cannabisnews.com: Bush's Born Again Drug War





Bush's Born Again Drug War
Posted by CN Staff on August 12, 2004 at 16:02:42 PT
By Paul Armentano, AlterNet
Source: AlterNet 
Whereas previous administrations commonly framed their anti-drug arguments in secular terms, Bush's drug war, at least rhetorically, resembles that of a religious crusade. Listen to George Walker Bush speak about substance abuse and it's apparent that one is listening to a preacher, not a president. "There are faith-based organizations in drug treatment that work so well because they convince a person to turn their life over to Christ," Bush divulged to the religious journal Christianity Today. "By doing so, they change a person's heart and a person with a changed heart is less likely to be addicted to drugs and alcohol."
Despite US Constitutional restrictions requiring a separation of church and state, Bush's ardent Judeo-Christian faith – the President is a practicing Methodist who "accepted Jesus Christ into his life" in 1986 – remains the staple of his administration's anti-drug platform. Whereas previous administrations commonly framed their anti-drug arguments in secular terms (i.e., former President Richard Nixon's "War on Drugs" or the Reagan administration's "Just Say No" campaign), Bush's drug war, at least rhetorically, resembles that of a religious crusade. GW's bottom line: Only through "God's will" may one be "saved" from the temptations of illegal drugs. It's a stance that many drug law reformers view as not only ineffective, but possibly illegal.President Or Proselytizer? "You know, I had a drinking problem. Right now I should be in a bar in Texas, not the Oval Office," Bush told author David Frum in his 2003 biography The Right Man. "There is only one reason that I am in the Oval Office and not in a bar. I found faith. I found God. I am here because of the powers of prayer."While stories recounting the President's prior alcohol and drug use – so-called "youthful indiscretions" – are well publicized, not as well known is his 1986 spiritual awakening that led him to quit his use of intoxicants cold turkey. It's this personal journey that led Bush to reach his conclusion that other drug users – recreational pot smokers in particular – must also undergo their own, albeit coerced, religious conversion to achieve drug abstinence. After four years in office, it's clear that Bush is willing to use the bully pulpit and Congress' deep pockets to accomplish his goal: a drug-free, religiously indoctrinated America.As President, one of Bush's first actions was to sign an executive order establishing a White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, presently headed by "Faith Czar" Jim Towey. In 2002, the Bush administration awarded nearly 500 faith-based programs – including several drug "education" and treatment programs – $477 million in taxpayers' funding. In 2002, Bush doled out an additional $568 million in federal funds to 680 self-identified faith-based groups – programs like the fundamentalist Christian drug-treatment project "Set Free Indeed," which states: "We rely solely on the foundation of the Word of God to break the bands of addiction. Once a person ... recognizes that only God can set them free, the rebuilding process can begin." To date, the Bush administration has funneled several million dollars to "Set Free Indeed," and the President singled out its founder by name during his 2003 State of the Union address, lauding it as a shining example of federally-backed faith-based drug treatment.Religion has also been the theme of several new, high profile anti-drug campaigns launched by the administration. In 2003, just months after being tapped by Bush to head the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Karen Tandy threw her weight behind a grassroots anti-drug campaign called "Pray for the Children," which according to the group's website, maintains, "The power of prayer is unequaled" in influencing adolescents from refraining from drug use. Regarding her endorsement of the program, Tandy explained, "Drug abuse is a scourge that attacks a person's soul as well as body, so it's fitting that the solution should engage the soul as well."Also last year, Bush launched "Faith. The Anti-Drug," a multi-million dollar campaign to encourage the religious community to incorporate pot abstinence into their spiritual teachings. "Faith plays a powerful role in preventing youth marijuana use," announced Drug Czar John Walters – himself a disciple of notorious "virtuecrat" and former drug czar William Bennett – at the campaign's kickoff party. He added, "We are urging youth ministers, volunteers and faith leaders to integrate drug prevention messages and activities into their sermons and youth programming, and are providing them with key tools and resources to make a difference."Faith. The Anti-Drug? But are such campaigns "making a difference?" And are they even appropriate? Critics resoundingly say "no" on both counts."Religious drug treatment programs [like those favored by Bush] turn back the medical clock to the 19th Century," says Samantha Smoot of the Texas Freedom Network, a faith-based initiative watchdog group whose membership includes over 7,500 religious and community leaders. "The President values programs that say: 'We can pray you out of your addiction' more than programs that say: 'We will treat your