Pubdate: Tue, 05 Feb 2002
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Michael Provenzano

THE WAR ON DRUGS FIZZLES

Steven Iwami's father was sent to fight a war for a country that sent 
his mother to a concentration camp and stole their family home and 
assets (Steven Iwami on his 30 years as a fugitive, Feb. 2).

Thirty years after he made a terrible mistake and committed a serious 
crime, he appears to have reformed and become a loving father and a 
coach who gives his time generously to young basketball players. Yet, 
despite his apparent rehabilitation, the U.S. law enforcement system 
only wants to punish him and spends considerable energy and money to 
do so.

Allen Richardson also reforms and becomes a contributing member of 
Canadian society. Yet he suffers the same fate and spends time in a 
New York prison for a crime he committed decades ago.

Olympic gold medal winning snowboarder Ross Rebagliati is never even 
charged with a crime, but U.S. border officials will not let him into 
the country because he inhaled pot. Instead of being an undesirable, 
it sounds to me as if he is almost presidential material.

Makes me glad I am living in a country that still gets its priorities right.

Michael Provenzano

West Vancouver
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