Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2008 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Reed Oishi MAINTAIN OUR RIGHTS I can't believe how many are upset about Mark Dreyer's drug-trafficking acquittal over a car search or the recent Surrey pot bust evidence being thrown out. Even more worrying is Surrey Mayor Diane Watts calling the pot bust ruling absurd. People forget that all Canadians have rights, whether they're involved in crime or not. To suggest it's OK for police to bypass these rights, unintentionally or not, is the real absurdity. Canada's police are employed to protect and serve us without discrimination, within certain rules. Allowing them to operate as they please, even in violation of the smallest of rights, is a first step towards a scary reality that Canadians have worked hard to eliminate around the world. Please stop whining over these drug problems and be thankful your civil rights are being maintained through these cases. Teach your children the dangers of drug use and trafficking. Use the only real tool against these problems -- prevention. Reed Oishi, Burnaby - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom