During the Baltimore riots, I was traveling in Europe. Usually when people from other countries and states ask where I'm from, I get a blank stare and then I reply that it's near Washington, D.C. No explanation was required this time — Baltimore was worldwide front page news ("Business damage from Baltimore riot estimated at $9M," May 13).
However, the reports made it sound like we were living in a police state and black people were being gunned down in the streets by out-of-control policemen and military men shooting from large armored vehicles.
The truth of what's happening in our cities is obvious. There's a war going on — the war on drugs. Innocent and guilty people on the streets and in their homes are being killed. Policemen are working in a battle zone and should be getting hazardous duty pay.
By now, our government should admit we've lost the stupid, useless war. Why didn't we learn from Prohibition? Decriminalize drugs and put the thugs out of business.
If alcohol and tobacco were illegal, do you think citizens would willingly stop purchasing and using those substances? And please, please, don't even think about making it illegal to buy candy bars that contain sugar and chocolate.
While in Spain, I learned that most of those incarcerated were guilty of dealing drugs. The global war on drugs is creating problems everywhere. The time has come to declare a truce, end this violent conflict and grant amnesty to the non-violent criminals in our jails on drug charges.
Susan Wolf Dudley, Baltimore