4a Opinion Monday, March 12, 2001 Perspective War on drugs lost cause; substances should be legal came to the University of Kansas living in a dream world. For comments, contact Chris Borniger or Nathan Willis at 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com I thought that if we spent millions of dollars to beef up border security, had stringent rules outlawing any illicit drugs and enforced those rules with a heavy hand, we could diminish America's drug problem. But this semester, I had an epiphany that totally changed my outlook on America's war on drugs. It's not America that has a drug problem; individuals have drug problems, chemical addictions. And trying to stop an entire population from using drugs is impossible. After taking the respective messages from each of those things, it made me realize that we are never going to stop drug consumption totally. I came to this epiphany after three major events. I watched the movie *Traffic*, read the recent *Kansan* articles on meth and heard the infamous "Honk for Hemp" guy, Traffic made me realize how far behind we are in stopping illegal drugs from entering this country. The Kansan articles made me realize how easy it Mark Creamer, speak to my journalism class. At colleges across the country, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are starting up chapters to stop binge drinking on college campuses. Although noble in intent, they are living in the same dream world I lived in for years. was to make drugs such as meth. And Creamer made me realize that people are always going to use drugs even if the law says they can't. Eric Borja columnist opinion@kansan.com People drink, smoke pot, sniff glue, shoot heroin, roll on ecstasy and snort cocaine to take themselves away from the crappy Ken Burns documentaries that are their lives. The desire to be in an altered mindstate is profoundly common. Since the dawn of time, people have invented different ways to take their minds to another place. Today, some people do this by skydiving, drinking coffee or listening to music. But unfortunately, some people use illegal drugs to feel good. That's just the way it is. Stopping binge drinking in college is impossible. Binge drinking, just like illegal drug use, often falls under the category of "that's just the way things are." Trying to stop that is just a complete waste of time. My guess is that if you keep making the rules stricter and trying to discourage drug use and drug trade, people will spend more money to get the drugs and will want to do drugs even more. It's simple supply and demand. I understand where MADD is coming from. Most of the members have lost a close friend or relative in a drunk driving accident. What they should be focusing their efforts on is the driving part, not the drinking part. People will never stop drinking. We are inundated with as many pro-drug images as we are with anti-drug images. Movies such as Pulp Fiction and Trainspotting glamorize drug use, at least to some extent, and make it seem like a cool thing to do. Then we are exposed to pathetic anti-drug campaigns, such as Matthew Perry public service announcements and the University's own "zero-to-five drinks" ad campaign. Creamer spoke about legalizing marijuana. I say legalize all drugs, and then dealers will be competing to have lower prices. As a result, drugs would lose their giamour and mystique. They would become completely boring, and the appeal for them would be lost. As for America's war on drugs — good luck. Just as fake IDs are easy to make, so are drugs such as meth. The war on drugs has become just another platform politicians use to con us into a vote. Moreover, lawmakers would have legitimate reasons to regulate drugs, making them considerably less dangerous. But who am I kidding. We all need something to dream about. Borja is a Springfield, Mo., sophomore in journalism. John Trever/TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Kansan.com poll Last week's question: Do you plan to vote in City Commission general elections April 3? Yes. It's important to vote for local public officials. Yes, even though none of the student candidates in the primary won. No. None of the candidates are students, so my interests won't be represented anyway. No. I don't care about local government at all. This poll is not scientific. Numbers do not add up to 100 percent because of rounding. Total votes: 61 Next week's question: What would be the best way for the Athletics Department to deal with budget problems? Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote. Perspective Tenets of Christianity remain relevant today For people whose ancestors were once single-celled organisms in the process of mutation, we spend an extraordinary amount of time pondering the existence of a being who transcends the tangible. Some people even make a special public point of doubting or not hallucinating in that being. Why do we care if it is so irrelevant? We care because we have all been created with the desire for a relationship with God. Helen Keller could not hear or see, but when she finally learned to communicate she wanted someone to tell her about the God who she intuitively knew existed. Whether we choose to accept or reject him, everyone still chooses a side. I'm writing this column in response to another recent column about how Christianity supposedly Christina Pruitt guest columnist government.kaupio.edu isn't relevant in modern times. Today, many people assume that someone is born Christian in the same way someone might be born American. But Christianity is the choice to believe and follow Christ. We don't have to worry about straddling lines; the distinction is clear. I have never had to make the choice between being a Christian and being an independent thinker. The column contended that the Bible falls half the population. In reality, the Bible is a great propponent of women. Jesus (the greatest heretic and independent thinker in history) went against the societal norms of the time and treated women with a kind of respect, compassion and equality that they had never before known. In one passage, Jesus liberates a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and who would have otherwise been executed. Jesus went so far against the conventions of the time that he was killed for his unorthodox