It is easy to say we all have the same opportunities, but the Brogan children knew they were different. He spoke of faulty reasoning that exists in this country, where we look at people from less than ideal circumstances and expect less from them. Call it the handicap mentality. In Tallahassee, both Brogan and Bush are mentors. A state directive lets any state employee to take an hour a week, with pay, for mentoring in school or a nonprofit setting.
Many businesses offer the same incentive.
A small business pledged all employees two people. Trinity Villas, a federally-subsidized retirement community, pledged 50 seniors and four staff people. Dan Eberlein with the Department of Corrections, working with youth with drug problems, said he'd be happy if mentors got to these kids before they went to jail. What's really lacking is the bridge between the reality of life and what these kids think life is. He pledged his entire staff of 30 people to mentor.