Last week I attended the Rider High School graduation ceremony to see one of my nieces graduate.  During the ceremony, I saw women (some young, some NOT so young) dressed as though they were headed out to the nightclub for a hard night of partying.  I’ve seen less thigh and cleavage at Denim & Diamonds.  Maybe it’s just the ‘old dad’ in me.  No way in hell my daughter would’ve shown up with so little left to the imagination.  I guess we just raised her differently.

I watched three young men get tossed by the police over an air horn.  Seriously, with a city that has what seems to be an ever-growing gang and drug problem on the street, is this really the best use of our police departments time and resources?  Yes, the air horns are bit annoying, but come on now.  If we don’t have a problem with all that skin hanging out in the room, what’s an air horn between friends?  I guess a dress code for the audience is too much to ask for though, eh?

The graduation ceremony has become a time honored tradition.  And while some rules are necessary, we can take things to the extreme.  Take the case of a 17 year-old Chelsea Ramer.  The Alabama graduate is having her diploma held for ransom, $1,000 to be exact.  Why?   Because the young woman, a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, chose to wear a feather in her graduation cap in spite of being told by the schools ‘headmaster’ (principal) not to do so.  The feather is an important cultural and spiritual ritual among the tribe members.  Now, the school wants a $1,000 fine out of the girl in exchange for the diploma.  Out here in the real world, I believe this is called extortion.

A little common sense never hurt anyone.  Dress codes aside, if common sense dictates that whatever is being done won’t do any real harm to anyone, then what’s all the fuss about?  If common sense dictates that it may create situation that is not good or even harmful, then yes, step up and say something.  A $1,000 dollar fine over a feather is beyond ridiculous.  I hope the school finds enough common sense of their own to reverse course and do what’s right.

As for the police/air horn business, I've seen less police presence at a rock concert than I saw at the graduation.  Did they know something the rest of us did not?  All the fuss over the air horn was just over the top to me.  And as for all those ladies who saw fit to ‘dress down’ for the Rider ceremony-it’s good thing none of them dropped their car keys.

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