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DrugSense Email Fundraiser (index)
Date: September 28, 2007
Subject: Education vs. Indoctrination
Education: ed.u.ca.tion [ej-oo-key-shuhn] - noun. The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
Indoctrination: in.doc.tri.nate [in-dok-truh-neyt] - verb (used with object), - nat.ed, -nat.ing. To instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view. [Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)]
As so many folks, young and old, prepare for another school year, DrugSense feels that it would be useful to start the fall by reminding people of the difference between education and indoctrination. At DrugSense, our main goal is to educate the press, public, and policy- makers about the ravages, costs, and failures of drug prohibition, as well to inform them of alternative policy approaches. The following comes from the DrugSense Mission Statement ( www.drugsense.org/html/mission.htm):
"We exist to provide accurate information relevant to drug policy in order to heighten awareness of the extreme damage being caused to our nation and the world by our current flawed and failed 'War on Drugs.' We aim to inform the public of the existence of rational alternatives to the drug war, and to help organize citizens to bring about needed reforms.
To further these objectives, and in recognition of the critical role played by the media and the public, we:
a. Call attention to factual errors and excesses of policy as reported by the working press and broadcast news organizations.
b. Promote debate and discussion by encouraging citizens to communicate their views directly to the media and the public.
c. Provide on-line and technical support for a wide range of reform organizations, large and small, including but not limited to free email chat lists, news information feeds, and web site creation and support. Please see our site map for a list of the organizations we support. (www.drugpolicycentral.com/)
d. Create and maintain a growing, easily searched, library of news and opinion as a research and educational tool.
We believe that public policy has nothing to fear from the truth. Effective policies require a clear understanding of their results."
How does this "education" differ from "indoctrination"? To put it simply, we are not ideologues, or radicals, or even legalizers. Rather, we are pragmatists who believe "that a public well informed about the death, disease and social blight produced by current U.S. drug policy must inevitably seek to reform it". And our opponents? A quick look at the Dictionary.com definition for "indoctrination" pretty much says it all.
So as the school year starts up, please help us move away from failed drug policies stemming from fear and misinformation and towards evidence-based approaches based on science, reason and compassion.
DONATE TODAY by clicking drugsense.org/support.php, it's fast, easy, and tax deductible!
You can also make your check or money order payable to DrugSense and mail it to:
DrugSense 14252 Culver Dr #328 Irvine, CA 92604-0326
REMEMBER, you can easily repeat your donation every month, quarter, or half year to provide DrugSense with automatic, recurring support. (www.drugsense.org/donate/) Plus, online donations are private and secure. Please sign up for whatever you can afford.
Thank you again for working to end the irrational war on drugs and for supporting DrugSense/MAP.
Mark Greer, Executive Director
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drugsense.org/mylists/20070928115208/borden@ee.net
