Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2004
Source: Sand Mountain Reporter, The (AL)
Copyright: 2004sSand Mountain Reporter.
Contact:  http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1713
Author: Claire Higginbotham
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n860/a03.html

FEDERAL MOGUL ACTIONS ENCOURAGING 

Dear editor,

The best news I've heard lately was the report of Federal Mogul
instigating a drug sweep of their employees and their
vehicles/belongings.

Aside from the almost daily reports of meth labs and their operators
being discovered and dealt with, this is one of the most encouraging
events in the war on drugs.

I have often wondered why more businesses have not launched their own
drug sweep. Are they afraid of losing their dope-head employees - with
their inclination to bad attendance, bad attitude, poor work
performance, health problems, risks of being a danger to others, and
(if they keep them on long enough or the employee is able to stay with
them long enough) all these problems will become worse over time. Are
they afraid of lawsuits?

All these concerns seem small when measured against the sum of ills
that illegal and danderous drugs and their users and dealers inflict
on our society.

It is, indeed, a bright spot on a dismal situation when a company (or
a person, or law enforment, or a group) makes a stand against them by
helping to enforce the laws intended to make our society what it should be.

I would hope that ALL entities in all communities would take such an
active role in "the war on drugs."

We have wars abroad, but the war aflicting the majority of persons
here (in the U.S.and in YOUR community) is this war.

Some may say that to think of it as a war is absurd, but Some would
say to NOT think of it as a war is more absurd.

The illegal drug trade and its clients and facilitators should be
looked upon as a direct threat to the welfare of your children and
your children's children.

The history books will make a harsh note against a society or
civilization that condones or hesitates to save itself from its own
destruction.

Still, all this said, the most powerful soldier will be the peer, or
the youth, who, when confronted with the opportunity to socialize with
or be in the company of drug users or dealers, will tell them to take
a long walk on a short pier.

Claire Higginbotham

Crossville
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin