Very insightful. I think it is very sad that something that created such an uproar and outpouring of support at the time is forgotten and unmentioned just two short years later. I learnt about executions because of Myuran and his situation - read a lot, thought a lot. I cannot comprehend how the law can be used to take a life. And because it is decided by law, then there is no recourse to save that life. So sad and so unjust. I believe in rehabilitation despite the system that surrounds us.

Just think about the lives saved because the break up of drug smuggling this man and the others were doing.

These criminals are dead, buried and forgotten.

Don't forget that before they were executed, they were were dealing in illegal drugs - caused untold tragedy in Australia and who knows where else. Shooting by firing squad was too good for them.

Cobber the hound states that due to the killing of those men that other lives were saved due to the drug smuggling they were part of. Well, given the drug trade has continued to grow since then that is a hollow and worthless claim. It is clear the current approach of law enforcement has failed. All it has done is waste public monies to tune of billions and made some criminals very wealthy.

It is time to decriminalize personal drug use and take the health centred approach of Portugal and others who have been smart enough to realize you cannot police your way out of situation where there is a market demand and people willing to break laws to supply it. Of course, the more simple among us don't realize that.

Drugs harm nobody who doesn't make a stupid and totally voluntary decision to ingest them. A firing squad does a lot of harm to anyone forced to stand in front of it.

Hi there Suresh RUBERAN...

I fully understand your anguish of these eight individuals who were executed. I too am against capital punishment. However I'll let you know a little about one of those who's death you lament, Myuran SUKUMARAN. This individual was a lowlife, a standover man, and a possible killer, who thought nothing of terrorizing some poor bloke or woman who couldn't pay his inflated prices for his drugs and or protection. The way he ostensibly turned his life around said more for his realisation of his eminent demise, together with his enduring worry concerning his own mortality, rather than some miraculous awaking or something just as mysterious. As I said, I don't support capital punishment, but I do support long terms of imprisonment.

That mob were in charge of their career path, their only mistake was getting caught. What would be their aided death tally be now if they were not caught.
I have no second thought for them, they were sub human, in it for themselves.

"In the place where penitents stand even the wholly righteous cannot stand" - Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 34b.

The question whether Mayuran deserved to live is upside-down: did the world deserve to still have the repentant Mayuran?

Living is not a privilege - it is a duty; and living in the body/mind of a drug-dealer, imprisoned and guilt-ridden at that, is a heavy burden indeed. While most of us will have to endure agonising years of slow death, decay and indignity in nursing homes and the like, Mayuran is now free and some even say that he is now with the angels (which is true in some non-literal sense).

Yes, the trade continues after the executions. Why? Not enough executions.

They are definitely eligible for the Darwin awards.
1/. They were idiots for going to Indonesia.
2/. They were idiots for trafficking in illicit drugs.
Makes them prime candidates for the Darwin awards.

A beautiful treatise on the meaning of life and the universality of salvation and the certainty of hope this engenders. Life in many guises form the platform for redemption, especially but not limited to death and dying as was the course in Myuran's shortened life. Congratulations

" It is clear the current approach of law enforcement has failed. All it has done is waste public monies to tune of billions and made some criminals very wealthy."

That's because we don't kill dealers ourselves.

How's the drug problem in Singapore?

Hi IS MISE...

The Singaporeans give most of their Drug Dealers a 'suspended sentence', without exception (naturally I stand to be corrected) irrespective of what nationality they're from, and despite all the Diplomatic protestations and pleas for clemency? Though I don't support the death penalty per se, I certainly applaud their justice system, for taking a 'hard line' with Dealers, unlike the 'out of touch', overfed and overpaid, 'jelly judges' we have lingering about here, in Oz!

As i have known you from birth I can see from where you come from. From which points of the compass of your life you are coming from. Considering also the vastnes of your canvass, we have to begin with a definition of terms. What do we mean by redemption. For me it posits a FALL. If you posit that Sakumaran FELL,then your thesis is in big trouble.Positvely your writing is strong and passionate. But you need to work on the Focus.
Good luck

Manny

Dear Manny,

So you consider "Redemption" to be too strong a description of Sukumaran's state?

Perhaps not a final and eternal redemption, perhaps only partial, but one thing we can be practically certain about: Sukumaran will not be dealing drugs in his next lifetime.

Whichever our last thought at the time of death, that leads us into the next. So long as our brain functions we can use our will to somewhat control our thoughts, but once the brain is gone, the soul travels on auto-pilot according to one's last thought. If Sukumaran had still been thinking about drugs at his time of death then he would be born again to a drug situation; if he thought of his family then he would be born again as a good family-person; and if he thought of making art then he would be born again as an artist.

We don't know our hour of death and only few of us are so fortunate to be thinking of God at that very moment. Those who do, go straight to God, never to return to earth. Sukumaran had this great opportunity as not only him, but also his seven friends, were singing to God at the time. We'll never know whether his soul was indeed redeemed - he could have been distracted, he could for example have thought of one of his friends singing out of tune, but there's a good chance that he was indeed thinking of God at the time his body fell, something we should all envy him for!

Do you think that SUKUMARAN perhaps; realising there was to be no reprieve, no clemency at the last minute, he was going to die? Thought he might have 'a bob each way' as it were, just in case there is a God, and get himself into this mythical 'Kingdom of Heaven' or whatever it is, people choose to believe in. Just a thought is all?

Dear O Sung Wu,

In the case you mentioned, his last thought would have been: "I might have a bob each way". Interesting to imagine the different situations he could land in - perhaps to become a used car dealer, perhaps a politician?!

Prior to his capture, Sukumaran was- as some say here- a "low life". Yes. But isn't that what redemption is? The purchase of a soul that is flawed and tarnished by something or someone of greater value. The man who wrote most of the New Testament- a guy called Saul- was such a low life prior to his redeeming.

I am not a fan of capital punishment and prefer not to see anyone face a firing squad. However, given the terrible consequences of heroin, I would have no problem seeing smugglers spending decades in prison.

I also view "reform" in prison with a healthy skepticism given the vast self interest of offenders and the frequency with which this rehabilitation evaporates as they gain their freedom.

G'day there SHADOW MINISTER...

I couldn't agree more with what it is you've said in your last Email. The people who believe there's reform in prisons, should perhaps put on a green outfit and see for themselves. If anything, they learn better skills enabling them to commit more serious crimes, and do much more harm to their victims.

What are those terrible consequences of using heroin Shadow Minister? Do you even know what heroin is or the history of it? I'm betting the answer to that is no.

Minotaur,

What a facile question. The consequences of heroin addiction are well known incl for the user: death, ill health, poverty, criminal record, broken family, etc. For society: it means increased costs of health and policing, increased crime, and the loss of productive citizens.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2016/americas-addiction-to-opioids-heroin-prescription-drug-abuse

Legalising the use of drugs helps to manage and reduce the damage, it does not in any way mean that heroin is harmless. There is plenty of evidence that the cheaper and more available drugs become, the more people get addicted, so the supply should still illegal and the thugs that do supply should be severely punished.

Gee, what an underwhelming response from Shadow Minister. Substitute in 'alcohol' or any number of prescription drugs for 'heroin' and it would be the same description.

Heroin itself is not a dangerous drug and is a far more effective pain relief than its close brother, morphine. It becomes dangerous when criminals are the ones providing the supply and like to 'cut' it with other dangerous substances (such as ground up glass).

It may surprise some but heroin was legal until 1953 and was widely used in cough medicines. Australians were some of the biggest users of heroin in the world and there was no identified issue with the drug as being a dangerous one. It was made illegal after other countries how had made it illicit put pressure on Australia to follow suit. There was no evidence based ban (on health grounds) and it was done after pressure from the 'wowser' element.

And if you're going to state '...evidence that the cheaper and more available drugs become, the more people get addicted...' then provide the evidence. Otherwise all you have is opinion posing as fact.

Minotaur,

What undiluted drivel. The difference between heroin and say alcohol is its level of physical addictiveness, (the most addictive of all the opiates) and that the body rapidly becomes used to the drug requiring higher and higher doses until the difference between a high and an overdose is wafer thin. Heroin is a far more effective pain killer than morphine, but is almost never used because of the rapid onset of addiction.

I am not sure what your agenda is, but trying to pretend that heroin is no more dangerous than alcohol does not make you look smart or informed.

When you've done some basic research into addiction get back to me Shadow Minister.

As to your comment, 'Heroin is a far more effective pain killer than morphine, but is almost never used because of the rapid onset of addiction.' No, it isn't used because it is illegal.

Anyway, thanks for showing us your ignorance.

Minotaur,

I would strongly advise that you do some basic research into addiction as clearly you know bugger all. Heroin, (medically known as diamorphine) is a far stronger painkiller than straight morphine due to its ability to cross the blood brain barrier, and is used as a pain killer in cases of severe pain.

I suggest you read the following articles, and after doing so and feeling appropriately stupid you can reply.

http://www.talktofrank.com/drug/heroin https://patient.info/medicine/diamorphine-for-pain-relief

"What is heroin? Heroin is a drug made from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy... When morphine is made into heroin to be used as a medicine, it’s called diamorphine, and is stronger than morphine or opium. Like many drugs made from opium (called opiates), heroin is a very strong painkiller. It is still just the same street heroin but some people mistakenly think it's not as addictive.

Here are some of the main effects and risks of heroin:

A small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being, bigger doses can make you sleepy and very relaxed.
The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting. Heroin is highly addictive and people can quickly get hooked."

Ahh, yes Shadow Minister, I clearly know nothing despite having been researching addiction for over two decades. In addition I have first hand experience of addiction. I've attended detox and rehab facilities and been to many, many AA and NA meetings.

I've lived with addicts (both practicing and recovering) of many persuasions (in various situations), interviewed them and got their stories first-hand. None of them were 'bad' people...indeed the opposite was true. The vast majority of addicts I've known were amazing and wonderful people. Many of them had tragic life circumstances that led to them making poor decisions in seeking relief from those situations. When you find out about people's lives and how they ended up spiralling out of control you have an appreciation of how addiction 'works or is created'.

I also don't rely on basic webpages for information and my research uses reliable research that is peer reviewed and published in reputable journals or texts.

All you have presented is some basic information about heroin, which as I have stated has been illegal in any form in Australia since 1953. And the ban was not based on evidence. It was done due to external pressures.

Addicts, regardless of the substance, cannot be pigeon-holed into a generalised group, which is what you have done. Many addicts, including those whose drug of choice is heroin, are functional and lead otherwise 'normal' lives. There was a great first-hand account of such an addict in some of the major daily Fairfax papers recently. He was a well-respected university lecturer and expert in his field. He was also a family man. He 'managed' his addiction for over two decades until he was finally able to become a 'recovering addict'.

People like you gall me. You have the temerity to pose as some sort of expert and think that directing me to some rather basic websites is some sort of show of authority. Get back to me when you have some real world knowledge of addiction. Although I do hope that that real world knowledge doesn't involve anyone you personally know (or even yourself).

My only inquiry of you MINOTAUR... is why do you seem to be such a committed apologist for those who choose to use heroin as an illicit drug of addiction? Moreover you claim to be a dedicated researcher of this and similar opiates, yet you seem to downgrade it's level of importance in determining the risk for those individuals who may wish to try it, even merely 'dabble' with the stuff. Whenever it's available, or the pace of the 'party' appears to be inescapable waning, into a state of arrant tedium and dreariness.

There's been more savage assaults upon the person; more sexual deviancy, in exchange to obtain heroin; and murders (both in and outside of gaols), associated with the use of heroin; than perhaps before the advent of ICE became the hard drug of preference. And I'm very glad indeed to see the 'gloss' of heroin use, has irretrievably faded significantly. If for no other reason, it might curb the regular need to attend the 'Division of Forensic Medicine's facilities' at Arundal Street, GLEBE. For awhile it was the preferred venue of choice, when the 'Boob' at Long Bay had a decent spike of fatalities, all of which had our 'innocuous little ol' heroin' as it's root cause!

All your research will never prepare you, or eclipse the desolate duty, to 'bag 'n tag 'n search', the bodies of deceased, 'intelligent' young men and women, reckless enough to involve themselves with this insidious poison, together with those maggots who emerge from the stinking sewers of inner Sydney, who peddle the stuff.

With respect MINOTAUR, you've much to learn my friend, about the end product of heroin use, and those sorry/silly/unfortunate souls, who for whatever reason, allow themselves to become addicted to the stuff without any regard to their own, or their parents humanity, they just die. Often in the most disgusting conditions of dregs and detritus, devoid of any human dignity one can possible imagine.

