Do I double-dog-dare talk about Subway?

Are any of you NOT aware of the whole Subway/homeschooling we-have-nothing-better-to-do controversy?

Subway started a contest in January (that's right - four months ago - makes us homeschoolers appear to be really on task, now, doesn't it?). You could write an essay to enter your school (a bunch of kids that do their learning together in a big building) to win $5000 worth of work-out equipment.

Homeschoolers are excluded. They put that part in italics.

Now, granted, Subway's PR people are probably getting raked over the coals, because they should've realized that the italicized sentence was going to spark a fire under the rears of tens of thousands of home educators. I actually feel sorry for whoever it is that had the job of foreseeing the firestorm. The homeschooling community is ripping them a new one, and taking away valuable time from prepping Jarod for his next commercial.

What do I think about all of this?

I don't give a crapola that homeschoolers were excluded from a contest that was meant to benefit a school. In fact, I would like to see Subway discriminate even farther, and ONLY make the contest open to public schools with poverty levels over 70%. That would thrill me.

I chose to homeschool. I chose to take a route that is not traditional in this country. We are excluded from some things. I'm cool with that. It was my choice to put my family outside of the cookie-cutter box.

I love it that the throngs of homeschoolers come out in droves when there is injustice, but I just don't see this as falling into that category ... at all. Should companies not be allowed to have contests that cater to traditional school settings? Absolutely not. I am so very lucky to be able to stay home and have a support system so that I can teach my kids. Not everyone can do that. Some of them want to and don't have a choice ... will never have a choice.

Give them the treadmill. I can walk around my block ... with my kids ... at anytime of day. My kids could spend countless hours reworking and editing an essay for a contest - make it their whole focus. Is there enough time in the day to even list the opportunities that our kids have that traditionally schooled kids miss out on? We all know how that comparison would come out.

I'm not going to gripe over work-out equipment - providing a healthy alternative to kids in a group setting, some who get no healthy activities or options at home. This contest was fair and upfront from the very beginning. Its intent was good. I support it, and hope that some kid out there reaches their ultimate potential and brings pride to their campus. Yea for them!

There are some saying that this isn't about homeschoolers, but it is actually an attack on Christians.

**whispering**

Hey. Psst. Come over here. Way in the corner. Shhhhh. I have a secret for you ...

All homeschoolers are not conservative Christians. Now, hold on to your hat, because this one may really get you - but not all homeschoolers are even Christians! Seriously! Shhhhhh. Keep it to yourself.

Can we just let it go? Focus your energy on the next contest, which Subway will now make sure is available to every breathing being under the age of 18 - probably including fetuses, pets and plants. All I have to say is that after all of this belly-aching, some homeschool kid better darn well win it!