Pubdate: Mon, 2 Jan 2006
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Dean Becker

JADED BUT HURTING FOR TEEN

I monitor the news about the drug war on a daily basis. I've become somewhat
jaded to the ever escalating number of arrests and killings, but the City
and State cover story on Friday, "Teen killed in shooting laid to rest /
Mourners asked to remember not how he died but how he had lived," tugged at
my heart. Perhaps it hurts more because it's local or because Jonathan
Finkelman was only 16 years old, but no matter the details, it hurts every
time one of our children is laid to rest because of drug prohibition.

Perhaps some day, we will stop arresting millions of nonviolent,
mostly young Americans each year for baggies of flowers or plant
extracts found in their pockets. Maybe some day, we will find better
uses for the billions of dollars we invest each year
fighting/encouraging the black market in drugs. Hopefully, some day,
we also will focus our efforts on destroying the Latin American
cartels and eliminating the reasons for which most violent street
gangs exist.

Until we regulate drugs, there will be an increasing number of
needless deaths of "beautiful children" like Jonathan. How long must
we wait for reason, compassion and intelligence from our elected officials?

Dean Becker

Houston

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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin