Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jan 1998
Date: January 4, 1998
Source: The Spokesman Review
Author:   Consuelo F. Doherty

I too have a light in my window that will burn until the Drug War
ends. My children missed their father’s presence this Christmas
as we miss him every day. It has been a year since he was sent to
federal prison 2,000 miles from home. We've eight long years of
separation left.

As in other wars, there are children falling casualty to this
one. The Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents estimates
that on any given day more than 1.5 million children in our
country have a parent in jail or prison. Susan Phillips the
director laments, "If that many children were touched by any
other war, the evening news would show their pictures and
humanitarian relief efforts would be underway."

But this is the Drug War, described as "unwinable" by many public
officials, as a “colossal failure” by Ann Landers and “waste and
nonsense” by senior federal judge, John H. Kane. And yet, it
rages on.

Industry and corporate profits fuel this war, just as every other
war. We have rising numbers of jobs connected with law
enforcement, prison industries, drug testing, prison
construction, jailers and guards, to name but a few.  Even the
D.A.R.E. program has become a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Meanwhile, my husband will serve a longer prison term than a
rapist or murderer. Our children are denied a father. It is time
to end the drug war and bring peace to America.

Consuelo F. Doherty
Kettle Falls, WA