Thursday, September 18, 2003

 

Voice of the People

There were a couple of letters to the editor in today's local rag that I thought I'd share with you. The first one comes our way via Fort Bragg....not the North Carolina boot camp, but a town on the Mendocino coast.

Disturbing irony
EDITOR: I find it ironic and very disturbing that President Bush's and John Ashcroft's Patriot Act will destroy long-standing provisions of democracy and freedom in America and thus accomplish the terrorist goals of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. The Patriot Act will succeed in crippling democracy where as the excuse for this Act, the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, most assuredly failed.

TANYA SMART

Fort Bragg

~ A very concise interpretation that's hard to argue with. Beautifully phrased...for it's clarity as well as it's brevity. As her name states, Tanya is definitely Smart. You could read column after column, written by every expert and think tank spokesmen in the nation....those two sentences are the bottom line. One of my favorite quotes...in fact probably the ONLY quote I can quote verbatim...is from Woody Guthrie. Any damn fool can be complicated.but it takes a genius to attain simplicity.

The next letter is in response to a local Indian tribe trying to open a casino in Sonoma County:

Why not pot?
EDITOR: Isn't casino gambling illegal in California? Oh, right, there's a clause that allows tribes to offer gambling on their land. The part I don't understand is that people are free to gamble on reservation territory and then take any winnings off reservation land, correct? Well, I have an idea: Following the same logic, couldn't tribes grow and sell marijuana? It's a nice, lucrative business. Illegal, but, what the hay. People could buy pot on reservation land, then take it home using the same strange loopholes. And just think -- all it would take is a short trip to Rohnert Park.

I do want tribes to prosper. I just wish they'd find an endeavor that contributes to society rather than making it uglier, both visually and morally.

CECELIA YARNELL

Santa Rosa

~Cecilia, I know this is an attempt at sarcasm, but you should be more careful about what doors to the inner mind you open. It's really not a bad idea! I'm sure some smart and inventive tribal lawyer could make a good case for it. And really....it makes one think, why the hell not? The Feds have been busting, chops and otherwise, the various city and state approved establishments that distribute marijuana to people that meet a doctor's requirements of recommendation. What a perfect friggin' loophole to thwart them! Indian land...sovereign nation pal....go take a hike. Great White Father, take forked tongue and French-kiss native ass. Bwa-ha-ha-a-a-a! Cecilia...you TOO are a genius. I love you!

Hey...ya know..this is fun! I think I may have stumbled upon a future source of inspiration that's available...in fact delivered to me on a daily basis. I think these letters to the editor are destined to become a regular feature here! Feel free to add your own responses.
~Brahma*

posted by ~Brahma 1:42 AM