Its 5:30am and as I exit the front door of the hotel, the freezing cold air bites my face. Every other part of my body is layered in three to four pieces of clothing. I feel like I’m ready to face the frigid air for the next several hours. I await a small jitney to take me over to the metro station in suburban Maryland. A young couple from Michigan, are also on the bus stop. Apparently they are far less effected by this intensely cold weather, but I drove up from Miami. To me it was like being in a freezer for hours, naked. After being outside about four minutes the bus finally arrives, it felt like an eternity. Within minutes we are on the train and headed for downtown Washington, DC. I exited the train at Farrugat North, one stop before metro center. Having lived in the district years ago, I thought I’d avoid some of the huge crowds exiting at the next stop. K street had turned into an outdoor market of everything Barack Obama. Vendors lined the curb with tents, and giant tarps packed with merchandise. Its about 6:10am and food vendors are confusing my senses. The wonderful smell of barbecuing carcasses are roasting slowly, filling the air with summertime thoughts. Just the act of pulling your hands out of your gloves to purchase a tee-shirt or a buttom are daunting enough, but eating. No way!! I make my way over to the national mall, where a serious crowd is just beginning to form. Several hours later an estimated 2 million folks watched the swearing-in oath of President Barack H. Obama!!

As I watch the arrival of the various dignitaries being announced to the platform, it dawns on me that the attitudes and tolerance levels of the American people are clearly evolving. Drug users former and perhaps present, are sharing the platform with other VIPs. A former crack cocaine dealer is on the platform with the Congress of the USA and the states’ governors. Also on the platform are presidents, forty-one, forty-two and the “decider”, forty-three. This could not have happened twenty years ago, there is a new set of rules in America. Drug use and addiction has permeated every economic, racial, social and educational barrier. Typically, those with means will never serve any time when busted for possession. On the other hand the middle and lower class users and addicts are destined to “paying their debt to society”.

While writing this post a major cable news network reported that the half brother of the president, was arrested on marijuana charges in Kenya. He was subsequently released. Later that day the same network reported that a famous Olympian, arguably the greatest athlete of our time, was photographed while smoking pot. Is this really news worthy? I wondered how many of those reporters and editors are pot smokers? Why are these stories important, as we face the most challenging economic downturn in the past fifty years? These “news” stories are at best gossip, and should be permanently phased out of the news cycle. It seems as though we would all be better served if the legitimate news entities would report the stories effecting our lives, as opposed to stories aimed at destroying the lives of individuals. What do you think? Please leave some feedback.