Pubdate: Sat, 16 Feb 2002
Source: New Haven Register (CT)
Copyright: 2002, New Haven Register
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1281
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292
Author: Bill O'Reilly
Note: Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor." His 
column is distributed by Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Los 
Angeles, Calif. 90045.

AD IS RIGHT: BUYING DRUGS IS ANTI-AMERICAN

In between the patriotic displays, and Bono and Mariah, there was a very 
interesting commercial during the Super Bowl. And that spot cost us, the 
taxpayers, almost $4 million because it ran twice - frightening the heck 
out of Britney Spears.

The advertisement linked the buying of illegal drugs with supporting 
terrorism. It basically accused Americans who support the traffic in 
illegal narcotics of being anti-American. Of course, the ad was scoffed at 
by many Americans who see drug-taking as legitimate recreation.

But I thought the ad made a valid point.

Let's break it down: The main point of the commercial is that if an 
American puts money into the hands of dope pushers, that money can make it 
possible for terrorists to operate, for assassins to get paid, for more 
drugs to pour into the streets of America.

That is all true. The Taliban supported itself on opium sales. Drug cartels 
throughout the world routinely murder and commit incredible violence 
against their opponents, and illegal narcotics flood the poorest 
neighborhoods of America. In every ghetto in the United States, the most 
dangerous drugs are readily available to children and everyone else. Even 
in more upscale neighborhoods, drugs are not hard to find.

The kicker is that if no one bought illegal drugs, none of the above would 
be happening. So, if you do buy dope, you are hurting your country. It is 
simple logic.

But simple logic doesn't dent the minds of dopers who want to get high, and 
their country be damned.

The primary rationalization, of course, concerns alcohol. Many Americans 
who buy dope say that they have the right to do that because alcohol is 
legal. If booze can be served, than society is hypocritical for outlawing 
other drugs.

However, our society is not stupid. According to every poll taken on the 
subject, the overwhelming majority of Americans are against the 
legalization of other drugs. Americans are even against legalized 
marijuana. A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll taken last year showed 66 
percent of Americans do not want pot made legal. Only 26 percent do. The 
rest were possibly too high to take a stand.

The reason, I believe, that so many Americans are against making drugs 
legal is that they have seen what intoxicants can do.

There are more than a million drunken driving cases each year. Nearly 10 
percent of the adult population is heavily involved with alcohol. Why make 
more mind-altering substances available? Why send a message to children 
that intoxication is a birthright?

It is not. And supporting criminals who sell addictive substances is 
anti-American. Public intoxication hurts us all, and private intoxication 
hurts the individual. Nothing good can come of this. Why are so many 
Americans blind to the truth?

The answer comes back to selfishness. Drug users think: "I want to get 
high, so I will. It is my body, so if I give money to a pusher who sells 
crack to kids, so what? I'm not responsible."

Well, yes, you are. Again, if nobody bought the drugs - the evil that they 
bring would not exist.

So, move over, Britney. The best commercial during the Super Bowl was the 
one that confronted Americans with the damage that dope buying does. It was 
a gutsy move. I applaud it.
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MAP posted-by: Beth