Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006
Source: Daily Southtown (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Southtown
Contact:  http://www.dailysouthtown.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/810
Author: James Gierach
Note: James E. Gierach is a lawyer who lives in Oak Lawn, IL
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n409/a03.html
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n409/a04.html
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n409/a05.html

DRUG WAR CLAIMS 2 MORE VICTIMS

Happy Birthday, Siretha.  Sorry you did not live to see your 11th birthday.

Starkesia, sorry about your being shot and killed too.  I'm so sorry.

I've been trying to save both your lives since before you were born. 
I started in 1989, campaigning for public office and against the 
prohibition of drugs.  But as you know -- well, as you knew -- the 
drug war that started in 1970 is still going on.

Siretha White did not make it to her 11th birthday, but the drug war 
is celebrating its 36th this year.

In contrast, the prohibition of alcohol only lasted long enough to 
celebrate its 14th birthday before the public said enough of this, 
and threw the 18th Amendment into the trash.  In 1933, the public 
decided to fight liquor with regulation and control instead of 
prohibition. Al Capone and other gangs were not happy about it, any 
more than the drug gangs of today will be when drug prohibition is trashed.

The prohibition of alcohol then and the prohibition of drugs today 
cause violence, enable the gangs, and tempt people from the straight 
and narrow.  The prohibition of alcohol, instead of making the world 
alcohol-free, led to the invention of the highball, bathtub gin and 
new alcoholic poisons.  The prohibition of drugs today, instead of 
making the U.S. drug-free, has led to the invention of crack cocaine, 
and the popularization of methamphetamines, Ecstasy, marijuana, and 
purer heroin.

Drug prohibition, like its alcohol-prohibition predecessor, looks and 
sounds good-- "Save our children."  Ironically, the truth to the 
contrary is evidenced by sticky pools of blood leaked from the bodies 
of children lying on the floor of their own homes in neighborhoods 
like Englewood.

The killing of Siretha and Starkesia kept me from attending my 
11-year-old's Cub Scouts awards dinner on Sunday.  "Where's Jim?" my 
wife was asked repeatedly.

I was in Englewood, mourning the death of two more drug-war victims 
who I never met.  I listened and watched.  I asked a TV-reporter, 
"Are they saying the same things as usual?  'Down with dope - up with 
hope.' 'We need to mentor these kids.'  'We need jobs.'  'We need 
activities for the kids.'  'Somebody's got to do something.'"  The 
reporter answered simply, "Yes."

I watched the same reporter interview a self-described community 
activist.  "We need to pray together.  We have to stop this violence. 
We need jobs..."

After the interview, I asked the activist whether this was a drug war 
shooting.  "No," he said.  "Yes, it was," I replied.  "Kids in this 
neighborhood who are in the drug business need a gun to protect their 
drugs, cash and turf."

I explained my view: If kids are armed for the drug business, then 
they are armed for every purpose -- disputes over a girlfriend, 
disrespect, and every other petty gripe of life.

"That makes sense," the activist said.

Yup, it does.  But what's the official line from Chicago leaders and 
the editorial pages?  "Come to Chicago and explain why you're against 
banning assault weapons."  "The state has shortchanged Englewood some 
CeaseFire dollars."  "This has got to stop."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) wants to outlaw the digging of tunnels 
near the Mexican-U.S. border to fight drugs.  Many people support 
big-brother Crime Camera Sentries in the public way.  Pres. Bill 
Clinton wanted to hire 100,000 more police officers.  An Indiana 
congressman wanted to sell Drug War Bonds.  Block clubs, cul-de-sacs, 
community policinga€|  Sure, but end drug prohibition?  God forbid.

I want an end to drug prohibition.  I want to control and regulate 
the manufacture, sale and distribution of narcotics.  I want drug 
abstinence, not imposed under threat of incarceration but achieved 
through strength of character, the exercise of good judgment and 
freedom of choice.  I want to take the profit out of the illicit drug 
business to stop the violence.

I want more Starkesia's and Siretha's to see the ages of 15 and 
11.  I want to wish them all, "Many more birthdays to you ... many 
more bbirthdays to you."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman