Decriminalisation and integration

I would rather be disliked for what I am than liked for what I am not’. We have become the unconscious victims of the Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological survival mechanism whereby the victims of oppression unwittingly take on the norms and values of the ones who hold them to ransom. We can organize parties with Bette Midler look-a-likes, bingo and sports events, get our priests ordained so that they can marry us and even come up with our own liberal candidate.
Decriminalisation and integration.

by Mardi Grasser

Winston Churchill once said: ‘what good is freedom when your people live in fear!?’ When a government institutionalizes intimidation and repression to impose its own norms and values upon and over the identity of a sub-culture then it is time for that sub-culture to speak up if they are not to lose their soul. We as gays and lesbians seem to have accepted the unacceptable namely the transgression of sniffer dogs being set on us in our venues, police threatening the closing down of our parties, undercover police instigating fear and suspicion. Our own gay and lesbian police officers being turned against us. Instead of protecting us and raising consciousness within the force around the usage of our consciousness altering substances(CAS) they have become a tool in the governments repression. We are back in the pre-stonewall years, living in a climate of fear and shame and doing nothing about it save being timid, inconspicuous or suspiciously accommodating.

Had the Mardi Gras organizers organized some form of protest then it would most certainly have commanded my respect. But our community still lives to a degree in fear of the dominant culture and it seems to be opposed to making a radical political statement that would seriously rock the boat. And radical this is even for us. Just accepting the notion that CAS: mushrooms, cocaine, xtc, grass, lsd, dmt, ayahuasca etc can be beneficial and liberating, that they are an integral part of our celebrations and primeval self is for many of us something still beyond our conscious grasp.

We have become the unconscious victims of the Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological survival mechanism whereby the victims of oppression unwittingly take on the norms and values of the ones who hold them to ransom. We can organize parties with Bette Midler look-a-likes, bingo and sports events, get our priests ordained so that they can marry us and even come up with our own liberal candidate. We can sit in the pub, drink, talk about the economy and land taxes, but when it comes to recognizing our CAS we retreat in fear and a certain amount of shame. The same fear and shame the dominant force in society has always tried to instil on homosexuality ever since christianity took over. But we are here for more than just having our kind of sex or being assimilated into the mainframe.

Nothing will change the fact that to a substantial part of our community, CAS are bonding, beneficial, fun and profoundly liberating in the spiritual sense, when used (as with all substances) moderately, respectfully, consciously and lovingly. At the same time we find ourselves needing to deal with a control-challenged government, demonising, lying, misinforming and using outright violence to prevent us from using them as we see fit. Holding on to their conservative christian values they’ll say it is to safeguard our health and our safety but that is bullshit. It is their fear of evolution and intolerance of the unfamiliar. Create a witch hunt, curtail personal freedoms and instil your own fear into the masses.
Continue the eradication of traditional pre-christian religious norms and values through the use of violence. There is no better way to control a group then by fear.

The majority will always react as sheep in search of safety and have themselves running into the arms of the police. And the sad and ludicrous non-point to the whole saga is that it is all a dead end road. Prohibition is an illusion we have known for ages to be unworkable. For ages it has been a road to an increasing unconscious backstreet use of obscure often contaminated substances and the unnecessary slippery slope into increasing mental and physical health problems, Hiv, speed, ice and organised crime. This is something we do not need within our community and we have been wasting our time letting the government waste its time like this.

All these CAS are here to stay whether we like it or not. They have always been amongst us in varying forms as a part of the original and essential search for the ‘Truth’ or ‘reason for being’. Developed within the secret laboratories of the Alchemists, grown and harvested freely off the land, they can inspire, teach and help us to grow as they were meant to. They guide us through our celebrations and raise us to new levels of awareness. They are filled to the brim with sought after esoteric and liberating knowledge but only if we approach them with respect and reverence. Criminalisation, hypocrisy and violence doesn’t work. Their corrupting influence only adds to the negativity and pain already felt within our collective consciousness.

George Michael once said ‘I would rather be disliked for what I am than liked for what I am not’. We should not forget that we do have a moral obligation to be true to ourselves first and foremost and not to the white middle class christian dominating culture. They have their middle class values that they especially need to keep to themselves. Good for them but not for us. We are rooted in more than that including the shamanic (witches), gnosticism and agnosticism, humanism, aboriginal, alchemedian, and celtic where there has always been an acceptance of CAS and an intrinsic respect for the gay and lesbian position.

If we are to make a claim to be living free and open lives in a free and open society, if the rainbow flag is to symbolize full acceptance, tolerance, innovation and integration and not just assimilation into the establishment, then we need to speak up saying enough is enough, leave us alone. If we are to be of any significance and inspiration to ourselves, the coming generations and many of our addicted friends we need to act now, take risks and be as awesomely inspiring as the legacy of the New York Stonewall rebellion was for us. We are in a privileged and unique position to push for an uncompromising decriminalisation and re-education of the government.

We have the capacity and competence to make this clear but do we also have the moral fibre, the wisdom, vision and courage to see it through? To reclaim these celebrations and rites of passage as our own? Because seeing this through means that we could be in for a nasty fight. As with Oscar Wilde a hundred and twenty years ago, this time around we are being asked to put an end to persecution and the release of all those presently in jail on drug related charges. It asks of us to come out of the closet to safeguard our own and our unique way of life in all its aspects and not to be held ransom by a government with its own agenda, enacting its own brain dead brand of criminal behaviour.

It is high time for some serious debate to be organised within our community so that we may throw off the shackles. High time to stand up and to speak out for liberalisation and a decriminalisation on our terms.

