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Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
October 2, 2005
Media celebrity
turns out to be meth user |
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Ashley Smith, a name I had forgotten, has returned. It's difficult
to pinpoint just how to respond to her story.
Just six months ago, we met her as a former hostage of a
fugitive. It was last March when Ms. Smith was credited with
putting an end to the manhunt for Brian Nichols, the Atlanta
courthouse prisoner who shot and killed a law enforcement officer
during his escape.
Somehow, Nichols found his way to Smith's apartment and took
her hostage. The ordeal ended when Smith was able to contact police
who arrested Nichols. She became a media celebrity.
As the Brian Nichols news story ended, the Ashley Smith story
began. She was praised for being levelheaded under pressure and
received the $70,000 reward for his capture. She publicly
recounted numerous times how her faith in God got her through this
ordeal. According to her, a very popular book, "A Purpose Driven
Life," played an important role during the hostage situation.
In order to gain his trust during the time she was Nichols'
captive, Smith says she read a chapter called, "Using What God Gave
Me."
It's six months later. Her book, “Unlikely Angel,” has just
been released. From the book release publicity blitz, we have
learned just what it was that God gave her. The most startling
excerpt from her book is that God seems to have given her, and she
gave her hostage taker, some of her personal stash of crystal
methamphetamine.
Hey, who is to say what God may give, especially in a
life-threatening situation? Imagine if she had a gun or a
three-year-old fruitcake. But no, God saw fit that she have some
illegal drugs. Things do work in mysterious ways.
Crystal meth is a very pure form of methamphetamine, which is
an extremely addictive stimulant. The effects of crystal meth
are similar to cocaine, but it lasts a lot longer.
The short-term effect is a quick sensation or a rush that can
cause erratic, violent behavior as well as mood swings and
unpredictability. One important characteristic of crystal meth is
that it is very illegal.
So, we now learn that along with her faith and faith-supported
literature, Smith had a personal supply of crystal meth. What a
trinity.
For me, the existence of angels is still out for debate.
However, if there are angels out there, I would never have suspected
they would be carrying a stash of crystal meth.
Smith also reports that the whole ordeal convinced her that she
was a drug addict and that she has not used drugs since the night
before she was taken hostage. Her seven-hour session seems to have
been more effective than the 30-day rehab programs.
Smith told one reporter that, "If I die, I wasn't going to
heaven and say, 'Oh, excuse me, God. Let me wipe my nose, because I
just did some drugs before I got here.' "
Of course not. Everyone knows there is at least a 48-hour
period of having a clean, drug-free nose before entering heaven.
No one can fault Ashley Smith for doing whatever it took to
save her life. We may remember, super sleuth Maxwell Smart
always pulled interesting things out of his shoes; but unless she
was given some foresight into the hostage situation and secured the
illegal drug just for that purpose, she is definitely an unlikely
angel.
Also, according to Smith, this wasn't the first time she and
God and drugs met at the same time. She wrote that during the
hostage situation, she asked Nichols if he wanted to see the danger
of drugs. She said she showed him a scar down the middle of her
torso that was the result of drug usage. She had been driving a car
while under the influence of drugs when she heard a voice say, "Let
go and let God." Well, she let go of the steering wheel and
wrecked, but she didn't let go of her habit.
Another interesting twist in this case is that Smith was not
and will not be charged with having and distributing an illegal
substance. Because she came clean when they approached her with
their findings, investigators decided not to pursue any drug
charges.
How many other folks in jail for drug offenses can share
similar accounts that it was because of God that they were involved
in drugs; and the possession was just in case they were ever in a
hostage situation? If they were to suddenly come clean, should we
drop the charges?
Our prison system is over-burdened with drug offenders. They
are just as much unlikely angels as Ashley Smith is.
Ashley Smith didn't ask to be held hostage. It did require
some level headedness on her part to stay alive. She did deserve
the reward. Anyone who can convince the world and our law
enforcement that God sanctions illegal drug activity and spares your
life while doing something illegal deserves a book deal.
We have not heard Brian Nichols' version. Wouldn't it be just
as ludicrous a story if he said God told him to capture Ashley Smith
in order to help her kick her drug habit? |
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