say what??!?

Let me start off by saying, I was shocked, SHOCKED!, by the video we watched in class today. For a person my age, I consider myself to have an above average awareness of current events, both national and global. let me rephrase. I consider(ed) *past tense* myself to have an above average awareness of current events.

HOW THE HELL HAVE I BEEN ALIVE FOR 21 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENTS CONNECTION TO CRACK AND THE STREETS?!?

Apparently this is supposed to be common knowledge, where have i been? how did i miss this? THIS IS HUGE! THIS IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE! I cannot believe that the powers that be in the government have not been punished for this! I am embarrassed, no, ASHAMED, for not knowing about this. I know that minorities in this country have been dealt a bad hand by our government many times, but COME ON! How can they get away with this?

Here is a link to a wikipedia site that talks about the CIA and Contra's cocaine trafficking in the US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_and_Contra%27s_cocaine_trafficking_in_the_US

I still know very little about the subject, seeing as i was introduced to it today, so i am eager to do more research and hopefully i will be able to provide more links to sites with information (just in case any of you are as shocked, or just as interested, as i am)

Here is some information from streetdrugs.org about the explosion of crack abuse in the 80’s (thanks mr. oliver north): The crack epidemic dramatically increased the numbers of Americans addicted to cocaine. In 1985, the number of people who admitted using cocaine on a routine basis increased from 4.2 million to 5.8 million, according to the Department of Health and Human Service's National Household Survey. Likewise, cocaine-related hospital emergencies continued to increase nationwide during 1985 and 1986. According to DAWN statistics, in 1985, cocaine-related hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from 23,500 to 26,300; and in 1986, they increased 110 percent, from 26,300 to 55,200. Between 1984 and 1987, cocaine incidents increased fourfold.

THAT’S INSANE! Our government created an epidemic in the streets, and now they’re using it to persecute the victims. Talk about kicking someone when they’re down!