How can a group of people be so demanding?  I just don't get it.  We exclude ourselves (as a group) from the way the majority rule educates their children.  Then, we demand to be included in everything that's available to them.  I'm not sure I understand how a group like homeschoolers can be so fickle.  Aren't we the same group that cries foul about the Boy Scouts having to accept leaders and members that don't fit a certain criteria.  We don't consider it fair that the Boy Scouts have to bow down to the politically correct mandates, yet, we demand to be included in a writing contest. 

Suppose it was a matter of vocabulary?  If the original contest stated that it was open to public and private school students, how many of us are considered to be private schools LEGALLY?  At least in Texas, homeschooling is a form of private education.  Why all the fuss?  Just enter as a private school (assuming you were really going to enter your child's essay in the first place).  I'm willing to bet that most other people don't think about the fact that there are homeschoolers out there in the rest of the world.  Maybe, just maybe the Subway folks were creating a contest and intended it to be for people 18 years and under.  Once questioned why the word homeschool wasn't mentioned, they had to deal with their chosen vocabulary and the fact that words mean different things to different people.

I could be wrong.  Maybe they did want to exclude homeschoolers.  Seems plausible, but in the grand scheme of things, a little silly.  Either way, they heard from the homeschoolers, didn't they!  Now that they've bowed down to the toddler style fit, I certainly hope that those who complained will actually be as ruthless at causing their children to write exceptional essays (by themselves) to enter into the "Summer Special."  If they do not, shame, shame on them. 

I received a post from an e-group that included information on the recent developments.  In it, Mr. Jim Bob Howard, editor-in-chief of Homeschooling Today Magazine had this to say about the new contest.  "

 I wanted to let you and everyone else know that Subway has revamped
> their /Every Sandwich Tells a Story /contest, reintroducing it as a
> Summer Special, running through August 31. They even took out a banner
> ad with /Homeschooling Today /magazine.
> 
> For all those who clamored about Subway excluding homeschoolers, now's
> the time to show them that we will indeed participate when they include
> us. The registration form I saw asks for the Child's School Name, so
> homeschoolers should make sure they enter something like /Smith Family
> Homeschool/, rather than /Smith Academy/.
> 
> The link to the contest is available on www.homeschooltoday.com
> <http://www.homeschooltoday.com/>.
> 
> Blessings,
> Jim Bob
>

I am really thankful that Mr. Howard gave an accurate wording for this situation.  It concerns me that so many homeschoolers feel so "disenfranchised."  Aren't there homeschooler only contests?  What is the big deal?  If, as a group, we act like crybabies every time we're "excluded," we're sending a mixed signal.  Or, am I wrong?  We step away from how "they" do things and then want to be included in what "they" are doing?  I'm not sure anyone will appreciate that demand for "freedom." 

What was the goal of the contest?  A cash prize?  A scholarship?  How many opportunities are there for homeschoolers to "win" these types of prizes that they aren't participating in at this point?  I certainly hope that those who threatened Subway enough to include them actually participate.  Otherwise, they need to quit crying foul!  Have we really stooped that low?  Should we really demand to be included in absolutely everything in order to not have our feelings hurt?  That really seems to be the behavior of a child somewhere between two and eight years old.  (Yes, I have a couple of those kids right now). 

I'm a Subway customer from time to time.  They sell something I like to eat every once in a while.  I don't care whether they let my kids have a shot at a prize, or not.  Just like I don't care whether they approve of the way I raise my kids, or not.  It's none of their business how I educate my children.  It's none of my business how they choose to market their product. 

Think about it.  It is a marketing strategy after all.  How many homeschoolers really boycotted Subway for not opening a contest to their children?  Once the thing "blew over," did they find themselves at Subway without even remembering that they didn't inlude homeschoolers in the original contest? 

The ages for the "Summer Special" are PK-6th grade.  Are the angered parents' children such exceptional writers (without coaxing and editing by these same parents) that they deserve these prizes?  Bother!

Have any of us ever considered that "they'll know we are homeschoolers by our rants, by our rants, yes, they'll know we are homeschoolers by our rants."  ? 

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