Source: http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/04/143188_comment.php#143201

Comment:

Disco Cops
by observer Friday April 06, 2007 at 02:37 PM

I'm not gay but I like dancing and taking drugs when I do go dancing. Specifically and eccy or a line of cocaine is just fine.

I have also experienced the gay cops on the beat but they're the same cops different name gay and les liason officer. I met plenty of bent cops including them.

Just like Neighbourhood Watch meetings that gets everyone to get friendly with the cops and then some dob on their friends after they have an argument cause they think the police are too nice to lock them up.

The first prob is that once these people know your business you or anyone is open for a dob in.

Why do police march in the parade is because, what's that saying 'if you can't beat them then join them'.

Anyways I am allergic to alcohol so that's my reason for experimenting and I'm sticking it. Not just that but it's true.

The other thing is that the cops are doing the same as you so don't lose any sleep. Just because they have to enforce the law doesn't mean they are angels.

Cop Watch - drugs in the force

Lots of drugs, official reports, more police corruption.

An unknown number of officers in the NSW Police Force are drugged up to their eyeballs, according to a Report just released by the NSW Police Integrity Commission.

http://www.perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=13134

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There are coppers on the dance floor

But you'd better not steal their moves!

There are coppers on the dancefloor, but you better not kill the groove.

Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down.

Oh, I know I know I know I know I know I know about your kind. And so and so and so and so and so and so, I'll have to play.

If you think you're getting away, I will proove you wrong. I'll take you all the way, boy, just come along, hear me when I say, hey,

There are coppers on the dancefloor, but you better not kill the groove, hey hey hey hey,

There are coppers on the dancefloor, but you better not steal the moves,

Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down,

Oh I know I know I know I know I know I know, there may be others, and so and so and so and so and so and so,

You'll just have to pray

If you think your geting away, I will proove you wrong. I'll take you all the way, stay another song. I'll blow you all away, hey!

There are coppers on the dancefloor, but you better not kill the groove, there are coppers on the dancefloor, but you better not steal the moves.

DJ, gonna turn this house around somehow?

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Related:

Prohibition - Nothing Has Changed

Taken from various websites with my comments.

WEBSITE: In the late seventeenth century, the Reverend Increase Mather, probably the most influential Puritan minister of his time, said that alcohol was "a good creature of God" and that man should partake of the gift without abusing it. His son, being a little more concerned about drinking, encouraged people to set a good example by not getting drunk. (which is still drug abuse, so they were really saying the same thing).

http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/node/50557

Low-calorie bubbly aimed at health conscious women

While some wine critics have labelled it a gimmick, the launch of a new range of low calorie, low alcohol sparkling wines is expected to attract a new group of wine drinkers.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1889733.htm

Schoolboy drug test objections pursued

The heads of Australian Independent Schools will meet the Federal Government's anti-doping authority next week to protest the drug testing of school children at sporting carnivals.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1889703.htm

Police in our community and responsible ethanol drug dealing?

Considering that the Drug Ethanol is a proven cancer causer, and that we sent (one month ago) ethanol and cancer information to Cr. Rod McKelvey, so that he could address this important issue, we find it quite insulting that no mention has been made when it comes to this drug and cancer, or about psychosis, schizophrenia, dementia, diabetes, central nervous system damage, organ damage, neuro-toxic poisoning, alcoholic hepatitis, pellagra, foetal alcohol syndrome, anti-social personality disorder, amygdaloid syndrome (to lose control of one’s rage response) etc. etc. etc. There wasn’t even a mention, anywhere, that ethanol was a DRUG! The drug dealers didn’t mention it; the police didn’t mention it; our drug Advocate - who printed the article - certainly didn’t mention it. Why should they? They get their money by advertising and advocating the drug ethanol.

http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/node/50502

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Alcohol mixed with other drugs proves popular with students

"Don't take alcohol with anything it's mad mans broth," he said.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/137213.php

Dangers of kids drinking

A research team from Boston University analysed the results of a 2001-2002 survey of 43,000 adults and found that 47% of people who had started drinking before the age of 14 met criteria for alcohol dependence within 10 years, compared to 4% of those who started drinking at the age of 21.

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/17197

Cancer warnings needed on alcohol, Salvation Army says

"We actually print the labels here, put them on the alcohol, send it overseas to these countries, yet we don't do that for our own citizens," he said.

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/23427

Parents regularly give alcohol to 12yo kids: study

A study of Australian high school children shows parents are giving alcohol to children as young as 12 on a regular basis.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1835504.htm

Study finds half of pregnant women drink

New Australian research has found almost half of all pregnant women drink alcohol during pregnancy.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834950.htm

Foster's posts $554m half-year profit

The company has reported a 90 per cent jump in net profit after tax to $554 million. A total of $190 million of that was from the sale of one of its businesses.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1851879.htm

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So how much did the federal gov't make?

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Corby's book profits frozen

Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has been stripped of profits made through the sale of her book My Story.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1882698.htm
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Kidney disease hits record numbers

A new report shows a record number of Australians have kidney disease.

Doctors want patients to be offered regular kidney check-ups as part of preventative health care.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1873121.htm

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Did you notice they left off drinking alcohol off the list? Why was that Sophie?

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Woman returns home after ground-breaking eye surgery

A Hobart woman who was left blind and paralysed after an adverse reaction to antibiotics has arrived back in Tasmania after undergoing ground-breaking eye surgery in Singapore.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1887190.htm

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What if like I am you're allergic to alcohol? How do you party?

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Consuming and Indulging anything

How to deal and balance indulgence the best?

By having choices. Questions you need to ask yourself...

1) Lethal: Is this a lethal substance?

2) Moderation: How often do you take the substance?

3) Limit: How much do you take at one time?

4) Balance: Do you take the same substance all the time?

Lots of luck, mums the word lovey!