Amid the other aims of the current war, I pray that the "war on drugs" is not forgotten. That "war" - the quotation marks have hitherto always been needed really - ought to take aim at all the drug cartels, which have destroyed many more American lives than the recent attacks on New York and Washington. While we are invading or bombing one distant country or another, there is a closer enemy, one equally sinister, armed and violent. I lived in Mexico for many years. It ought to be enough for us to support President Fox in this effort, but I would like that support to be active and full. Also, although there is always a need for secrecy in military and police operations, it would probably help if some part of that effort were publicized. I suspect that my fellow Americans do not realize - or easily forget - that Mexico, too, has been suffering grievously from terrorism. [continues 59 words]
Editor, The Sun: There is a spark that few writers will consider fanning into flames. It is ever present and apparently taboo. It is this: The mantras of the drug war are most enjoyed and certainly facilitated by the major drug "lords" themselves. All the arguments that your columnist Tibor Machan and many others rightly put forth can never silence the scream of massive money to those who govern us. These laws of prohibition, without argument, protect and insure the growing market of those who are drunk on the power of this business. These drug lords undeniably say, "Thanks a million!" to the ignorantly sincere pastors, teachers, grandmothers and civic leaders who say, "What about the children?" Gasoline on fire is an appropriate description of the current approach to drug use and abuse. [continues 138 words]
I just finished reading Tibor Machan's column on the "war on drugs" in the The Yuma Daily Sun. As a member of a California law enforcement agency, I have been involved in this so-called 'war on drugs.' My own opinion is that it has failed and that we must take a different approach. I do believe that President George W. Bush has a fairly good idea to help with the problem by helping the abusers get treatment. Interdiction alone cannot stop the problem but in conjunction with treatment, may just do the job. [continues 391 words]
There are many issues about which it is important to do a lot of thinking - the distinctions are murky and the policies ambiguous, so it takes a lot of figuring to get it right. Just how far should the military go in its efforts to defend the country? Should 14-year-old kids be prosecuted as adults for grave crimes? Is abortion a rights violation or would its prohibition be? Does the Second Amendment's reference to "people" mean individuals or groups? [continues 827 words]
Whatever other reasons the Academy had for giving Benicio Del Toro an Oscar last month for his role in the anti-drug movie "Traffic," I thought he deserved the best supporting actor honor simply for managing to convince his audiences that a Mexican cop could be honest. Without giving too much of the film away - in case you want to rent it - Del Toro, playing the role of Tijuana police officer Javier Rodriguez, cooperates with U.S. law enforcement officers to nail a drug kingpin who thinks he has bought off Rodriguez. [continues 658 words]
Editor, The Sun: Years ago, we tried to stop people from drinking alcohol and finally gave up. Lately, we have been trying to stop people from using marijuana and it looks like a losing battle again. Why don't we stop people from smoking tobacco as this product is killing more people than marijuana? This would also be a losing battle. When are we ever going to quit getting involved in loosing battles? If alcohol and tobacco are legal, then why not legalize marijuana and let all of the people out of jail and prison who are there for using it. Our farmers could raise the stuff and pay taxes on the sale. Stores could sell it and pay taxes on their sales. Those who have to have it would be able to buy it at a reasonable price and wouldn't have to hold up a store to get the money to buy it. We also could lay off most of the enforcers who are after the people who are now using it. If we don't do something other than what we are doing now, eventually half of our young people will be locked up in jail or prison. Yuma [end]
Editor, The Sun: There are deeper questions to ponder about the DARE program than Art Gradillas brought up in his recent letter to the editor. For instance, ceremonial drug use is as old as mankind is itself - is it a good idea to stamp ceremonial drug use out? Is it amoral for the state to control the thoughts of its citizens with political demonizations? Drugs are inanimate objects and are therefore of no danger to anyone. It is a political designation that there are such things as dangerous drugs. Hitler neither drank alcohol nor smoked cigarettes. Hitler certainly did not use ceremonial drugs. Does that mean I should emulate the personal and political views of Hitler? [continues 260 words]
