Pubdate: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI) Copyright: 2010 Hawaii Tribune Herald Contact: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/share/letters/ Website: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185 Copyright: Thomas Jelf Jr. Author: Thomas Jelf Jr. CHRISTIE NO DANGER As I read the article about Roger Christie's incarceration out loud at breakfast, the laughter could be heard for generations. Prosecutors won't let him go because he is a "danger" to the community. It is laughable. You ask any patrol officer, and I have, what kind of criminal is the most likely to comply with an officer's request. Which kind do you like to arrest? The answer: pakalolo smokers. Why? Because they are the most likely not to cause any problems. They do whatever is requested of them. Christie will be martyred by the government because of his beliefs in his sacrament. Almost in the same manner as Muhammad Ali, back in the day. Nobody believed him, either, but time will tell that tale. The gist of my letter is the fact that marijuana will never be eradicated. The plea that it is a danger to the community is antiquated and ignorant. I take that back -- ignorance is a lack of knowledge. This is bigotry. They know. They know, and yet continue to make innocent and morally upstanding citizens criminals. The old ways of thinking need to change. The old, the young, handicapped and homeless, along with our teachers, should be the focus of our support and economy. Take care of these, and the rest is gravy. The rest are the strong and should shoulder the responsibility of caring for the community. Our thinking will have to ring true, in action. We already think that way, but laws and officials who "don't want to be the one" need to step up and protect their citizens who vote for them. You don't have to be a smoker. Just stop lying to yourself. Thomas Jelf Jr. Pahoa - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart