420
Founder
I was somewhat surprised by the letter about drug use by Chris Buor that appeared in last week's Carillon. He is apparently advocating self-medication and the legalization of all drugs. His argument is flawed in several areas.
First, he speaks of the parable of the Fall ( gracious, that's not a parable! ) and the fact that we have free will. While this is certainly true, it clearly does not follow that all choices ( ie. choosing to take drugs ) are therefore good.
There are good choices and bad choices. Why did God punish Adam and Eve? It was because they made the bad choice and there were consequences for it. Mr. Buor says that only liberty creates moral fibre. However, if there are morals, as he seems to be suggesting, then there are real right and wrong choices.
Then there is a place for laws about drugs. Right and wrong are right and wrong whether there is liberty or not. ( Besides, if we are adamant about allowing free choice, what about the choice of the legislators who want to make the laws? Should we respect them?
As leader of the Marijuana Party, I'm sure Mr. Buor would like to make a few laws of his own. And if we would disagree with his laws he would be bound to enforce them. ) The point is not that we have free will so we can do what we want. We were given free will that we might choose the good. And proper laws help to teach us what is good. No, free will is not the blesser of wrong choices and it is not the answer to drug abuse or misuse.
Second, he suggests that "personal responsibility is the price liberty demands." Now it seems bordering on the naive to think that all people will be responsible for themselves and their children. While some or even the majority are, what of those who aren't? What of the parents who abuse children? Do they have a right to "medicate" their children because obviously liberty demands responsibility? We all have the responsibility to protect our kids from those who would do them harm. And if that means making laws to do it, then we must do it. We see all around us irresponsibility regardless of liberty. Never drop your guard because you assume someone else will be responsible.
Third, since when has Kelvin Goertzen used executions and beatings to enforce law? You cannot infer that because people have tried those things in the past, then that is what we are doing now. This is just ridiculous. And if Mr. Buor is referring to the Inquisition or the Crusades or such, then let him say so. But to say our leaders are doing these things is an accusation that should be addressed in court.
Now I am also not very keen on how the state imposes itself on the people. There are things that I disagree with and things that trouble me greatly. But they can be dealt with in their proper fashion ( and that takes some serious definition that I won't go into here! ). I am not afraid of revisiting the issue to make improvements where necessary but this blinded rhetoric is very perilous to say the least.
I will certainly be exercising my responsibility in my liberty by not voting for such a party that advocates such a dangerous and misguided approach at leading our country. Thank God for free will.
Chad Wiebe
Vita, MB
Source: Carillon, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 The Carillon
Contact: info@thecarillon.com
Website: The Carillon – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
First, he speaks of the parable of the Fall ( gracious, that's not a parable! ) and the fact that we have free will. While this is certainly true, it clearly does not follow that all choices ( ie. choosing to take drugs ) are therefore good.
There are good choices and bad choices. Why did God punish Adam and Eve? It was because they made the bad choice and there were consequences for it. Mr. Buor says that only liberty creates moral fibre. However, if there are morals, as he seems to be suggesting, then there are real right and wrong choices.
Then there is a place for laws about drugs. Right and wrong are right and wrong whether there is liberty or not. ( Besides, if we are adamant about allowing free choice, what about the choice of the legislators who want to make the laws? Should we respect them?
As leader of the Marijuana Party, I'm sure Mr. Buor would like to make a few laws of his own. And if we would disagree with his laws he would be bound to enforce them. ) The point is not that we have free will so we can do what we want. We were given free will that we might choose the good. And proper laws help to teach us what is good. No, free will is not the blesser of wrong choices and it is not the answer to drug abuse or misuse.
Second, he suggests that "personal responsibility is the price liberty demands." Now it seems bordering on the naive to think that all people will be responsible for themselves and their children. While some or even the majority are, what of those who aren't? What of the parents who abuse children? Do they have a right to "medicate" their children because obviously liberty demands responsibility? We all have the responsibility to protect our kids from those who would do them harm. And if that means making laws to do it, then we must do it. We see all around us irresponsibility regardless of liberty. Never drop your guard because you assume someone else will be responsible.
Third, since when has Kelvin Goertzen used executions and beatings to enforce law? You cannot infer that because people have tried those things in the past, then that is what we are doing now. This is just ridiculous. And if Mr. Buor is referring to the Inquisition or the Crusades or such, then let him say so. But to say our leaders are doing these things is an accusation that should be addressed in court.
Now I am also not very keen on how the state imposes itself on the people. There are things that I disagree with and things that trouble me greatly. But they can be dealt with in their proper fashion ( and that takes some serious definition that I won't go into here! ). I am not afraid of revisiting the issue to make improvements where necessary but this blinded rhetoric is very perilous to say the least.
I will certainly be exercising my responsibility in my liberty by not voting for such a party that advocates such a dangerous and misguided approach at leading our country. Thank God for free will.
Chad Wiebe
Vita, MB
Source: Carillon, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 The Carillon
Contact: info@thecarillon.com
Website: The Carillon – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
