doctor G
10-15-2005, 04:35 PM
Perceptions
Perhaps the most important part of any societal change is how you are
seen by the people you want to be involved. And to that end the title you chose to
be gathered under is critically important.
In the sixties as people fought the draft that kept the Vietnam war running
the perception of the principals they stood for was epitomized by the terms used
to describe their actions. A large portion of the population called them â??draft
dodgersâ? and they refered to themselves as â??resistersâ?.
When the national press began to refer to â??resistersâ? their movement
began to make progress. As draft â??dodgersâ? they were people who avoided their
civic duty, and failed to keep their part of the social contract with our country.
â??Resistersâ? evoked images of France 1942, with freedom fighters meeting in
secret places while evil men hunted and tortured their members.
â??Resistersâ? were following the path of good and right, for the good of the
whole community. â??Dodgersâ? were trying to pull down the democratic principals of
the country to meet their own selfish needs.
If we really want to change the Cannabis laws in this country we have to
change the perceptions of the non smoking population. When smokers are
identified as â??Illegal Drug Abusersâ? images of Jethro Tullâ??s â??Aqualungâ? pop into
view. â??Decriminalizationâ? doesnâ??t present a positive image either. The simplistic
â??Pot Headsâ? brings Cheech and Chong into view, still not an image most non
smokers would want their children to aspire to.
What we need is a snappy, positive description of our movement.
â??Personal Freedom Supportersâ? may be accurate, but in these days of the (anti)
Patriot Act this is not a position most people will support. While â??Defenders of the
Founding Fathersâ? may be entirely accurate, the public lack of understanding
about the founding and financing of the Revolutionary War makes that a hard
sell. â??People of Freedomâ? sounds good, but itâ??s a bit clunky. â??Drugs Are Really
Excellentâ? has a nice acronym, but itâ??s been overused and sounds too much like a
Bill and Tedâ??s adventure. â??Supporters of Reasonable Marijuana Legislationâ? while
accurate lacks the necessary panache. While I personally support the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, â??Normalâ? is, by definition, a
condition of the majority and, as only fifteen percent of the population at best, has
any first hand experience with cannabis use, the acronym is inaccurate.
So letâ??s get some of that stoned freeassocation brain activity going and see if we
canâ??t come up with something better. Print this one up and read it it to your
buddys before you light up. Come on folks, smoke a fatty and do some
brainstorming. Humm â??Brainstormers for Budâ?, naw, not quite. Ok smokers,
your turn.
Perhaps the most important part of any societal change is how you are
seen by the people you want to be involved. And to that end the title you chose to
be gathered under is critically important.
In the sixties as people fought the draft that kept the Vietnam war running
the perception of the principals they stood for was epitomized by the terms used
to describe their actions. A large portion of the population called them â??draft
dodgersâ? and they refered to themselves as â??resistersâ?.
When the national press began to refer to â??resistersâ? their movement
began to make progress. As draft â??dodgersâ? they were people who avoided their
civic duty, and failed to keep their part of the social contract with our country.
â??Resistersâ? evoked images of France 1942, with freedom fighters meeting in
secret places while evil men hunted and tortured their members.
â??Resistersâ? were following the path of good and right, for the good of the
whole community. â??Dodgersâ? were trying to pull down the democratic principals of
the country to meet their own selfish needs.
If we really want to change the Cannabis laws in this country we have to
change the perceptions of the non smoking population. When smokers are
identified as â??Illegal Drug Abusersâ? images of Jethro Tullâ??s â??Aqualungâ? pop into
view. â??Decriminalizationâ? doesnâ??t present a positive image either. The simplistic
â??Pot Headsâ? brings Cheech and Chong into view, still not an image most non
smokers would want their children to aspire to.
What we need is a snappy, positive description of our movement.
â??Personal Freedom Supportersâ? may be accurate, but in these days of the (anti)
Patriot Act this is not a position most people will support. While â??Defenders of the
Founding Fathersâ? may be entirely accurate, the public lack of understanding
about the founding and financing of the Revolutionary War makes that a hard
sell. â??People of Freedomâ? sounds good, but itâ??s a bit clunky. â??Drugs Are Really
Excellentâ? has a nice acronym, but itâ??s been overused and sounds too much like a
Bill and Tedâ??s adventure. â??Supporters of Reasonable Marijuana Legislationâ? while
accurate lacks the necessary panache. While I personally support the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, â??Normalâ? is, by definition, a
condition of the majority and, as only fifteen percent of the population at best, has
any first hand experience with cannabis use, the acronym is inaccurate.
So letâ??s get some of that stoned freeassocation brain activity going and see if we
canâ??t come up with something better. Print this one up and read it it to your
buddys before you light up. Come on folks, smoke a fatty and do some
brainstorming. Humm â??Brainstormers for Budâ?, naw, not quite. Ok smokers,
your turn.