addiction with counseling, medical treatment and spirituality.' Even more outrageous is his insistence that taxpayers foot the bill for his dangerous approach."It's also potentially unconstitutional, according to Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United, a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. that argues for the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom. "This is a massive shell game," he says. "The administration insists no public funds will be spent on religion, then turns those funds over to groups that openly brag about how much religion they have in their programs. The level of duplicity is staggering."However, according to drug law reformer Charles Thomas, founder of the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative, religious faith can play a pivotal role in drug policy – though not in the way Bush decrees.Faith teaches that it's essential that America's drug laws be just and compassionate, Thomas wrote in the May/June issue of the interfaith journal, Fellowship. "People of faith may play an essential role in building public support for treating drugs as a health issue instead of a crime," he explained. "Regardless of whether or not it's immoral to use drugs, it certainly is wrong to punish people solely for using drugs. Personal morality issues should be addressed by the faith community and family, not by cops, courts and prisons."Don't tell that to GW, however, who has escalated criminal drug law enforcement during his Presidency and overseen the arrests of nearly 5 million Americans for drug crimes – most for no more than minor drug possession. Regrettably, like the Crusades of old where religious transformation typically occurred "by fire and sword," the Bush administration ultimately believes that today's drug users federally ordained path to redemption is best achieved by way of a jail house conversion.This article originally appeared in Heads Magazine in Canada. Paul Armentano is the senior policy analyst for The NORML Foundation in Washington, DC.Source: AlterNet (US)Author: Paul Armentano, AlterNetPublished:  August 12, 2004Copyright: 2004 Independent Media InstituteContact: letters alternet.org Website: http://www.alternet.org/DL: http://alternet.org/drugreporter/19547/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Outside View: Drug War Light on Compassionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19214.shtmlU.S. Asks Church Groups' Help Vs. Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16820.shtmlNation's Drug Czar Touts Faith-Based Programs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15974.shtml
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 21:15:05 PT
Hope
I'm glad you liked the idea. I just feel so bad for the people that have been hurt by the Hurricane. I saw a lady giving a very old lady a bottle of cold water today on the news and she was so appreciative. It made me want to cry. I know if we had a hurricane that caused that much damage and it was a reasonable distance from my place that's what I would want to do. Thank you for the links!
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:42:35 PT
Cronkite lays down his pen?
http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=peopleNews&storyID=5989657
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Comment #24 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:35:28 PT
Officials Reluctant to Release Death Toll
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/9411262.htm
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:32:06 PT
I'd like to hear from Florida activists
Scott Bledsoe, Jodi James, Stephen Heath, and Purple Skies are just a few that I can think of.Does anyone know if they made it through the storm safely?
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:20:25 PT
FoM!
That's an outstanding idea. There are lots of activists in Florida. I'd like to hear from them all.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 19:48:32 PT
I Like This Motto!
I went to WAMM's web site and found a really cool motto they are using.Legalize Naturehttp://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=wamm.0
WAMM
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 19:09:10 PT
Virgil
Thank you. I've found that kindness leaves an impression that debating or trying to make a point can't sometimes do. I don't like when I'm preached at but if someone did something nice for me I would listen to what they have to say out of respect. People need help because of the hurricane and will need help for months to come. I don't know if it could happen because it's up to those who live in Florida but it could be a good thing.
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Comment #19 posted by Virgil on August 16, 2004 at 18:18:54 PT
Good idea FoM
It would get NORML some donations too.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 15:33:43 PT
An Idea
I was looking at all the damage on the news because of Hurricane Charley and thought how nice it would be if people who were NORML folks ( or any organization ) in Florida would be able to volunteer a little time and help some of the older folks during this terrible time. They could wear a T-shirt with a motto like NORML cares or something along those lines. Kindness can make people see the human side of an issue without even saying a word about an issue. Just a thought.