Lufeng is China's Party drug profit-centre based on British opium in Canton. Rabbit dealers in Britain were flogged , exported and flogged at Port Jackson or Brisbane river but rum profits were protected as military security in the war on cheap plonk. The Rum Corps weren't flogged and almost had a closed shop on Australian opium imports to be flogged to gold miners and Chinese take aways . Aboriginals were shot on islands at midnight or any time of day , whether drugged or drunk , except Muslims who wanted to hang rum squads .

M,

I have never claimed to be a medical expert, similarly I am not an expert in astrophysics but feel competent to challenge someone that claims the earth is flat.

If your personal experience and decades of research have led you to equivocate alcohol and heroin addiction, and claim that heroin (diamorphine) is not used for clinical treatment of severe pain then I suggest you take up something less challenging.

If you have any of your peer reviewed research to support your absurd claims feel free to provide links to it.

Islamic addiction to violence and holy killing by its great prophet is not equal to alcohol and heroin addiction . The Christian governor was lucky to survive the recent election but may still die for his religious convictions . Lenin said it's the opiate of the people (which has 2 meanings) but they still shot down the Russian church.
Organised Islam can blow your mind.

Shadow Minister, heroin is not allowed to be used in any form in Australia. In some countries, such as the UK, it is allowed to be used under strict conditions. If you have evidence to the contrary then feel free to provide it.

And as I've made no 'absurd' claims I have nothing to substantiate.

o sung wu, understanding why people choose to use a particular drug, be it legal or illegal, is not making excuses. To believe so is simply foolish. It is is also foolish to not acknowledge the drug that causes the most deaths, contributes to violence of all types, destroys more lives and causes so many other negative issues than any other drug, is alcohol.

The real telling comment was this though; 'those sorry/silly/unfortunate souls, who for whatever reason, allow themselves to become addicted to the stuff without any regard to their own, or their parents humanity, they just die.' Nobody allows themselves to become an addict. To state that they do clearly disqualifies you from being able to contribute anything of informed intellectual validity.

Some people could be tricked by spiked drinks or could eat heroin-laced food. That's not their fault. I stopped smoking cigars in 1955 and always felt it was Not Good. All other drug taking is intentional .

Minotaur,

Thanks for admitting that you were wrong about the use of diamorphine as a painkiller. With regards the use of it in Australia, it is generally not used, but is not illegal, as indicated in these guidelines from the queensland government dated 2010:

"Firstly, the majority of drugs can be diluted with normal saline with only two exceptions: cyclizine and diamorphine (neither of which are commonly used in Australia);"

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/155495/guidelines.pdf

Perhaps you could rebut this by producing a gazetted document naming diamorphine as illegal to use by doctors or specialists. From what I can see diamorphine is schedule 8 drug (same as ritalin) which indicates that it is legal if prescribed by the appropriate certified specialists (not just doctors).

Clearly MINOTAUR, you live in this tiny sterile bubble of deniability if you claim Heroin is not addictive. With illicit drugs one can't possibly intellectualize away, their harmful or benign effects. Including the violence occasioned against many involved in the Drug Trade. If you continue to so, I suggest you pay a visit to Long Bay and have a chat with many of the victims and users of illicit drugs.

Perhaps then you should advance your position from a more pragmatic approach thus seeing the issue through less single issue perspective than this position you've now taken? Moreover, you mention something quite absurd inter alia; '...To state that 'they' (sic) do clearly disqualifies you from being able to contribute to anything of informed intellectual validity...'? MINOTAUR, I haven't a clue as to what it is you're trying to say other than perhaps?

I've no fundamental idea what it is I'm talking about. You may well be right, I'm a mere dullard, a regular blue collar (retired) worker. But who are you? How can anyone take you seriously, when you 'prattle on' about matters you've probably accrued from some repudiated, discarded publication dedicated to those unremarkable entities who frequent the sleazy drug world. As well as other intellectually challenged folk, who hang about listlessly looking for the meaning of life.

I would however agree that booze accounts for most violence against the person. Why, because it's legal, and freely available, and still reasonably priced. Whereas most people can afford to get pissed occasionally. Unlike regulated State sanctioned, interdiction of Drugs of addition.

Hello Shadow Minister, I haven't recanted from my position that the use of heroin is illegal in any circumstance in Australia. I did make the assumption that you were referring specifically to use in Australia though and responded accordingly. As noted, it is available in other countries and extensive research has been done in the UK as to its effectiveness in not only the treatment of pain but also assisting addicts to transition to recovery when made available via prescription.

