Stealing candy from babies

I attended the 22nd Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition and the result just shocked me! Eleven young adults took part in a competition that should be re-titled “It’s not what you know but whom you know speech competition.”

I say this because so many young adults who took part worked very hard on their speeches, putting in long hours of preparation and practice, and being coached by individuals who also gave so much of their time, only to have all their hard work thrown in their faces.

The rules of the competition were simple: Speak on the subject that was given and do it in the time frame that is allotted. And majority of them did, everyone except the winner. I’m sorry, son, but you were more than 8 minutes over the limit and according to the rules, you should have been deducted 10 points, but I guess the rules don’t apply to you. That’s 10 points out of 30. Now you tell me, should he have gotten 1st place? I don’t think so. I feel that the one who got 2nd place should have won; he stayed within the 10-minute allotted time.

My young daughter was one of the participants and she stayed within the 10-minute time frame. No, I am not being a bad sport. I am just stating what everyone else was saying and I’m not afraid to say it. No one could believe that that young man from Mount Carmel High School won, and I mean no one!

But it just goes to show that, during a political season, if your connected, and if certain family members are a huge supporter of the administration, then being in a competition that is sponsored by the attorney general—who is an employee of the governor (he appointed her, remember?)—is easy money. Of course you still have to work a little hard, but don’t worry about the 10-minute rule, it doesn’t apply to you; only to others.

It’s a very sad world we live in when adults would stoop so low as to steal candy from babies but I guess that is the way of life here.

Which just proves something that I have been saying for the longest time: Maybe it’s time that we started electing our attorney general. That way not only would the office be free from political manipulation but maybe, no one will influence them from stealing any more candies from kids. If that doesn’t work then maybe next year, all the other schools should boycott the AG’s Cup Speech Competition. That way we can save everyone a whole lot of heartbreak and just go ahead and give it to those who can afford to buy it.

I have to tell you one thing though. At least all the kids were in agreement: This government is VERY inefficient and things must change if we are to survive. It is bad enough that the administration didn’t prepare us for the eventual pullout of the garment industry (It was no secret and they should have started preparing three years ago), nor did the administration make sure that they pay their power bills so that we wouldn’t be stuck paying it for them and still have the power going out. The ones to blame are the ones at the top. Of course they have the power and they had their chance, they had four years, and now look where we’re at.

I have to say that I was very surprised that no one brought up one idea that would save taxpayers more money than reducing the number of hardworking blue-collar workers of our government: Stop renting offices for the government! Get everything under one roof. Build offices on government land and stop the practice of renting a building or office space that belongs to you or your family. I know of certain political leaders who, once they were voted in, all they did was move their kids to another part of the house (their own house mind you) and then turned around, leased that room or space as their office and sent the bill to the taxpayers. Of course, you could imagine how much they charged us for that! They probably maxed it. Go figure. That money would have been better spent elsewhere.

Oh, by the way, the young lady who came in last place? She was docked 10 points, but she did not go that much over. I know, I timed all of them. I guess it doesn’t matter how you win just as long as you win. Ai Adai, the world we live in now, no?

One good thing that came out of all this, even though this travesty occurred, my little girl still has one of the brightest smiles to share and is determined now more than ever to succeed in her higher education and in her endeavors. I should be thankful for that. I guess it’s just Daddy’s job to throw a fit, no?

Kudos to all the kids who participated, had great ideas and gave it their all and also to the coaches of those young adults. Don’t fret; our Lord above does not sleep.

Joey C. Charfauros
Tinian