Pubdate: Wed, 16 May 2001
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Ghamal de la Guardia
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n802/a09.html

THOSE WHO CAN MANAGE DRUGS SHOULDN'T BE CLUBBED

I'd like to commend Greg Sagan on his excellent May 6 column illustrating 
the faulty logic at the root of our failed drug policies, "Drug war is 
going to burn us all."

In keeping with Mr. Sagan's theme, I would like to share with you a little 
story that, I hope, can further illustrate the effect of our federal 
government's policy toward the drug use of its own citizens.

A caveman comes upon another caveman starting a small fire and shouts: "Oh 
no! You fool! Are you using fire? Did you know I used to use fire all the 
time, never thinking it was dangerous?

"But one day, I got burned by the fire! Burned really bad! Now I know that 
fire is an evil! And you must not use fire ever again or you'll be burned 
really bad, just like me!"

"Nobody should ever again be allowed to use fire!" the first caveman 
shouted, to which the other caveman replied: "But I value using fire too 
much to never use it again. And besides, I'm careful with it and have 
learned how to manage it."

But the first caveman did not believe this. He would not hear any of this 
logic. The first caveman was convinced that no good ever could come of 
fire, and that surely the other caveman, in his foolishness, eventually 
would be horribly burned.

"You fool. The fire has already burned up your mind!" he shouted.

And so the first caveman decided to save the other caveman from burning and 
clubbed him to death.

Ghamal de la Guardia

Miami, Fla.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager