Letters 6/16/05

June 15, 2005

Supremely wrong ruling
On Monday, June 6, 2005, the highest (no pun intended) court in our land ruled against compassion for the sick and dying and “passed the buck” back to Congress (you know, the people that are supposed to represent ALL OF US) to do something about it. Will they show compassion? This remains to be seen, but given the attitude of this present administration, I highly doubt it.
John Waters, director of national drug control policy, was quoted as saying: “Today’s decision marks the end of medical marijuana as a political issue.” He is dead wrong as evidenced by an article in the same newspaper, “27 pounds of pot seized following tip.” People will continue to use this God-given plant for medicine, recreational, and spiritual purposes regardless of what the law says!
We will continue to be hunted down, arrested, taken to jail, our possessions and children taken away, and even killed for our beliefs when we harm no one. The only way that this will ever end is when well-educated, compassionate people from all walks of life, users and non-users alike, state publicly that this is wrong and do something about it.
In our own little neck of the woods here, although we are usually ignored by mainstream media unless we get into trouble, we take heart in knowing that most of our families, neighbors, co-workers, etc. have educated themselves on this issue and show their compassion as evidenced by such things as us working side by side with folks on the Postal Worker’s food drive on May 14th. Or, more recently, TV 9’s news poll showing 74% disagreeing with the court’s decision as compared to only 26% agreeing.
We, on the front lines will go forward with medical marijuana being placed on November’s ballot in Traverse City, Flint and Ferndale this year. We will have our Coalition for Compassionate Care Conference on July 23 at the Traverse Civic Center and I challenge narrow-minded people to come and hear our guest speakers, enjoy some good food, music and fellowship. But most importantly, hear the testimonies of med-ical marijuana patients (some who will be coming out of their closets for the first time) and then make up your own mind as to whether we are a threat to you or our country.
No, we responsible, adult cannabis consumers are not going away and the next time that you come home from a hard day’s work and light up your favorite tobacco, drink your favorite alcoholic beverage, or just enjoy your favorite coffee or tea, I hope that you will remember that you could be in the same position that we are in if your government -- our government -- was to decide to prohibit these items.
In closing, may I remind everyone that alcohol prohibition was not repealed because people suddenly decided that booze wasn’t so bad after all. They were just willing to admit that Prohibition made things worse.

Rev. Steven B.Thompson • Benzonia

Sticky situation
I own an independent business in downtown Traverse City. Recently my business, Vinyl D Records, was presented with a ticket for littering. The ordinance officer presented me with the ticket on the grounds that stickers advertising my business had been found on public property.
When I went in front of the magistrate to explain that I had not violated the code, I was told that I was responsible for the ticket for simply giving away free stickers to my customers. I am now looking at paying over $1,000 to hire an attorney and appeal this $100 ticket to the circuit court.
I would consider myself a working, or middle-class citizen. I can’t afford to fight the ticket, but I also hate to think that it was given to me for doing something that is completely legal. I had 2,000 bumper stickers made with the intention of leaving them on my store counter so that customers could take them and put them on their personal property. I never once encouraged anyone to put the stickers on something that didn’t belong to them, or onto any public property.
Like most citizens, I too am concerned with the appearance of our city. If anyone has advice or has experienced a similar situation, your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Steve Bass • TC

Go Pistons
Your article concerning the “Pistons will NOT stand the Heat” was about as comedic as your positioning, posturing and cloying of the DNC and nearly as humorous as your maniacal trashing of Bush and the RNC not being able to do anything right.
I do take offense though with your blatant and flagrant outright lie when you do make a deliberate, intentional and misleading statement that “Woodward and Berstein have come forward to identify a former government operative of the famous Deep Throat” in last week‘s issue of the Express. Which in fact leads me further to believe that the media, inclusive of the Washington Post, its editor Bradley, Woodward, et. al, were in fact beaten out of identifying Deep Throat by Vanity Fair, Mr. Felt and his family and their acknowledgement of his culpability in Watergate. Not to even suggest perhaps as a disgruntled employee of the CIA. The falsified reporting of that story in itself does lays waste to their 30 odd years of manipulating the Watergate situation via prejudicial journalistic reporting.
But those issues are for another time... The Pistons did win, the Republicans did win and my suggestion would be to those who still don’t believe it... move on and get a life!
Stan Akey • via email

The roots of KHQ
Happy Birthday, KHQ. As one who was there almost at the beginning (from May ‘81), I looked for some mention of the real founding fathers -- the creative genius of Tim Moore, Bob White, Jack Harper, Rob Haselton, Jan Chapman and more.
They started from zip and brought something completely fresh and new to northern Michigan, with a venturesome energy and drive for excellence that brought out the best in everyone there. It was great while it lasted, and I’m glad I was around for it all.

Lynn O’Connor • TC