Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 2005
Source: North Island Weekender (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 North Island Weekender
Contact:  http://www.northislandweekender.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1270
Author: Bruce Lloyd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

COCAINE SHOULDN'T BE A 'FACT OF LIFE'

Cocaine - such a perfunctory, unintelligent drug. Ideal for those who
seek euphoria and refuse to look inward." - Luisa Valenzuela

I think this somewhat obscure Argentinan writer makes a point that we
in North America would do well to consider. She makes the simple but
straightforward point that cocaine is a negative thing, unintelligent"
rather than the great wisdom-bringing experience it has often cracked
up" to be. Not some gate for mind and awareness expansion as once was
the oft-fatal and flawed opinion of LSD in the 1960s, but rather a
loser's way of life resulting in suffering shame and failure.

That's the real truth of coke as nearly all users will know. That is
not a condemnation of those who are involved with it, but they
probably know better than anyone of its false lure and comfort.
However, this drug still brings failure and even death to so many.

Lately I have been saddened to see the judges of our land dealing with
cocaine trafficking as if it were some sort of minor
misdemeanor.

It seems absolutely crazy to me that the same people who witness much
of the carnage from this drug in its various forms give out simple
$1,000 fines for trafficking! Were they to see the connection clearly
they might begin to see the need to crack down on traffickers, no pun
intended. This is the drug that has passed itself off as cool" through
the decades while it has destroyed lives, marriages, children and
caused a host of other troubles in society.

And now we have some judges treating it like some sort of unavoidable
fact of life for which they impose a mere fine of $1,000. Is that the
cost of doing business" - a business licence if you will - for the
organized crime gangs that bring the drug into Canada at massive
illicit profit?

Next thing we know we'll have the Cocaine Party running alongside the
Marijuana Party!

Women and men prostitute themselves, commit countless property crimes
and a host of other acts including murder to get this drug and our
justices seem to think it's an unavoidable fact of life.

I say we need to keep the criminality in cocaine. It used to be that
drunk driving was an acceptable way of living until 20 or so years ago
when fed-up mothers (and fathers) got sick of planting their loved
ones and watching the casual attitude towards a crime that destroyed
lives and families.

It's the same with cocaine for anyone that hasn't blinded themselves
to the damage done by the drug in society.

Mothers against Crack." I doubt it will be formed, but something
similar to the successful Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization
is needed. Perhaps one way to start is by adopting their technique of
going to court to pressure judges" to realize the effects this drug
has on families.

I might mention one experience I had driving a cab a few years back.
The house was a well-known dealer's house whose time had come. We
dropped off all sorts of people there and picked them up later. Sooner
or later the cops seem to finally catch up.

Well, I was swinging past the adjoining complex on my way to pick
someone up at the nefarious house once more, when I noticed three cop
cars with several officers stepping out with their battering ram. Slow
on the draw that day, I still pulled into the driveway to pick up the
pusher.

I went to blow the horn as was the practice. Just at that moment, the
gang of cops went by with their battering ram to bust the door down
and my hand froze.

Were I to start honking at that moment, I realized, I just might have
ended up sharing a jail cell with my cab customer. I looked around as
the battering ram started pounding on my cab callers' door and decided
that he was gonna be getting a free ride anyway that day.

You don't suppose he knew the jig was up" and was calling me as a
getaway vehicle, do you? Pushers - they're not that bright to begin
with.

Bruce Lloyd

Rural Reality
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin