Pubdate: Tue, 02 Aug 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Sandra Saturley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

ARREST DIVERTS ATTENTION FROM MORE URGENT ISSUES

As a student of history, I am lately amazed at two things:

1) events transpiring globally are reminiscent of past cultural and social 
upheavals;

2) the general unawareness of the potential of these upheavals to undermine 
our best interests.

Is it merely unawareness or a combination of unawareness and apathy? There 
is too much these days to worry about.

However, we are still responsible for the future that our children and 
grandchildren will inherit.

The uproar around the interference by the U.S. government in wanting to 
extradite Canadian marijuana supporters may seem small and unimportant 
until you start to really look at the issues that encourage this 
interference against another supposedly sovereign nation.

Are we prepared to completely hand over our values to a nation bent on 
having its way at all costs, particularly over personal freedom?

The paranoia enveloping the U.S. is not our paranoia, even though it is 
doing a nifty job of convincing us of it.

In the meantime, we are not paying attention to the degree to which the 
U.S. government is eyeing our resources and trying to figure out the best 
way to take them without our objection.

Is this anti-Americanism? Not at all.

Many Americans have a keener understanding of these concerns than we do.

The marijuana arrests are simply a current issue with a political movement 
in the U.S., of which many Americans are deeply afraid. Many are attempting 
to move north, protest in their own country, do anything they can to sound 
the alarm.

Is anyone here listening?

Sandra Saturley

Edmonton 
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MAP posted-by: Beth