Pubdate: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Copyright: 2010 The Commercial Appeal Contact: http://web.commercialappeal.com/newgo/forms/letters.htm Website: http://www.commercialappeal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95 Author: Harriet Turk BREAKING LAW IS WRONG, PERIOD In response to the April 23 reader who questioned why the educated citizens of our city who choose to smoke marijuana should be punished, I'll give you the only reason you need: Smoking marijuana is illegal. Having worked in the alcohol and drug prevention arena for over 20 years, and as an international speaker for youth, I have the opportunity to work with teenagers from many cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. It's always interesting to work with students whose parents arbitrarily pick what laws their family will follow. Those students don't understand the boundaries of laws, because they are taught that if they can present a rationale that gives the right not to follow a law, then they don't have to. This thinking and teaching is so flawed and ultimately hurts these children. They become confused as to what is right and what is wrong. They are taught to be responsible citizens, but then aren't taught to follow the law unless they "feel like it?" I would love to take these educated, stable citizens with me on a journey that follows the trail of that one harmless joint they smoke. I'd like them to see the trail of people who are broken or abused on the road back to that cannabis plant that supplied their drug of choice. I'd like to see how relaxed and peaceful they feel when watching what some people endure as they farm and traffic those plants. Open your eyes. If we start to arbitrarily obey laws, we lose all sense of boundaries to what is right and what is wrong. It is wrong to break a law. It is not OK to pretend that you are squeaky clean when you elevate your sense of law breaking above another crime. It's still a crime and should be punished. Harriet Turk Cordova - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom