But those offering proof that such changes could make our cities much safer, as Ethan Nadelmann did in his recent U of M presentation, are shouted down by community leaders. Abstinence is over-rated. Choosing abstinence may be necessary or desirable, particularly if one is addiction-prone or among others who are. Yet true Christian temperance remains positive about pleasure without being permissive. Trying to govern this complex sphere of life with the shallow, rigid negativity of abstinence inevitably leads to chaos, as Phillips shows.
Prudence discerns right and just action in light of all the important features of a situation.
And punishing drug users who do no tangible harm is blatantly unjust. Drug War America has embraced an idol, a sham substitute for godly, ethical virtue. Only the robust virtues of our Judaeo-Christian heritage will bring us peace and order on the issue of drugs. Feel free to e-mail an article of interest.