Uncle Sam on the Ganja Weed

Kevin D. Williamson, in his article “The Marijuana Majority” (December 31, 2020), stands on the shoulders of NR’s former editors and calls for the federal legalization of marijuana. He briefly mentions a “federalist case” for it but does not actually provide one (at least not one with much specificity). My federalist proposal for marijuana legalization is to allow all 50 states to decriminalize it for their own residents while the federal government maintains its prohibition for U.S. government employees and military service members. This would deter usage and abuse and prevent harmful problems that other federally legalized substances consistently cause, with the result of birthing many programmatic responses (such as the Army Substance Abuse Program).

I speak from personal experience as a former Army infantry officer responsible for the well-being of soldiers and their families (which included taking direct action when my soldiers abused or misused those legal substances). Monthly mandated urinalysis exams have been successful deterrents. I appreciated the author’s article and approach to our nation’s marijuana issue. Thank you for your magazine and conservative content!

John Pai Deerfield, Ill.

On Zionism

I am pleased to have read your articles on Zionism and by your willingness to view it away from various extremist Christian theories about the End. Israel and the Jews are not here for Christian purposes and delusions.

When all is said and done, the best defense of Zionism and Israel comes from one of the Jews’ most deadly enemies, the Romans.

The Roman saying says it all: Salus populi suprema lex esto. Let the salvation of the people be the highest law. This is not religious, it is practical. No other people, not even the Armenians, faced destruction by an enemy determined to destroy them in every country where they could be found. Zionism has its different cliques and versions, but all agree that its purpose is the defense of a people who found no defense in other peoples or states or nations. Enough said, I believe.

Norman Ravitch Savannah, Ga.

A Matter of Degree

In “The Week” of the December 31, 2020, issue, NR says: “There is something a tad pompous about parading one’s academic credentials in the ordinary intercourse of life. Germans do it . . .” Actually, Germans use academic titles in a rational and organized manner, unlike Americans. In Germany, one knows exactly what form of Ph.D. one has. A medical Ph.D. is a Dr. (med). A dentist is a Dr. (med.dent). An engineer is a Dr. (Ing.) — Ingenieur. I have a Ph.D. in history from a German university, so I am, in Germany, a Dr. (phil) — philosophisch — philosophy. I can’t use this form of the title in America, for obvious reasons. A German Ph.D. is a serious intellectual accomplishment, something to be justly proud of. I’ve never heard of a German Ph.D. in education, and anyway, Dr. Biden’s dissertation would be regarded in Germany as a bad joke.

Terence Zuber Via email