Emmitsburg Coalition To Prevent
Drug Abuse - Take II
Jack Deatherage, Jr.'s
The first
meeting of the Emmitsburg Coalition to
Prevent Drug Abuse was attended by
about 40 people. A Frederick radio station
set up its equipment, the County rags had
sent reporters, the town newspaper had its
owner on hand. A member of the
Council of Churches was there. The
Feds were there; as were some state suits
and county paper shufflers (PS). Even most
of our town's elected officials showed up.
(A chance at 100K had fired some of them
up.) Emmitsburg was news. And I sat, and
listened, and watched, and wondered- How
many of these people are here for the event?
How many will be here as this group gets
down to its real business?
There were 20 people
at the next meeting. A couple of county PSs,
a town official or so. A few disgruntled
parents and some concerned citizens. Even
the local paper sent a reporter. I still sat
wondering who was going to stick. These 20
weren't all from the 40 who attended the
first meeting, maybe half of them were new
faces. But I wasn't ready to bet a
functioning group could be formed from these
people. I was still waiting. My bet was that
Emmitsburg would show its true self and
crush
Mr. Brenann's coalition efforts
by weight of sheer indifference.
The next meeting I
recall had 5 people in attendance. No PSers,
no elected town officials, no reporters, no
Feds. Just a few new faces- concerned
citizens, our crusader, a couple of drug
enforcement cops and me, the smirking fool.
And then the latest
meeting, the one when the ECPDA was to
incorporate, to elect officers. To begin
organizing the various groups to work as a
whole on the town's drug problem. To become
qualified for government grants- that
$100,000 everyone was so excited about the
first meeting. This was the important
meeting! The word was out over the phone
lines and e-mails. The Coalition was down to
nut crackin' time!
My gardening partner
and I sat quietly discussing our garden as
the crusader checked the clock. We were it.
From 40 concerned citizens to 3. Well, two.
I hardly count as my garden partner told Mr.
Brenann, I was there to laugh as he fell on
his face.
Which was true
enough in the beginning. I did come for the
entertainment, to watch the train wreck. And
I got my chuckle time in. But now we were
down to the people who actually cared enough
about this town to show up at a meeting to
DO SOMETHING!
Being the unmerciful
snot that I often am I had to ask our
crusader, "Where are the church people?
Where are the town officers? Where are all
the locals so determined to see this
community change?"
He hemmed and hawed.
I knew he didn't want to "burn" people he
had once worked with and hoped to get back
on board, but I wanted him to say what I
already knew.
They were afraid.
Not all of them, but collectively they won't
act to protect this community. They fear the
dope dealers; they fear the kids using the
dope. Better to live with the beast than
stir it to violence. Better to be part of
the beast. Better to throw everyone else's
kids to the monster and huddle at home and
pray their children won't get eaten.
The churches weren't
present; whatever God they give lip service
to must be proud that they have chosen not
to risk their crucifixions. HE already died
for their sins, why should they have to
suffer now? And our elected officials? I
guess we get what we vote for. Evidently we
don't vote for leaders. The Coalition was
promised NO help from the town, but the town
is willing to share in any grant moneys the
Coalition might snag from the Feds, state
and county provided the Coalition doesn't
piss off the dopers and their dealers! (I
guess I've voted for the last time in the
farce this burg calls an election.)
It's nice to know
who you're dealing with. I'd sooner deal
with the dopers and pushers. At least I know
what they want and are willing to do to get
it. They are people I can count on. Hmmm.
Maybe I'm catching sight of the true
situation here. Maybe the government
agencies, elected officials and the churches
WANT the druggies and pushers running wild
and free? Of course! They justify their jobs
by having kids strung out on crack, heroin,
and alcohol. They preach from their pulpits,
classrooms and podiums about the evils of
drug abuse, and they tell us how we need
them to save us!
But somehow the
situation never gets better does it?
I asked Mr. Brennan
if the Coalition was out to rid the town of
dope dealers? It was suggested the Coalition
leave the enforcement of law to the police.
The Coalition would focus its efforts on
presenting the kids with alternatives to
drugs and the culture that grows from drug
use. How this can be accomplished with 2,
maybe 3 people, is beyond me. But I've
always thought the idea of preventing drug
abuse in this burg was beyond hope. Way too
many alcohol and/or dope consumers in the
role of parents.
At least we know now
how many people are willing to get involved.
To be honest, three people are two more than
I ever expected.
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