Pubdate: Fri, 05 Apr 2002 Source: Royal Gazette, The (Bermuda) Copyright: 2002 The Royal Gazette Ltd. Contact: http://www.theroyalgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2103 Author: Richard Sinnott Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n609/a09.html?11345 ANTI-DRUG ZEAL IS ABSURD Dear Sir, I see now that even proper and respectable Bermuda is being drawn into the theatre of the absurd caused by the US-led international drug prohibition. I could not help but chuckle to myself while reading your recent story about Bermuda soldiers smelling enough like cannabis to alert the ubiquitous drug dogs upon returning from training in the ganja capital of the world. Quite a funny story, actually. Somehow reminiscent of an old Keystone Cops episode. The sad part, of course, is that the self-respect and dignity of the Bermuda soldiers was sullied at the hands of this most pernicious drug prohibition. But even Abraham Lincoln knew that prohitibion was harmful to any society. He said that "prohibition strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." Indeed, as events in Bermuda have demonstrated once again, prohibition seeks out dignity and common sense and destroys them slowly but thoroughly. I always thought you folks in Bermuda had a little more sense than to follow the mindless zeal of the American drug prohibition. RICHARD SINNOTT Fort Pierce, Florida - --- MAP posted-by: Beth