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 15:28:19 PT
Jose!
Glad to know you are safe!Welcome back.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on August 15, 2004 at 14:31:29 PT
Jose
I'm glad to know you are ok. That was a terrible storm. Nature does what it wants when it wants and all we can do is hope during times like that.
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Comment #15 posted by Jose Melendez on August 15, 2004 at 14:19:10 PT
I love you all
Hurricane Charlie just missed me, but power just came back on in my area. Thanks for your concern, FoM, I've missed being "here".
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Comment #14 posted by john wayne on August 13, 2004 at 18:05:19 PT
hmmm, that's funny....
...because some of the most avid drug users I know are also completely enthusiastic xtians too. Over and over ad nauseum the media tries to impress us with the idea that religion and drug use are mutually exclusive, but I just don't buy it.In fact, there exists a body of research that says that religion CAME FROM drug use:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340128755/102-4247302-6368920http://basementshaman.com/magmusinrela.htmlhttp://www.jamesarthur.net/mm_01.html
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Comment #13 posted by BigDawg on August 13, 2004 at 13:45:56 PT
  cannabliss
They have ALOT of compassion for people dealing with addiction.... when it is a family member.If they are just another poor person.... lock em up... that'll teach em.
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Comment #12 posted by cannabliss on August 13, 2004 at 13:14:50 PT
Confused
I would expect that those people who deal with addiction either directly (as GWB) or indirectly (as Dr. Kevin) would be more compassionate and tolerant, but instead they represent some of the most virulent strains of nanny-fascism. Why is that? (seriously)
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Comment #11 posted by Kozmo on August 13, 2004 at 12:07:41 PT
Bush is a Hypocrite
I just have one question for GWB. Would you be better off today if you had spent time in jail for your use of drugs and alcohol ?GWB is a hypocrite for continuing to arrest and imprison people for their drug use when he himself has participated.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 13, 2004 at 12:01:28 PT
Jose Stay Safe!
We're following the hurricane information and the storm is now a category 4. I don't know if it will be near you but if it is be careful.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on August 13, 2004 at 08:45:13 PT
Richard Paul Zuckerm: SANCTIMONIOUS HYPOCRITES
"Every genocide of the 20th century began with gun control laws!" You are right. 
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Comment #8 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on August 13, 2004 at 07:59:35 PT:
THESE SANCTIMONIOUS HYPOCRITES FINANCED HITLER! 
The most recent email issue of the New Hampshire Gazette details President Bush's Grandfather's corporate financial support provided to Hitler, even after Hitler, evading Congressional investigation. The Bush Family are part of the PHARAMACEUTICAL CARTEL. Please send a letter of support to Dr. Matthias Rath for his complaint of genocide against the pharmaceutical cartel, www.gulfwarillnesses.com/news/RATH.htm? Just type "Dr. Rath" into any search engine and you will be able to find him?President Bush is a member of "Skull and Bones." At least once a year, he goes to Northern California and prays for an Owl at BOHEMIAN GROVE. I urge readers to listen to the song by Todd Rundgren, in his CD entitled LIARS, in particular the song entitled MAMMON.These people in power are DEMONIC, not true Christians! All they want are power, money, and to control all of you people! Voting for any democrat or republic, with only a few exceptions such as U.S. Representative Ron Paul [who is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Liberty Caucus] or Dennis Kucinich [I guess!], is a vote for your own enslavement and TAXATION! Which politician do you vote to be your next slave master? Well, you might believe that John Kerry would be less brutal of a slave master. But he recently commented that he would have voted to invade Iraq even if no weapons of mass destruction would have been found! He is against the Right to own a firearm. You people are voting to disarm Americans so government can move in on your lives, to control your lives, to conform to THEIR moral standards, and, if you are deemed "dangerous", to be able to kill you people! Every genocide of the 20th century began with gun control laws! www.jpfo.org. Have you people ever wondered why American society appears to be leaning more and more towards angry, suspicious, and arrogant?! I would urge all readers to view the movie entitled THE CORPORATION, www.thecorporation.com, which recently prompted Berkeley, California, to unanimously issue a Resolution calling for an end to constitutional protection of Corporations. The web site for this movie sent me a reply indicating that the DVD of the movie will be on sale around January 2005 [around the time oral argument will be held in that U.S. Supreme case involving whether the interstate commerce clause is to be invoked so as to give federal jurisdiction in EVERY Marihuana cultivation case...As the federal prosecutors try to have The Court follow an OLD interstate commerce clause holding Wheat cultivation ALWAYS involves interstate commerce!]