Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2007 Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI) Copyright: 2007 Hawaii Tribune Herald Contact: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185 Author: Adrien Diven BARAQUIO SPEAKS TRUTH Gloria Baraquio is my biggest hero today. When I was growing up in the '60s, my biggest heroes were astronauts James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. When I got a little older, I admired the toughest football players like Dick Butkus, Ronnie Lott and Jack Lambert. After I got out of the military, I pursued my dream of playing college football. First, it was ankle reconstruction that stopped me. I was determined to come back bigger and stronger. I did -- until my left knee was annihilated. The top sports surgeon at Stanford Hospital did the best he could. It still hurts as I sit to write this. But it wasn't until I was undergoing another surgery at the VA hospital in Long Beach, when I met the men I hold in highest honor. During my stay I had the good fortune to meet our combat veterans. I am older now. I am married. I am devoted father of three children. Reading Gloria's articles I see great work, and it makes me hopeful that my children might have the opportunity to learn from such a courageous and highly qualified teacher. Our children are better able to make the right choices when we supply them with knowledge and teach them the truth. Nowadays, I mainly use my courage to fight the daily pain of degenerative osteoarthritis as I push to support my family. Another hero is my doctor who had the courage to recommend cannabis for my chronic pain; because of highly educated men like him, I don't have to fear for heart valve problems or other serious side effects caused by prescription drugs like Vioxx. And I also applaud the state Department of Public Safety's Narcotics Enforcement Division, which had the courage to grant me a certificate to use the medicine. I applaud Gloria for her courageous, intelligent articles on cannabis prohibition in the U.S. She addressed the issue openly, and she should be applauded for the work necessary to create some of the most accurate, educational and thought-provoking articles I have ever read on the subject. Adrien Diven Hilo - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart