Pubdate: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 Source: Campbell River Mirror (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Campbell River Mirror Contact: http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1380 Author: Alan Randell MEDIA NOT PRESENTING A BALANCED PICTURE WHEN REPORTING DRUG BUSTS Re: Drug bust (Mirror, July 30). On and on it goes, bust after bust after bust, while marijuana remains as plentiful and available as ever and the jails are filled to overflowing with the unfortunate few who were caught with the stuff. On and on it goes with the media immersing us all with a torrent of drug bust stories from the cops' perspective with nary a word from their victims, their families or from those like me who oppose drug prohibition. On and on it goes with the media falling over themselves promoting our oppressive drug laws whose only purpose is to distract and entertain the majority by persecuting an innocent minority. Are we better than the Nazis because our drug laws threaten an innocent minority with jail rather then with execution? I think not. Are you better than the Nazi-controlled media that distributed Hitler's hateful propaganda? I believe you are worse, much worse, because you have the freedom to present a balanced picture but, perhaps to support wealthy media owners who fear giving too much freedom to the "common rabble," choose not to do so. The day of the print media is over. Fewer and fewer people are choosing to submit themselves to the corporate propaganda our newspapers are shamelessly peddling these days. Good thing too! Alan Randell Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin