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

"Ted Mittelstaedt" <tedm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:newscache$yfo7lj$ly$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Bo Raxo" <crimenewscenter@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:HKudna6iGsK14QTbnZ2dnUVZ_gmdnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > "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.
> >
>
> Your right, he isn't a drug addict.
>
> But, he IS a drug ABUSER.
>
> I used to smoke pot myself and am very aware of it's effects.  Anybody
> that smokes weed knows that it's illegal.  And, is the smoker is USING
pot,
> the ARE NOT going to be smoking it in public, much less a park that
> is miles from home.
>
> You have a school principal here who is risking his job and possibly his
> remaining career so he can smoke some grass in a public park.  In short,
> the guy cannot even wait an hour to get home and have a toke.
>
> For all the defenders out there, how exactly was this guy supposed
> to get home from this park he was toking out in?  Walk home?  I
> very much doubt it.  No, he was just going to toke out and then
> get in his car and drive home.  As in, under the influence.
>
> > > 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.
> >
>
> Teenagers today know the score on pot perfectly well.  They are
intelligent
> enough to know that a teacher is pretty much required by school policy
> to say that recreational drug use is bad.
>
> What kids today need is positive examples of role models.  I would not
call
> an adult who takes as stupid a risk as this guy did any kind of positive
> role
> model.  To me, him smoking pot ina public park is as stupid as riding a
> motorcycle without a helmet.
>
> > > 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?
> >
>
> Irrelevant, schools are not holding up janitors as role models.
>
> > > 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.
> >
>
> If he smoks pot on the weekend in the privacy of his home then fine,
they
> are certainly not at risk.  If he does so in a public place, gets high,
then
> drives home then he's putting a lot of people at risk.
>
> > > 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.
>
> If he was convicted of a DUI I would fire him.  However you need to be
> very careful what your saying.  Most people that get DUI's do NOT get
> convicted - they go into a diversion program and in exchange for
successful
> completion the DUI charges are dropped.  Thus, in the eyes of the law
> they never had a DUI and if you fire them you had no cause and will
> likely have a wrongful dismissal suit.
>
> > What about a speeding ticket - that's an
> > infraction on par with the majijuana citation.
>
> No it isn't.  Possession of marijuana is a crime.  USe of marijuana is
also
> a
> crime. So he is guilty of two crimes and a terrible lapse of judgement.
>
> A speeding ticket, depending on the ticket, is not a terrible lapse of
> judgement.  For example if it's for going 70 in a 65 zone
>
> >  What about shoplifting -
> > should that get him fired?
> >
>
> yes.  If convicted.
>
> Ted


Very well written post, ted.  I concur on all counts.

td
>
>