There’s a story I’ve kept tucked away in the corners of my mind, like a file you don’t want to delete but don’t want to look at either. But today, I want to talk about it—because it’s been bothering me. It still bothers me. And it should bother you too.
A powerful man. A lawmaker. A voice that thunders in the chambers of justice. Known for being tough—unforgiving, even—on anything drug-related. In his eyes, drug users are criminals, drug dealers are monsters, and no punishment is ever harsh enough.
Except… his son is a drug addict.
Yes. You read that right. The man who has made a career out of locking people up for addiction, whose speeches reek of disdain for “those people,” is now publicly talking about his son’s struggles with addiction. He speaks of disease, pain, family breakdown, and healing. He talks about how much money he’s spending on treatment, how hard this has been on him as a father. And the world listens, nods, and sympathizes.
But let’s not pretend this is justice.
Because while his son gets compassion, treatment, and privacy, someone else’s son—maybe yours, maybe your neighbor’s—gets handcuffed, dragged through the mud, and thrown into a jail cell. No rehab. No press tour. No gentle language. Just judgment. Labels. A criminal record. A stolen future.
And here’s the part that really makes my blood boil: this politician’s son isn’t just a user. He shares drugs with his friends. In any other context, that would be called distribution. But in his case? We bend the language, twist the laws, and cushion the fall.
It’s not just a double standard. It’s a system that was never built to be fair. It’s a system that protects the privileged while punishing the vulnerable. One last name makes you a “victim of disease.” Another makes you a criminal. Same drugs. Different destinies.
And the media? They listen to this man like he’s preaching gospel. No one asks the obvious question: How can you sleep at night knowing you show mercy to one and none to the others?
But I’m asking. And maybe you should too.
Salima
Just thinking out loud over here