Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jun 2005
Source: Mountain Xpress (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: Michael Harrison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (LEAP)

SYMBOLS WON'T DEFEAT DRUGS; TRY COURAGE

I find it interesting how many folks from out of town write to the Mountain 
Xpress about the need to legalize drugs in Asheville/Buncombe. The letter 
from Florida was one of the most recent ["Move Drug Laws into 21st 
Century," May 18]. I realize that Law Enforcement Against Prohibition has 
an organized national effort to write letters to editors. However, I 
believe the political process is skewed when organized groups from across 
the country get a loud voice in local politics.

I am not passing judgment on the Mountain Xpress, which only prints the 
letters it receives. I just wish to offer another side on the drug issue.

Drugs are a plague to our neighbors in low-income housing. Ask the folks in 
Pisgah View and Deaverview about having to wait in the drive-throughs when 
they try to get in or out of their neighborhoods. Their children are 
recruited as lookouts. What about the parties and assaults that 
characterize crack houses? What about the break-ins and larcenies that feed 
the habits of crackheads?

As somebody who lives here, I have a stake in whether we put a lid on our 
local criminal-drug culture or let it spread with impunity until we become 
a little Los Angeles, where kids get shot on their way to school for 
wearing "gang colors."

If we legalize drugs, perhaps contraband markups will fall, putting dealers 
out of business. Do we then expect that our savvy, tough-guy dealers, who 
were too cool to finish school, will all go bag groceries at Ingles like 
good little boys?

Having now offered my criticism, I would agree with your out-of-state 
contributors that the so-called "war on drugs" is a joke. Symbolic 
gestures, slogans, posters, awareness training and other 
non-confrontational approaches are not going to make the world a safer 
place. What seems to work in other municipalities is courageous, inventive 
intervention by local leadership combined with equally courageous, 
zero-tolerance attitudes from victimized neighborhoods.

- -- Michael Harrison Barnardsville

[Editor's note: To clarify, it is the policy of the Xpress to give 
publication priority to (1) letters written by local/regional residents; 
and, (2) letters written about local issues or about Xpress articles and 
opinion pieces.]
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom