Equal opportunity? I don't think so.

What do I want out of the next election?

I was talking to a friend the other day and he felt everyone should have a chance to excel in the world but everyone should get it the way he did, by earning it. Who could disagree with that? This is America, you get what you earn. Heck, I earned my place too, right?

I went to an almost all white schools in good part of town with an exceptional school district. I got three meals a day, lived in a very nice neighborhood with heating and air conditioning and had lights to do homework by at night. I had mentors to look up to who were in some way successful and teachers who were encouraging - for the most part. There were a lot of parents involved in the school and PTA as most women did not work. For my part, I had to focus on getting grades, doing my paper route, playing the sport of the season and not getting beat up by the school bully.

Let's compare that to students from many inner city schools today.

Most come from families that have been shattered by crime, drugs and lack of jobs. An extremely high percentage of minority men are involved in our criminal justice system. Instead of a school bully there are now gangs that terrorise schools and neighborhoods. Drive by shootings are common place and it is common for victims to be innocent by standers. Many of the children don't eat properly and live in homes that are not fit for habitation. Single parent homes, normally the mother, are the norm and Mom works several jobs. Teachers, badly paid, teach in schools that are run down with out proper teaching materials.

While I was in college I did an internship in an inner-city school. The teachers were forced to leave the school right after school was out so that it could be padlocked, they were not allowed in until right before school started the next morning. The School District could not guarantee their safety any other way. The teachers were dedicated and comitted but were limited, some of them had tried to visit students homes but the areas were not safe at night.

The students in these schools focus on survival.

So, we all earn our way.

Frankly, I'm not even sure that you can compare these two worlds. I'm to old to believe in Santa Clause but if I could hope for one thing it would be that during the next election we elect someone who has vision and hope that our country can be a place of equal opportunity.

Talk, know the issues and vote.

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