Depending on who you ask, marijuana is either a natural medicine or a dangerously addictive substance that can and will ruin your life. The wide gap in public thinking has been generated by the hypocritical misinformation from our government and their reefer madness techniques. As marijuana becomes mainstream, we have discovered that the laws put in place around marijuana and its actual value in society have been increasingly ignored, thwarted and swept under the rug. You may not know that marijuana has been illegal for only a small portion of its lifespan, we now know that marijuana has been used for over 5,000 years, medicinally and recreationally but has been deemed illegal only for the past seventy years. We know that the US government holds patents for the medicinal use of marijuana and we also know that many of our former (and current) presidents have used marijuana at some point in their lifetime. If it’s good enough for our president, and good enough to hold patents on, why has the government kept marijuana illegal? Has prohibition failed us and more importantly, are we on the brink of marijuana legalization? Many people assume that marijuana was outlawed based on scientific research and studies when in reality it was a racially fueled attacked on Latin Americans and the black jazz musician community from Harry Anslinger himself. Marijuana was demonized and eventually outlawed on the basis that it “influenced Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.” The lies told by Anslinger and perpetuated with Reefer Madness sentiment are appalling to read today, but the same sentiments are what keep the laws already cooked, in place. Anslinger stated: “Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.” “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” “…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.” “Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing” “You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.” “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.” All these statements from Anslinger were draped in racism and meant to terrify the populace away from marijuana. We now know the plant was outlawed on the basis of race. We also know now that race and a preference for jazz music does not dictate the effects of marijuana on a person. Harry J Anslinger was not running for a political office spouting bogus ideas about drugs, he was the Director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics for all of America. Anslinger’s racially charged decisions have affected millions of lives since going in to effect, but as the information about marijuana increases, we are beginning to see that marijuana is not the demon we have been led to believe it is. The government has kept marijuana illegal for reasons that remain difficult to understand. Some say that it was in direct correlation with the Vietnam war. When protestors for peace were caught using marijuana, an idea was born. To be able to arrest (and thusly stop all protests against an unjust war) the government began turning an all too common recreational activity into a crime and arresting those people with strong feelings against the governments decisions. Reagan, speaking out against marijuana made a statement saying that marijuana causes people to sit around, read books and talk. This was apparently a dangerous activity for the government, when its people turn to educating themselves. Reagan went on to say in 1974 “marijuana leads to homosexuality and therefore, to aids” the scare tactics of his presidency and war against drugs are comical now, but at the time his words were taken as truth, a very scary leap from cause to effect. Mainstream media has picked up on the hypocritical nature of these laws and has exploited the deceivers behind them for what they are, liars and racists. What was once a dangerous substance has become a common medication to treat ailments from everyday depression to cancer and aids. Science is finally starting to catch up to the millions of marijuana users who have found relief from the plant and now we are closer to full legalization than ever. According to the United States DEA chief administrative law judge in a ruling issued on September 6th 1988, “Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.” Despite his ruling, and his urging that marijuana be moved from a Schedule 1 to a schedule 2 substance on the basis of a 69 page scientific report, the government has ignored this declaration by their own judge, again for reasons unknown. Now, President Barack Obama has been urged to recognize marijuana for its medicinal uses and reschedule the drug more appropriately, but little has been done to right the wrongs of a failed war on drugs. The fear, generated by the movement to make marijuana illegal, realizes that once the government accepts the medicinal use of marijuana for sick people, there is no longer the argument that it is inappropriate for healthy people. Our government has ignored even their own science and needless suffering has been inflicted on millions of Americans who have benefited or could benefit from marijuana.

© 2009 – 2010, AntiSoccermom. All rights reserved to the original author unless stated otherwise.

Since the inception of this website Ive had increasing numbers of self-proclaimed AntiSoccermoms approach me with their stories. It is fantastic to meet like minded people and I would like to encourage you to tell your own story, if not on your own blog, than here on this one. Feel free to write me and let me know how you are being an AntiSoccermom.

