Re: "It's just pot.": Double Standard?

"Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:2972-4699381B-774@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> `
> School principal Aaron Miller is a drug-addict and is no example for the
> children of Vernonia, Oregon or anywhere else.
>

Marijuana is not addictive, and there is no evidence that he is even a 
habitual user, much less an addict.

> This is the example that lets children think that it is O.K. to do
> drugs.
>

No, your attitude is an example of the oversimplification that makes 
children not believe adults when they talk about drugs. Lumping together
all 
drugs, from marijuana to crack, under the same heading, calling someone a 
drug addict when they are using a substance that isn't even addictive,
it's 
these kind of stupid mistakes that explain why adults have little 
credibility when they try to demonize all drugs with kids.

> If  Mr. Miller was the school's janitor would he still have his job?

If he was the school's janitor, would the school board have even found out

about the citation?  Would it have made the news?

> perhaps. But he is in such a significant position that it doesn't matter
> how nice he is, he has an addiction and the children may be a risk.
>

How are children at risk if he smokes pot on the weekend?  A significant 
percentage of those teenagers - and their parents - have smoked marijuana,

if they are in any way representative of statistical averages.

> Watching Dr. Cox, the Vernonia School Superintendent, on the news, he
> knows his decision to keep Mr. Miller is wrong.
>
> My question would be, if Principal Miller is sneaking around doing
> drugs, what else does he think he can get away with.
>

He was in a public park - that's hardly sneaking.  If he was "sneaking 
around" he wouldn't have been caught.  Duh.

As for the "what else does he think he can get away with", that's the 
silliest slippery slope argument I've seen here in months.

> It's a fact that going easy on marijuana possession may lead to other
> behavior which is unacceptable.
>

Really?  Then give us a cite proving it.

> Aaron Miller is in a position of authority over children, and should be
> held to a high standard of setting a proper example for the youth under
> his care.
>

Quite true.  The question is what that standard is.  If he got a DUI,
would 
you fire him?  That's a more serious crime, a misdemeanor, as compared to 
the infraction he committed.  What about a speeding ticket - that's an 
infraction on par with the majijuana citation.  What about shoplifting - 
should that get him fired?


> Where does the Vernonia School Board and its Superintendent draw the
> line?

Apparently, at misdemeanors and not infractions.

> The line is clear for students who wish to participate in school
> s****ts, fail a random drug test and you're off the team and required to
> undergo drug counselling.

Do they subject student athletes to random drug tests?  I'd like to see a 
cite.

> But, for Mr. Miller we hear the excuse that
> the marijuana use did not take place on school property, are the student
> athletes given the same consideration?
>


Mr. Miller is an adult.  That's why he's allowed behaviors that students
are 
not.


Bo Raxo