Drugs versus humanity

I AM GLAD that Dr Rapiti recognises that although people may differ in approach to drugs, in principle they share a mutual concern for addicts, affected families and society (“Addiction: groups free and they work”, Weekend Argus, August 10). I am also glad he mentioned the value of spirituality in healing.

I concede that legalising some drugs could help manage some criminal aspects, but I don’t believe it is the solution for us. Europe is First World, we are Third World. Anyone comparing Manenberg with Amsterdam must be on drugs.

I am also intrigued by those who speak of Cape Town as a world class African city, yet look to Europe for solutions, as if history, culture, socialisation and economics are immaterial.

Max du Preez says: “The rootlessness of coloured people, this sense they got over centuries of not belonging, is the only reason why gangsterism is so rife in that community. Gangsterism is almost a yearning for a tribe, an attempt to belong.” Do European addicts have similar problems?

Throughout history humans have been plagued by similar evils, including pleasure seeking, self-indulgence, corruption, an inability to reason, cruelty and violence, all of which are intensified by drugs.

However, modern drugs are designed to rapidly hook and transform the addict into a monster who rapes babies and children.

I believe the addict’s transformation is not accidental, but part of a more sinister project. Addicts speak of seeing things which are not visible to a normal person. Therapists describe this as a mental illness, but those conversant with spiritual matters have a different explanation.

Addiction is not merely about criminality, it is about the loss of humanity. Those who make and sell drugs are at war with our humanity. When people rape and murder without a conscience, their humanity is absent, that is why the death penalty is divinely ordained and necessary. To save our collective humanity, those who enable evil must be sacrificed.