Good Morning… Alabama (the state, not the singing group) comes thru again. Well actually the fine people of Alabama are really free from this tirade but, the College officials of the Bishop State Community College are not. Now I have heard that family members get treated differently at various sorts of things. Let’s take for instance the slogan by a well known phone company Friends and Family are free plan is a gimmick of MCI’S phone service to draw one in to their network. Ok, many may not know of that plan so let’s pick another. Blood is thicker then water. An old saying basically stating this: family relations are more important than all other relationships... A saying widely used when a family member feels threaten by your relationship with a non-family member in some cases soon to be a family member..ha ha. Ok, stretching for a better meaning…Oh here is one, let’s just use the Bishop State Community College one: Alabama state officials announced in February that they had identified more than $438,000 in abuses of the financial aid program at Bishop State Community College in Mobile, including $87,000 in athletic scholarships awarded to 42 relatives of employees (and others) who played no sports. Included was one employee's 67-year-old disabled grandmother, who received scholarships in three sports (but was unable to use them, in that she passed away shortly after the paperwork came through). [Birmingham News, 2-19-07]
Well now, I am not real sure granny played hockey for the school system or if she boxed or even if she trotted out on the Football Field and went nose to nose with a 350lb lineman. She could have done any of those things…but, taking into accountability that today’s college funding is not being distributed wisely, (not all institutions mind you) but frivolously to those who do not need funding brings up an added gripe on my part that sort of hits home. Taking you back to when my oldest Daughter Jessica was a senior and it was senior award night at the school. This is the time when scholarships, achievements, awards and just plain recognition is given out to various well deserving seniors for their various endeavors throughout their senior year and perhaps high school year. I noticed one constant characteristic plight. The seniors whose parents were school officials or teachers seem to get most if not all of the scholarships or grants…hmmm inside job or just plain luck? You be the judge I already have my own opinion. But, not to let Bishop State ride the cloud of deceit alone let’s just all sit back and think of those special times when you thought an election was fixed (Florida) Raffles were not raffled like they should have been drawn. Oh this list can go on and on. But, is this sour grapes? Or does the wine they say they gave you to drink taste like food colored water… pale and not what you expected…I for one expect you to have a fine day, no matter if it’s water or wine… please have a good time.
A huge hug and a parting wish to smile and say, may I have another.
Mart
