Alex Rodriguez. Michael Phelps. Whoopi Goldberg. Jon Stewart. Ashton Kutcher.
Sounds like the week's lineup on Larry King Live.
But there is a deeper connection. And it involves a conversation America needs to start having -- and soon.
At Nancy's suggestion, I signed up for Google alerts to track internet activity for Mexico. An interesting blog post popped up: Michael Phelps and the Violence in Mexico: Connect the Dots.
Sergio Troncoso takes Michael Phelps, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart -- and, by inference, the rest of American opinion makers -- to task for trivializing the use of marijuana, while ignoring the very real impact that the marijuana trade is having on violence in Mexico. Thus -- "Connect the Dots."
His point is, no matter what is causing the border drug wars, innocent people -- including children -- in that area are dying because of the drug trade. And smug celebrities are essentially saying: What is the big deal if Michael Phelps or Alex Rodriguez use drugs? This from the same people who love sporting full-spectrum ribbons whenever transnational shoe companies hire a teenager in a third world country.
Troncoso and I have one big difference. He is not an advocate of drug legalization; I am. But I do agree with him that glamorizing the use of any drug -- including marijuana -- hides the true impact of its use.
My concern is not for the user. Everyone has to make his own choice on using or not using. My choice has been to never use it.
But that is not the end of the matter. Bullets are not flying in Juarez simply over the cocaine monopoly. Marijuana drives the war as much as any other drug.
Mexico is the world's largest grower of marijuana, and the largest supplier of marijuana to the United States. In 2007, the crop yield was 15, 800 metric tons. And that was an increase.
If Jon and Whoopi and Ashton want to be a constructive part of the conversation -- and not just celebrity mouths -- I have a little suggestion. Use that curiously-earned clout you think you have to help resolve the underlying problem.
If you believe certain drugs should be illegal, stop acting as if using them has no moral and social consequences to people far away from the users. If you believe that drugs should be legal, say so.
Sounds like the week's lineup on Larry King Live.
But there is a deeper connection. And it involves a conversation America needs to start having -- and soon.
At Nancy's suggestion, I signed up for Google alerts to track internet activity for Mexico. An interesting blog post popped up: Michael Phelps and the Violence in Mexico: Connect the Dots.
Sergio Troncoso takes Michael Phelps, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart -- and, by inference, the rest of American opinion makers -- to task for trivializing the use of marijuana, while ignoring the very real impact that the marijuana trade is having on violence in Mexico. Thus -- "Connect the Dots."
His point is, no matter what is causing the border drug wars, innocent people -- including children -- in that area are dying because of the drug trade. And smug celebrities are essentially saying: What is the big deal if Michael Phelps or Alex Rodriguez use drugs? This from the same people who love sporting full-spectrum ribbons whenever transnational shoe companies hire a teenager in a third world country.
Troncoso and I have one big difference. He is not an advocate of drug legalization; I am. But I do agree with him that glamorizing the use of any drug -- including marijuana -- hides the true impact of its use.
My concern is not for the user. Everyone has to make his own choice on using or not using. My choice has been to never use it.
But that is not the end of the matter. Bullets are not flying in Juarez simply over the cocaine monopoly. Marijuana drives the war as much as any other drug.
Mexico is the world's largest grower of marijuana, and the largest supplier of marijuana to the United States. In 2007, the crop yield was 15, 800 metric tons. And that was an increase.
If Jon and Whoopi and Ashton want to be a constructive part of the conversation -- and not just celebrity mouths -- I have a little suggestion. Use that curiously-earned clout you think you have to help resolve the underlying problem.
If you believe certain drugs should be illegal, stop acting as if using them has no moral and social consequences to people far away from the users. If you believe that drugs should be legal, say so.