social activity. People who choose to follow the Jesus of the Bible aren't doing so out of a lack of originality or backbone; they do so because Jesus has changed their hearts in the same revolutionary way that he changed the course of history. Moreover, Mary was an overwhelmingly positive female figure. Mary was a virgin until marriage, and she bore Jesus. Does that make her weak? I could only see strength in a girl who endured an unwed pregnancy in that day, gave birth in a barn and watched her firstborn suffer a crucifixion. But Mary was never set up by the Bible to be a model for all women; she was simply a Jewish girl who was obedient to God. In Genesis, we see that God created woman from Adam's side (implying partnership and equality). Unwitting assertions of biblical text lead to false claims that Eve is the source of original sin. Similarly, claims that the Bible portrays sex as dirty are certainly a result of ignorance of the Bible — specifically, Song of Solomon. God created sex. He wants it to be enjoyed to the fullest in the right context. Think of the modern societal problems (unwed mothers, abortion, STDs, depression, emotional heartache) that could be virtually eliminated if man followed God's instructions for sex. The columnist challenged the Bible's relevance because it supposedly limits women to a submissive, powerless role. Although no example was cited in the article, the Bible does provide us with a description of the ideal woman. According to Proverbs 13:10-31, the model woman is strong, wise and business-minded — not powerless. The Bible and Christianity are as relevant today as ever, and with careful analysis of scripture, claims to the contrary are easily refuted. Pruitt is a Pleasanton graduate student in education. Editorial Ban excluding gay donors discriminates The Food and Drug Administration's policy is grounded in faulty logic. The reason for tight regulations regarding blood donation is clear. Blood transfusions are common and many illnesses can be passed through the bloodstream. The logic behind some of the tight regulations governing blood donations, however, remains murkv. The Food and Drug Administration prohibits gay males from donating blood, but males who have had sexual relations with a prostitute must wait only one year before donating. The FDA advisory board makes the rules for blood donations. In September of last year, the board voted to keep the ban on gay men intact. The panel was closely divided on the issue, voting 7-6 to keep a total ban on gay male donors. One panel member, who voted to change the restriction to a five-year waiting period, even said the policy seemed arbitrary and discriminatory and needed to be changed. Those who voted to keep the ban cited a lack of information concerning the potential risk of HIV-positive blood slipping through the cracks of their testing procedures. It is unfortunate for everyone that the FDA excludes thousands of potential donors, especially when blood is in short supply. The logic of the advisory board seems flawed, especially because we do not live in the early '80s anymore and HIV/AIDS is not a gay disease. More likely, the ban is a remnant of society's distaste for homosexual behavior. In a Feb. 27 Kansan story, Stan Handshy, Erie junior, said that it made him feel "like a second-class citizen" that the Red Cross would not accept his blood based solely on his sexual orientation. As far as our culture has progressed, negative emotions and stereotypes regarding gays still dominate. The restrictions on gay male blood transfusions should either be changed or publicly supported by solid scientific facts. Spencer Farris for the editorial board free for all 864-0500 864-0500 Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansas reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. For more comments, visit www.kansan.com. I just came from doing that walk-in with BSU, and I just want to say if you look at everything that's been done, maybe the writer, Danny Phillips, needs to stop writing for the Kansan. - O'Tool, whover told you that the coverage of Black History Month made them feel like they were floating on cloud nine is just as confused and misinformed as you are. I could care less about some Black student conference, but I thought the fight was actually news. So good job, Kansan. --- If BSU is so obsessed with keeping stereotypes at a minimum, maybe they should worry about the people who actually threw the punches and not the Kansan. I think every time a smoker lights up in a restaurant, all the nonsmokers should gather around them and pass gas just to let them know how we feel. - I have no idea why the GTAs keep complaining about, being mistreated and not getting paid enough. I think the people at KU Info need to get paid double what the GTAs get paid because they've had to answer every question no matter how stupid it is. --- KU GTAs are overworked and underpaid. They deserve a better contract, and the University should give it to them this school year. --- I guess it's really true that the Free for All does such nowadays because many people have been trying to call in hilarious comments, but in reality, I guess you're not printing them. Get real. You're supposed to be here for amusement, not controversy. 图 - Awesome article by Ted Frederickson in the Kansan. They ought to put Frederick and Allen on the same bus to someplace else. I just want to know how this professor Frederickson thinks he has all the right ideas about how to deal with the Athletics Department. Since he keeps butting his nose in all the Athletics Department's problems, why doesn't he apply for the athletics director's job since he thinks he can do everything better than Dr. Frederick? He's a joke. - To the guy who is whining about the sports program being shut down: We go to college not to go to school but to get an education. Waaa, I'm from Amiini. I live in the best house on campus, but nothing's good enough for me. Boo hoo. Go live in a real hall, crybaby. How to submit letters and quest columns Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions. Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run. All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Chris Borniger or Nathan Willis at 864-4924. 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