Thank you for the link you sent but it as a rather lengthy document. Can you provide a more specific reference such as page number/s? I shall provide more journal/published evidence when back at my uni job and computer as that is where my research is done/stored. Great advantage that to a researcher as one does not have to pay to access journals and other sources.

In the interim, this what I have found without that access about the use of heroin in Australia (and as you want a verified source): 'Heroin was banned from legal prescription in Australia in 1953. Bans were brought about through international pressure. The use of heroin for any purpose is illegal in all states and territories in Australia'. Source: http://druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au/drugs-z-drugs/heroin

As that is a government based source I give it credibility.

Cheers Shadow Minister! Have a beer or wine too...and even a cigarette with either. Just don't get addicted to any of them ;)

Hello o sung wu, umm exactly where have I ever stated heroin is not addictive? Of course it is...as are many other drugs, both licit and illicit (not to mention some behaviours such as sex and gambling). However, to attribute any drug use/addiction as the sole factor in any violent behaviour is to be naive in the extreme.

As to your comment; 'But who are you? How can anyone take you seriously, when you 'prattle on' about matters you've probably accrued from some repudiated, discarded publication dedicated to those unremarkable entities who frequent the sleazy drug world.' Well, you don't need to know who I am.

However, why don't you go back and read some of my comments that give some details as to my life experiences and research into addiction. Something that has been of great interest , both personally and professionally, to me for over two decades now.

Hi (again) MINOTAUR...

I would indeed be interested in you studies apropos the deleterious effect heroin can have on people. You say inter alia, '...to attribute any drug use/addiction as the sole factor in any violent behaviour is to be naive in the extreme...'? Who are you quoting there my friend? Certainly not me. I've seen enough violence against the person as a direct consequence, of illicit drug and excessive alcohol consumption, to last me forever!

Further, when I asked who you are? You responded thus '...well you don't need to know who I am...'. Of course not, I wasn't seeking that you clearly identify yourself, but appraise us of your tertiary and vocational antecedents, in order that we may establish your specific credibility and bona fides, on matters that you purport to have precise knowledge herein.

Myself I'm merely a blue collar worker, with a very limited education. Besides, it's only right you be appropriately challenged similar to that, of an expert witness in court proceedings.

You've indicated that you've spent the best part of twenty odd years or so at University, whereupon you're engaged in research and analyzing the addictive properties of some of society's most pleasurable and sought after beverages, as well as many other mind altering substances. Which if turned into transferable capital, would most likely be sufficient to discharge the national debt! Provided that which was raised, could be redirected towards the government coffers.

Minotaur,

I accept your apology, but I find it is difficult to see how my general statements about the properties of heroin could be construed to be about the use of this drug only in Australia.

However, I still find your allegation that heroin is illegal even in the medical system when I find it defined as a schedule 8 (highly restricted) drug, and references to its use in documents from the Queensland government.

Given this and your ridiculous equating of heroin addiction with alcohol, I don't view your claims with any credibility. However, given your supposed studies of peer reviewed research, you have ample opportunity to prove me wrong, and I welcome some links from erudite sources to back you up and alleviate the stench of BS that presently surrounds you.

Hmm, got a severe comprehension problem don't you SM. I'll post again what it says on the NSW government website: "Heroin was banned from legal prescription in Australia in 1953. Bans were brought about through international pressure. The use of heroin for any purpose is illegal in all states and territories in Australia."

Note it says "use of heroin FOR ANY PURPOSE IS ILLEGAL IN ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES IN AUSTRALIA."

The Australian Police website is even blunter and simply states "Heroin is illegal."

I also went through that document you sent a link for and there is no mention of heroin as a treatment. And your mention of a 'section 8' listing is so vague it is worthless.

Little wonder you are a shadow as your comments lack any sort of substance and therefore you have no credibility whatsoever. And for you who has presented absolutely nothing to say I have no credibility is laughable. That is even more so when you clearly have no idea of how drug/alcohol detox and rehab programs work. You are clearly not worthy of engaging with so I shall waste no more of my time in doing so.

o sung wu stated ...' I've seen enough violence against the person as a direct consequence, of illicit drug and excessive alcohol consumption...'. You seem don't seem to know the difference between causal factors and consequences osw. Causal factors can include those that lead to a person taking an illicit drug or drink to excess. Simply using a substance cannot be the sole reason for outcomes.

