Shaped by Hook or by Crook

While mainstream media emoted, branding college admission bribery a "scandal", members of an as large as disillusioned family of Joe Shmoe collectively shrugged deplorable shoulders. Not only is corruption a common "social rite", but it's well known that a potential disclosure of nepotism will affect only a 'B' list. The media roar that Felicity Huffman will probably spend 4 months in prison for a $15,000 worth embellishment of her daughter's SAT exam... Well, we may be allowed to hear that Huffman will sit for SAT, but a Brentwood School pampering kids of A-listers on Veterans' property won't make headlines. No matter how sleazy VA's mis-leases of our homeless Veterans' land really are... 'Illegal Leases' On VA's West L.A. Campus Called Out By Watchdog — Including Brentwood School, Red Cross And A City Park

Already in 1986, the "Back to School" comedy mocked the "donations system", and the character of Dean (Ned Beatty) adequately observed that "Fraud is such an ugly word considering financial generosity". A-listers' gifts are undoubtedly lavish enough to ban the "ugly words" and to blacklist those who'd have temptation to spell them out loud. Paradoxically, parents who use bribes to inscribe their offspring to a rich-brat-only "Crayon Club" turn their own kids into affluent, but not the brightest crayons in the box. As observed by Nietzsche: 'The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently." In order to thrive and to despise "lower classes" in all impunity, propaganda-proclaimed elites need social engineering and suitable "role models". It's laughable, that mainstream media compliantly promoting ill-gotten wealth and undeserved celebrity are suddenly "shocked" by the ongoing cronyism. Corruption is undoubtedly a very ancient social vice. In ancient Greece, bribery to win a title started with the first Olympics in 776 B.C. Clearly, flogging wasn't dissuasive enough, so the Greeks resolved to impose fines. .Isn't it ironic that the disgraced champions' punishment was to pay for bronze figures of Zeus, while today bronze statues tend to be "offered in exchange" for high status? Well, at least one thing has not changed since Aesop uttered: "Fools take to themselves the respect that is given to their office". Toxic principle of prestige by hook or by crook spreads to all areas of education. If we'd like to associate sport with self-discipline and Military with honor, one can't help but notice the shadow of careerism creeping over the most "noble" schools . In sport colleges, it's raining "donated" bronze statues to such an extent that ESPN cried "epidemic"( Aug. 20 College Football 2018 Issue) and even The Wall Street Journal sighed "Enough With the Statues, Already" (D.Everson,Sept.10,2010).Not sure what is more grotesque - passing "donations" as "art" or the fact that some immortalize themselves while still alive...

---

Ex- VA Secretary, Robert McDonald undoubtedly belongs to the circle of art-lovers. Homeless Veterans and those determined to fight for their rights remember that VA led by Mr. McDonald "misspent" millions of dollars on fancy fountains and sculptures while our military heroes were "prosaically" starving. Recently while making a donation to West Point, the former VA Secretary made sure he is acclaimed as the "contributor who funded the Grant Monument". Why congratulating the artist Paula Slater "The Bronze portrait of General Grant you sculpted is magnificent!" General Ulysses S. Grant Monument, for West Point , he gave himself a pat on the back: ¬´It's the best money I've ever spent!!" Really? How about a modestly anonymous donation for homeless Veterans, instead? Shouldn't the West Point Cadets be learning that prestige and pompous commemorations are less important than never leaving a fallen brother behind? While our Veterans will never forget that Secretary McDonald’s Oath to Lie, Cheat and Steal the former VA secretary "misspoke" about his military record, West Point Academy that should lecture MacArthur's "Duty Honor Country" seems figuratively forgiving... Go Figure...