Pubdate: Fri, 29 Mar 2002
Source: Mobile Register (AL)
Copyright: 2002 Mobile Register.
Contact:  http://www.al.com/mobileregister/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/269
Author: Melissa White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n468/a09.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

SAD DEATH SERVES AS A LIFE LESSON

Thank you for the Register's coverage of the David Horne story. The article 
by Staff reporter Ron Colquitt ("Ex-girlfriend: Crack cocaine turned good 
man bad," March 14) gave me a grasp of who David Horne was and who he 
became after crack cocaine became a part of his life.

 From all accounts and my own personal encounters, David was a kind, gentle 
role model to a great deal of the youth in our community. He tirelessly 
volunteered his time doing something he obviously loved doing -- coaching 
the children of Mobile. Those children in turn loved and respected him.

Does the way he died lessen the impact he, as an individual, made in our 
community? I think not. No, he was not the man he had previously been. Most 
of us struggle to understand his spiral into a way of life controlled by 
crack. It strikes home because each of us knows that this could be our child.

He was a person many of us wished our children would emulate when they 
became adults. Now his life and death strikes fear in our hearts. Was there 
really evil dwelling in David's heart waiting to make an appearance? I 
truly doubt that. He seemed to be a young man who found his demons in a 
substance called crack.

David Horne's life leaves one last lesson for our children. I hope we allow 
him to teach it to them. No one is immune from the effects of drugs. Drugs 
ruined this man's life, as they ruin anyone's life who risks using them. A 
promising life has become a tragedy. His life, which seemed so good, will 
in the end be remembered for the front page coverage and television 
coverage of its senseless end.

Do not deny the goodness in David's life, but let us let his story teach 
our children this lesson and let us hold our children close to us.

Melissa White, Mobile 
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