Jefferson understood this well when he wrote "The care of every 
man's soul belongs to himself. But what if he neglect the care of it? Well 
what if he neglect the care of his health or his estate, which more nearly 
relate to the state? Will the magistrate make a law that he not be poor or 
sick? Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves. God 
himself will not save men against their wills." Jefferson's wisdom is just 
as timeless as the day he wrote it.

Americans would be wise to reconsider the "just say no" moralization of 
Nancy Reagan. "Moderation in all things" is the timeless wisdom of William 
Shakespeare.

There is a third course of action Americans can consider. Americans could 
just leave drug choosers alone.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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