. Readers should visit same web site now to see where the movie is playing. My lawsuit against the Highland Park Public Library and the Highland Park Police Department, www.HPBoro.com, from the library regulation which limits our use of the public pay telephone to a mere 3 minutes, even with nobody waiting to use the phone, arrest by 3 cops with a COMPLETELY FABRICATED "disorderly conduct" charge, is going to prevent me from attending the Seattle Hemp Fest, www.SeattleHempFest.com, for the second year in a row! Last Friday, trial Judge Nicholas J. Stroumtsos, Jr., (Secretary)(732) 981-3102, (Law Clerk)(732) 981-3074, ordered all discovery to be completed by early December 2004, so that dispositive motions can be made [motions to dismiss the lawsuit and/or for summary judgment in their favor]. If this case survives dismissal or summary judgment, then the case will be put on the list for a trial date to be scheduled. Plus, I'll be able to move out of New Jersey/New York City nasty police state metropolitan area. However, I believe that apartment security deposit loan programs should be implemented throughout the country to facilitate adequate housing! Reminds me of the National Coalition For The Homeless web site describing the targeting of the homeless for criminal prosecution. Maybe they do not implement adequate apartment security deposit loan programs to make it easier for cops to bust on the housing deficient people? I believe Dennis Kucinich would implement security deposit loan programs. Too many people are sucked in by the major media propaganda, that more publicity means better person. Heads magazine had an article last month about Marshall McCluhan who said "Media is the message." When are people going to wake up and realize that Big Government is our ENEMY, not our friend! Bush and Kerry are our enemies, not our friends! U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, and Ralph Nader are our FRIENDS!Richard Paul Zuckerman, Box 159, Metuchen, New Jersey, 08840-0159, (Cell telephone number)(908) 403-6990, richardzuckerman2002 yahoo.com.
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Comment #7 posted by Virgil on August 13, 2004 at 05:07:10 PT
Bribe money
The payment of taxpayer money to these religious organizations is more than feeding the Republican constituants red meat. It is an outright bribe.Here again we see the misadministration adopting Policy by Mythology. Just read this sentence again to see how goofy it is to say that the Christian God (that does not even exist) and only the Christian God can save you from an aquired addiction- Once a person ... recognizes that only God can set them free, the rebuilding process can begin.
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Comment #6 posted by billos on August 13, 2004 at 03:24:52 PT
......................BOOOOSSHH.........
is a mentally challenged "dry drunk". They say alcohol kills brain cells. Bush is living proof.George Walker Bush must be awfully proud of his 
stupid, war monger son.
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Comment #5 posted by siege on August 12, 2004 at 20:27:03 PT
          TIME IN TEXAS
We all have religious conversion to achieve and that is to be one with the LORD
"We rely solely on the foundation of the Word of God to break the bands of the Bush administration Once Bush ... recognizes that only God can set him free, the rebuilding process can begin."You know, I had a drinking problem. Right now I should be in a bar in Texas, not the Oval Office,"IS THIS WHY BUSH SPENDS SO MUCH TIME IN TEXAS TO FULFILL A RELAPSE.
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Comment #4 posted by breeze on August 12, 2004 at 19:07:53 PT
If Jesus were to come back today
The first place he would visit would be the government, the military, and after other fiancial organizations, and rich folk, etc.- he would eventually make his way to bars- to say I don't blame you for getting smashed, it obviously keeps people weakend enough to be controlled by the tyrants and from resorting to violence in response to their ignorance and abuse of power.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on August 12, 2004 at 18:29:49 PT
Ask the Ecologician.
Bush needs help.Bush has things backwards. 
 
“religiously indoctrinated America…”Let’s know this well.Christ God Our Father told Us all the seed bearing plants are good and did so 1st thing on the 1st page of the Bible.YOU AINT RELIGIOUSLY INDOCTINATED if You preach that Christ God Our Father is wrong.This is verifiable by asking the additional helper that We have available for just such needs. The Spirit of Truth, will confirm the truth. Christ God Our Father will communicate directly to You, Himself, what exactly is the truth, about the plant cannabis.Just ask the Ecologician, Your self.And while Your at it, ask Him to expose Bush.You will also shake Your head.NOTICE, the emphasis on cannabis… As We have…Here is another one where they cry for support against the meth problem, stating how bad it is, then BLOWING it by stating meth is a “Schedule II substance.” (US AL Editorial: Help Task Force By Reporting Drugs http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1147/a09.html?397)They seem to be indicating meth is as bad as cannabis… But if what they say about meth labs is like what they said about cannabis; then meth must not be nearly as dangerous as reported.Cannabis is listed as the more dangerous as a schedule 1 substance while meth is a “Schedule II substance.” Even America’s drug czar tours the country stating cannabis is worse than hard drugs.
 
Which is it?(kids have some need for the truth…)Cannabis is reported to cause this and that, which it doesn’t, creating a credibility gap. The credibility gap is enough to create some of the problem of addiction, in itself. Bush’s portfolio profits more with increased rates of addiction and His and His ilk’s policies create higher rates of addiction. On and on and on…Bush isn’t just a dick.Bush is evil on Biblical terms, FULL ON.That isn’t my words; that is from THE WORD.420The Spirit of Truth should be everyone’s goal, right now. 
They say, "We rely solely on the foundation of the Word of God to break the bands of addiction.” 
 
Actually, they don’t; they also rely on cage to coerce people out of their mind.AND BY THE WAY, “the foundation of the Word of God” STARTS ON THE VERY 1ST PAGE!!! WHERE IT SAYS ALL THE PLANTS ARE GOOD.THAT IS THE FOUNDATION.The 1st page IS the foundation.THAT IS WHERE THEY STUMBLEThey stumble starting on the very…
AND FROM THEIR THEY NEVER REGAIN.By time they get to page 2, they are lost.IT IS WHERE EVIL SPIRITS SEPARATE THE MAJORITY OF HUMANS FROM THE POTENTIAL OF THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.AS SOON AS THE EVIL SPIRITS CAN, THEY WILL SEPARATE US ALL IF WE DON’T HOLD TIGHT TO THE TRUTH.Bush like anyone of Us could, fell to weakness and hasn’t yet regained His connection back to Our Father. We have the truth and do not stumble; We should pray for Bush to come to His Father and join Us.He needs Us more than We need Him.And this: "We are urging youth ministers, volunteers and faith leaders to integrate drug prevention messages and activities into their sermons and youth programming, and are providing them with key tools and resources to make a difference."The fool is asking others to teach Our children that the table of the Lord is defiled.Ill fool.I could go on.The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 12, 2004 at 18:09:51 PT
"Bad Example"
"There is only one reason that I am in the Oval Office and not in a bar. I found faith. I found God. I am here because of the powers of prayer."Yes, God must be holding you up as the "bad example". The rest of the world is against you and even Americans are waking up to the ugly truth! Why couldn't you be in a bar? You would be less dangerous there. The way out...The U.S. Governments Unbelievable Disrespect Towards The 9/11 Victim's Families:
http://www.freepressinternational.com/911.families.07.24.2004.htmlThe Secret Service at Booker Elementary - The Dog That Did Not Bark:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/9-11secretservice.htmlBush Blew It The Morning of 9/11:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/221160p-190107c.htmlPentagon 9/11 - Getting the Facts Straight:
http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/august2004/110804factsstraight.htmThe Air Defense Failures of 9/11:
http://www.septembereleventh.org/airdefense.php
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on August 12, 2004 at 17:20:15 PT
hear, hear!
" Right now I should be in a bar in Texas, not the Oval Office,"George W. BushWell said, Mr. President. Now start waging peace.
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