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
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart