The expression above is a tweak of the statement, “All’s fair in Love and War,” but let’s not talk about war, let’s talk about life instead.

Our forefathers, when establishing this country, often issued statements ending with the words “all men are created equal.” Anyone reading documents, or hearing speeches given, from back then, using those words, might make some believe that everyone lives under the same rules, or do we?

There are people who seem to get around things because of their status in the public eye, or because of their bank accounts, properties owned, or their good looks, or their talents (music, comedy, acting, athletics), or because of their power in politics, or in the business world.

When you look at situations where some people do have more room for error in their lives, the words of our forefathers seem about as reliable as those paper towels beaten so often by Bounty in those television commercials.

In reality, if involved in scandals, and found guilty, “average” people are pretty assured of losing their job when returning to work. If they fail drug tests, they’ll probably lose their job. If found guilty of any kind of abuse, chances are, they’ll probably lose their job.

Now, look at athletes, entertainers, politicians, and compare them to educators, public safety employees, and blue-collar workers.

What usually happens to teachers, blue-collar workers, or public safety employees, who’ve failed drug tests? Then, look at professional athletes, entertainers, or politicians, who’ve failed drug tests. Those who teach, serve the public, or care for our needs in our daily lives, don’t usually receive suspensions with, or without, pay. They’re usually dismissed immediately from their job. That isn’t solely because drugs are illegal, it’s also because there’s usually a public outcry that we don’t want someone who fails drug tests, teaching our children, or enforcing laws they don’t keep themselves. It’s not the example to which we want our children, or those served, to be exposed. The same can be said for people of any of those groups, regarding any type of abuse accusation and guilt, even acquittal. We’ve all seen it. All we have to do is watch the news or read newspapers. All people may have been created equal, but all people are not treated equally. Somewhere society seems to have developed a more accepting attitude regarding entertainers, politicians, and/or athletes.

The most recent example of this hypocrisy is the sentence of Felicity Huffman for paying a proctor $15,000.00 (a relative drop in the bucket to someone with her celebrity status) to correct her daughter’s SAT answers. She was convicted and sentenced to two weeks in jail, a $30,000.00 fine (another drop in the bucket), and Community Service. A Fox News interview about the sentence included comments from someone emphatically saying the stigma of her being convicted would remain with her forever, and that’s the true punishment. I wonder, if she auditions for TV/movie roles, do you think they’ll ask her if she’s ever been convicted of a felony? If so, will it really matter how she responds?

In 2011, Kelley Williams-Bolar of Akron, Ohio, used her father’s address enrolling her daughters in a school that wasn’t their neighborhood school, because the school in her father’s district rated higher. She wanted her daughters to get the best possible education they could get. She paid no money to anyone, she just lied about their address. Her punishment, a $70,000 fine (definitely NOT a drop in her bucket) and 10 days in jail. If she reaches her goal of earning her teaching degree, do you think she’ll be asked if she’s ever been convicted of a felony? (The original sentence did convict her of a felony, but the then-governor reduced it to a misdemeanor.) No one said (cared?) anything about the stigma hung on her.

Although circumstances could be different in handing down punishments, the basic system of crime and punishment needs to remain consistent and not affected by status. We need to follow the meaning and purpose of our forefathers’ words and insure that all those created equal, be treated equally.