March 31, 2006
Friday PM

I remember when the war on drugs started back in the '60's, I was in grade school back then. Four decades later the war on drugs is still going strong as though it started yesterday. Maybe there's no "quick-fix" solution to fighting war on drugs or terrorism.
Today we live in a world where practically everything is moving at a fast pace, technology wise, so we expect a quick solution to solve issues that may linger on for decades.

You are probably wondering what comparison is there between drugs and terrorism, well you know, they both have victims, one wears a uniform, the other one doesn't, one is killed by enemy fire, the other by an overdose, and all the victims are 'volunteers' no one is forced to join the military, like no one forces anyone to be a drug addict, each individual make his/her own decision and most victims are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, sometimes people just make the wrong choices, and the bad part of it is, someone else almost always gets the blame...(whatever happened to individual responsibility?) For the past few years there's been a lot of anti-war demonstrations against the war in Iraq. Just a mere three thousand have lost their life in Iraq, and tens of thousands perhaps into the millions have died from a drug overdose in four decades, mostly youngsters, and not once have I ever seen anyone protesting against drug dealers. What is this? Does it mean it's OK to die from a drug overdose but it's not all right to die fighting terrorism in Iraq? Some of you probably think, "this is apples and oranges", Hey! Death is death, there's nothing apples and oranges about it. So if the war on drugs can last for four decades, why are people expecting instant results and quick-fix solutions to fighting terrorism?

If drug dealers have that much patience to last four decades than maybe the terrorist might have just as much patience and be around awhile. Some of them are captured or killed by authorities, there'll be more waiting in the wings to replace what they lost, so it goes on and on.

Maybe, just maybe the job would be easier if more citizens come forward and help the troops capture the terrorist, like some have been doing, just like it would be easier for authorities to catch drug dealers if more citizens come forward and do their part.
What do drug dealers have to do with terrorist? A few years ago authorities learned that terror groups have been receiving fundings from drug dealers, so should supporters be just as guilty as Al Qaeda?

So how can we end the war on drugs? Maybe a little more education for the younger generation to learn about the dangers of drugs, and how do we end the war on terrorist when they don't want to settle their differences without weapons. Maybe we'll find out decades from now. So there, I don't really see any 'quick-fix' solutions to ending the war on drugs or terrorism... maybe it's because no one wants to get involved, but would rather sit back and wait for government to do everything for us.

Virginia E. Atkinson
Metlakatla, AK - USA


About: Longtime resident of Metlakatla.

 

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