Scamming a Future

²⁰ Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
²¹ “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
    for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh...

²⁴ “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have received your consolation.
²⁵ “Woe to you who are full now,
    for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
    for you will mourn and weep.

Luke 6 NRSV

A few years ago I attended a Bridges Out of Poverty seminar sponsored by the Poverty Roundtable in Belleville. It was very worthwhile and a reminder of the unthinking privilege of the middle and upper classes. People with little money tend to live from day to day, and their love for children is often expressed in meeting daily needs, including food and shelter. They don't always have the resources or energy for longer term planning. Middle class people will save for the education of their children and talk with friends about what or who their kids aspire to be. If their children make mistakes or lose focus they can literally buy a do-over through legal support or help a child who drops out of college reset goals.

This is not an option for those in poverty, and one significant mistake can change the course of a life. In some lower income families no one has ever attended college or university so a child with aspirations may not receive a lot of encouragement because there is no precedent, although often parents do make considerable sacrifices. In Ontario the free tuition program was a life-line for students with lower incomes but that has been scrapped by the current "for the people" government. To me this is a bias against those with lower incomes who are attempting to get ahead.



Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are among dozens of people indicted in a sweeping U.S. college admissions bribery scandal

All this came to mind when I heard that a scam to buy places at elite universities in the States has been exposed and charges laid against the "fixers" and parents involved. It wasn't enough that they had the wealth to send their kids to good schools. They were willing to spend tends of thousands of dollars to have their children jump the queue ahead of more qualified students. This was all done under the guise of a charity, and if someone hadn't blown the whistle it may have continued for years. It really is shameful.

What I learned again at the Bridges Out of Poverty event was that what I consider normal is not the reality for far too many. Even though I grew up in a family of modest income my parents encouraged education and "way back when" I could note my father's alumni connection for one university to which I applied.

In the gospels Jesus is "for the people" in thought, word, and deed. He also encouraged us all to open our eyes and recognize the need for justice and compassion.  If we read the Beatitudes honestly we'll recognize a call for equal opportunity.