"Links between illicit drug use and crime
There is research both in Australia and internationally which shows that a significant proportion of those apprehended for a range of criminal offences are frequent illicit drug users. However, whether drug use is a causal factor for crime continues to be debated.
..
Drug Use Monitoring in Australia

In 2004, 37% of detainees in the DUMA program attributed at least some of their offending to drugs (excluding alcohol), with the proportion rising to 45% for those who had used drugs in the previous twelve months."

http://www.aic.gov.au/crime_types/drugs_alcohol/illicit_drugs/drugs_and_crime.html

There is plenty of indication, for example random testing for alcohol and drugs, that the will of the Australian electorate is being expressed through the policy and enforcement regime.

This (below) is the picture where indigenous are concerned and it goes without saying that such suffering (and the recent DV mass homicide) will not result in any lessening of public concern where drug use and more particularly, drug manufacture and trafficking are concerned.

http://www.aodknowledgecentre.net.au/aodkc/illicit-drug-use/reviews/illicit-drug-use-review

Hi there MINOTAUR...

Seemingly, I don't know the difference '...between causal factors and consequences...'. You're right (evidently)? Accordingly, would you be so kind as to compendiously explain the essential difference between 'causal factors and consequences' in a manner that's precise and easily deciphered for a person of my limited intellect? Provided of course you can MINOTAUR?

You intimated earlier that you'd conducted research into 'addictive behaviour' driven in part by an interest and by your 'lamentable' life experiences. Why then do you decline to identify what faculty it is, that's supervising that research? Or as I'm beginning to suspect, it's more a case, that after you've completed your regular after-hours janitorial functions thereat, you like to linger awhile in the empty corridors and lecture rooms, and read all the technical and medical research data, left laying around after a day of academic excellence?

These reservations of 'credibility' often emerge when an individual's peculiar reaction(s), raises some dubiety ? All you needed to say, you're doing, undergraduate or post graduate work in Psychology, Criminology, Forensic Psychiatry, Rocket Science; even 'Deviant Police Etiquette', if that's what floats your boat; whatever! Instead of hiding behind some notion of anonymity. Really MINOTAUR, you're a worry?

Ahh, osw so I'm a worry am I? Not as much as someone who hides behind the 'I'm just a...of limited intellect.' and veiled insults. And where have I ever stated that my life has been 'lamentable'? Seems to me just another distraction as part of your usually obfuscating comments.

As to my research, some of it has been done as part of degrees where I have studied Education and later majored in Public Policy and when doing my honours in English my subject was an author who suffered from alcoholism so I researched it. In all areas I did research into drug policies and later in life took an interest in rehabilitation. A lot of my research has been purely for personal interest though as drug/alcohol treatment in Australia is abysmal and I've been involved in campaigning for much better funding and facilities.

And when looking at why someone starts using mind/mood altering substances can often go to the very core of how they may act/react when 'high' or 'drunk'. To purely put down an action to one cause, ingestion of drugs and/or alcohol, is stupidity and only a non-inquiring mind would do that.

Minotaur,

You are in no position to throw stones given that I never claimed that Heroin was legal in Aus. That initially I couldn't open your link, and your previous blunders didn't help.

The fact remains that alcohol is nowhere near as addictive as heroin, and heroin is used as a prescription drug for pain relief treatment in many countries contrary to your claims.

Secondly, while your years assisting addicts is laudable, I fail to see its relevance to pharmaceutical uses of diamorphine.

seems to me that Suresh might have received mercy and redemption just like the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus. I hope so. True redemption though cost the only innocent Man ever to live to die a cruel unjust death. Making anyone else a hero is as unwise as making ex child molestors heroes. Dealing in drugs is just as destructive and selfish and damaging. In saying that it is plain for me to see that every one of us need redemption just like Suresh did. Thank God it was provided for those willing to humble themselves and receive it.

Now there you are MINOTAUR, that wasn't so hard was it! Had you informed us all, precisely what it was you'd done, it would've all made perfect sense, good lad. I bet you feel a whole lot better for it. F.Y.I. I employed the adjective 'lamentable', because most times when folk give voice to 'personal experience'; 'personal' being the operative word. Whereas singularly, 'experience' could be far removed from 'you' or 'yours'.