Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, November 5, 1997

Letters to the Editor

A little cocaine isn’t so bad

I have been very patient this quarter about replying to the
articles in Viewpoint. But your editorial on Nov. 3 simply cries
out for a response.

While it is now popular for public personalities to call for
Mike Hernandez to step down from office, to me these are laden with
hypocrisy. Exactly what is the sin of which he is accused? Drug use
… admitted. Poor judgment, admitted.

The hypocrisy is on at least two levels. So far as I know,
neither the Daily Bruin nor the other public officials making
pronouncements have ever called for any other public official to
step down from office for either of the two charges.

The difference is that the drug Hernandez is apparently addicted
to is classified as an illegal substance. Many elected officials
have abused and are addicted to other drugs – most commonly
alcohol. Many have been arrested for and convicted of driving under
the influence – a crime, and worse yet, none have been asked to
resign over it.

What this really boils down to is yet another instance in which
the drug hysteria gripping this country takes the place of wisdom.
Without saying anything about whether drug use is good or bad, it
does not deprive anyone of the capacity to serve as an elected
official any more than getting drunk now and again does.

For the record, cocaine was a legal substance until fairly
recently. For a time, alcohol was an illegal substance. It is all
really a matter of political pull and power, not morality, public
danger or any of the other false rallying cries heard from the
mouths of those who ought not throw stones.

Another instance of the hypocrisy comes in statements such as
"he needs time to regain his health" and other such drivel. How do
you know? As a matter of fact, in most cases, removing a person
from his livelihood is devastating to the process of recovery. In
either case, it is for Hernandez to decide what his path of
recovery shall be, not you and not anyone else.

If his constituents think Hernandez should not serve out his
term they have a vehicle to impose their will. In the meantime,
leave the man alone.

Philip Hoskins

UCLA Law School ’64

Attorney at Law