Breaking the Taboo

[menotu]

By Janko Roettgers - Nov 29, 2012

Morgan Freeman, Richard Branson take to YouTube to oppose the war on drugs

Some of the most prominent critics of the war on drugs are taking to YouTube to promote a new documentary called Breaking the Taboo that will be released for free on the site next week. So far, their bid for attention seems to be working.

Next week, the U.K.’s Sundog Pictures will release its documentary film Breaking The Taboo on YouTube , months before the film is scheduled to air on traditional TV. Breaking the Taboo is a film with a message, opposing the war on drugs, and it features a powerful lineup: The movie is being narrated by Morgan Freeman and features testimony by Bill Clinton as well as Jimmy Carter.

Sundog has been using short clips featuring billionaire Richard Branson, actress Kate Winslet, actor Gael Garcia Bernal and rapper Dizzie Rascal to draw attention to it ahead of its online release.

The strategy seems to be working: The official Breaking The Taboo YouTube channel has clocked more than 300,000 views since its launch on November 16. But why would Sundog release the entire film for free on YouTube ahead of its TV broadcast? I got in touch with the company to find out, and a spokesperson sent me the following response:

https://www.youtube.com/user/breakingthetaboofilm?feature=watch

http://www.breakingthetaboo.info/

http://gigaom.com/video/breaking-the-taboo-youtube-release/

[Just17]

Interesting movement ....  I wonder if it will have any effect ......

The mission statement

http://www.breakingthetaboo.info/uploads/Beckley%20Foundation%20-%20Public%20letter.pdf

[Jim Dandy]

I am opposed to the war on (some) drugs and have been for years. But I am a realist and I know that there is too much money in keeping drugs illegal to believe they are going to legalize them, at least in the US. I won't say much more about it, even though there is plenty I could say, because it might be construed I was talking politics on the board.

[gandy]

I hope this isn't too political or controversial but, while we're waiting for the Breaking the Taboo documentary, here's what Retired Superior Court Judge James P. Gray has to say about this topic.

Mods feel free to remove my reply.

Best Marijuana Argument Ever: Given By Superior Court Judge James P. Gray

[Jim Dandy]

The best argument I know against the war on (some) drugs, at least at the federal level, is that the Constitution does not give the government any authority to make any war on (some) drugs. They realized at the time they tried to prohibit the consumption of alcohol that they had to amend the Constitution before they could. Everyone knows how that worked out. And there have been no amendments allowing any war on any other drug. People should be held accountable for their actions, for the harm they cause to others (if and when they do). Otherwise they should be left alone.

[Just17]

I think this thread is in danger of veering from the mission statement of 'Breaking the Taboo' and into areas which are not welcomed on the forum .....  so I urge those reading to bear the mission statement in mind when posting.

..... opinion only ...... 

[Jim Dandy]

Well, of course the mods are free to remove anything I have posted if it is offensive to anyone or is in violation of the rules. I only stated my opinion.

[Just17]

Well, of course the mods are free to remove anything I have posted if it is offensive to anyone or is in violation of the rules. I only stated my opinion.

In case you were under the impression my post was aimed at anyone in particular or any post in particular, I just want to assure you it was not.

(posted for clarification    )

[Jim Dandy]

Thank you. I didn't take it personally.

[bicol_willem]

This Breaking the Taboo can hardly discussed here as it leads to ... Taboo´s   

[Bald Brick]

Of course this entire thread is political and as such against the rules of the forum. But even if it is political it is also non-partisan. And it's one of the most important threads we have yet seen.

What created the mafia/mob in the US? Prohibition did.

On a smaller scale, what gave rise to organized crime in my country? Prohibition did. Without it smuggling and bootlegging wouldn't have been lucrative enough.

Did prohibiting alcohol make people drink less? No, it made alcohol more glamorous and made them drink more.

Did the prohibition against cannabis result in fewer people smoking marijuana? Don't be silly. Its main result was that the research into the medical uses of cannabis also became a taboo, causing unnecessary suffering to innumerable people.

Do I mean that smoking marijuana or eating cannabis cookies is something we should recommend for our younger forum members? Of course not.

So should it be illegal anyway? Quite certainly not. The drug-pushers have caused a lot of suffering but nothing compared to what the prohibitionists have caused.

[Jim Dandy]

Well said, Bald Brick. I don't encourage anyone to smoke marijuana or anything else. But that is a personal thing because of asthma and lung problems. But I also don't tell grown people who we believe are old enough to make some of their own decisions that they shouldn't do this or that. To me the issue is where is the harm? If someone cannot be shown to be harming others then he (or she) should be left alone. More harm has been done by the government in the name of the war on drugs than the drugs themselves have ever caused.

[blarney]

Just to provide some balance I'd like to say that I disagree with nearly everyone on this thread.

Hey, I'm a Linux user... I'm used to being a minority...

Blarney

[ppiklapp]

I always shudder when the government use the term "The War On ......" because it is a battle they truly will not fight.  So we, the people, will lose without a real shot being fired.  After all, America has had a War on Poverty for over 50 years and the problems have only got worse.

[bicol_willem]

I always shudder when the government use the term "The War On ......" because it is a battle they truly will not fight.  So we, the people, will lose without a real shot being fired.  After all, America has had a War on Poverty for over 50 years and the problems have only got worse.

Governments has only one real goal: Make sure the rich got richer all the time (alas, they work for the rich) and in hard times like we see now in i.e. Europe that means simply introducing more poverty. Take away all from the poor workers, including benefits and social security in order to make sure the rich are not harmed and.... they will have cheaper labor in the end, adding to their fortunes.. DON´T even think to tax the rich to help a bit!!!    (OK, OK, Vive La France, they do at the moment!)