 The 6 Steps to being an AntiSoccermom

6. Wear the badge of mommyhood with honor, ditch the mom-jeans. 

A combination of sleep deprivation and a lack of anything freedom-related led me to believe as a young mother it was okay to wear sweatpants to the store despite the breast-milk stains and baby puke. The ability to care for an ill-tempered tiny person overcame the ability to care for myself and I found that little would calm my tanking self-esteem like a good shopping spree and the occassional massage. Just because you are a mom, doesnt mean you have to look like one. Ditch the mom-jeans and spend a little time doing something you love. It makes you a happier, healthier and ultimately a more awesome mom.

5. Who Cares what they think?

If I had to choose to free climb Mt. Everest or spend half an hour with the moms from my kids PTA, I bet you can guess where I’d rather put my energy. Moms, especially in packs, can be an incredibley cruel and daunting experience to undertake and I avoid it at all costs. There is an ugly unspoken mob mentality between soccermoms and antisoccermoms, akin to the highschool cliques of cheerleader vs. drama geek. Much like highschool, the best thing to do is to ignore these condescending "super moms." They will sneer at everything from your choice of coffee to what your children are wearing, their homes are often spotless and their outfits spectacularly in style. They will have the latest hair styles and the nicest SUV’s but their husbands never make it to school functions and they are always flirting with the new PE teacher. Like Wyclef says, Dont believe the hype. There is no such thing as a perfect mom and you don’t have to try to be one. If you can’t shake off their negativity, do what I do and justify their perfection as a clear lack of sexual satisfaction in their lonely and desolate lives. It makes the drama easier to swallow, but Id still take that 8,850 meter trek through the icey wilderness.

4. Despite common practice, Let logic rule.

No one can see through bullshit faster than a pre-teen. Don’t believe me? Lie to a child and see how quickly they call you on it. Instead of sugar-coating this ugly world for your perfect little angel, why not introduce them to a little place called reality? They dont need to win every game of UNO to build their precious self-esteem, in fact, coddling them that way just results in an adult that no one can please. AntiSoccermoms raise their children with honesty. My kids know they get the real deal when they ask questions and because of that they aren’t standing with their little paws out waiting for their golden ticket in life. Be truthful with your kiddos, they know it when you aren’t.

3. So what if he’s acting like a child?

Everyone in the house takes turn acting like a two year old, even the two year old. Problem is, all kids want to grow up faster than they should. Why not allow them to actually retain their priceless sense of childhood wonderment? Embrace the mental age of your children and allow them to spread their little wings on their own time. Healthy relationships are built around experience, dont thwart your children by pressuring them in to the next age bracket. You will be grateful for the chance to slow time just a little and watch your kiddos blossom in front of you. Its all about realistic expectations and letting your kids be who they really are.

2.  Love your children, but not too much.

Ayelet Waldman got a truckload of flack for announcing to the world that she loves her husband more than she loves her children. First, let me say that I think this is healthy and a positive approach to parenting. Second, who cares what the haters say? Loving your children is easy, providing a stable home life is a bit more difficult. Kids should be pretty high on your list of priorities, maybe even third, but you should come before them and so should your spouse. Happy homes breed happy children. If you aren’t happy, your kids wont be so find the one that does it for you and cleave to them. It makes the screaming, crying and inevitable meltdowns so much easier to take when you have someone on your side.

1. Be you. Get yours. 

Here’s a secret. Your husband misses the person he married. Your friends miss the fun loving girl who looked like she gave a damn and let’s face it, You miss You, Right?

The first step to being an AntiSoccermom is to remember who you actually are. Kids are great and can lend an incredible amount of depth to your lifestyle, but its important to retain some sense of personal pride in yourself. Do the things that made you feel great before having kids, and keep doing them after those little monsters come around and suck up all your free time. In finance they tell you to pay yourself first, in parenting, get yours before they get theirs. It may sound cruel, and I know it sounds selfish, but it isnt as bad as you think. Happy moms have happy kids.

 

What do you think? Are you an Antisoccermom?

 

© 2009, AntiSoccermom. All rights reserved to the original author unless stated otherwise.