Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jun 2006
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2006 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Janet Coyle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

HAVE MERCY

I have been following the story involving the Lake Highlands High 
School staff and the marijuana-laced muffins.

As a mother, I empathize immensely with the families of these 
students. From what I have gathered, these young men come from very 
involved, respectable, even admirable families.

There is no doubt that Ian Walker and Joseph Tellini made a terrible 
choice and didn't consider the potential consequences of their 
actions. What they did was thoughtless, careless, irresponsible and, 
yes, illegal. But it was not done maliciously or with evil intent.

These young men should be punished, but the punishment should fit the 
crime. They should not be classified with criminals who are guilty of 
armed assault. That is ludicrous.

They have cooperated fully with the authorities and taken 
responsibility for their actions, and Ian Walker has even pleaded 
that other young people learn from his mistakes.

We should not be so self-righteous and sanctimonious that we forget 
to be compassionate.

I think most, if not all of us have done things that we are not proud 
of and that, in retrospect, had the potential of turning into 
something very, very dreadful. We were fortunate enough to avoid the 
pitfalls or someone had mercy on us.

I keep remembering the words of Jesus: "Let he who is without sin 
cast the first stone."

Janet Coyle, Garland
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman