What if Bill Clinton never made it to office for inhaling? What if Winona Ryder was banned from the movie business indefinitely for stealing? What if Halle Berry would have gone to prison for the hit and run she committed?
Let's play a game. Think back to when you were younger. Not all of us have done something that we are proud of. Mistakes were made. Some small and some that may have altered our perception on life itself. But no matter what, that was the past and should be left behind us, right?
So why should it be any different for people who are convicted drug offenders?
If someone is willing to make the effort of attending school, society should view this as an attempt of one wanting to better themselves. Perhaps to educate themselves, and laugh in the face of irony and say "I was once at a low place in my life but now I have stood, up faced the odds, and tried to make something of myself."
For those who have a record of being caught in possession of narcotics, it has not been an easy ride to turn over a new leaf and start again. Not all people have the money to take a lot of courses either; so what better way for them to try and get through school then to take advantage of financial aid.
Yet, Congress shakes their finger at drug offenders by enforcing the Higher Education Act (HEA). The government gives them false hope by letting them apply for financial aid, but only to have those applying turned down.
According to www.raiseyourvoice.com, the total number of students who will be denied financial aid in the 2002-2003 school year is 30,039. Adding that to the totals from the previous two years, 86,898 students have been denied financial aid since this law's enactment.
So lets say that everything you ever did wrong, every mistake you ever made came right back to you. You wouldn't even have a chance to prove that you could be better than that.
So before officials go shooting down peoples chance to be reformed, maybe they should take a look at their lives and contemplate whether or not they would even be in the position that they are today if someone had once held a grudge against them.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.