Better Late Than Never

I'm not a fan of country music, but I especially don't enjoy the promotion of ignorance as in Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." However, I really admire her for deciding to get her high school diploma.

I watched This Week with George Stephanopoulos this morning, and Gretchen Wilson explained that she now wishes to earn her diploma because of her daughter. She realizes the long shot her success is and realizes now she would have "tended bar" for the rest of her life because she wouldn't have had an education. She wants her daughter to see her as "smart."

Now I don't believe a high school diploma is the cure-all she makes it out to be because the same program this morning also explained that 25 years ago the difference in one's income with a college degree versus a high school diploma was 30%. Now that difference is 70%. I know Wilson wasn't speaking about economics when she spoke of her daughter, but the disparity is growing, and I hope Gretchen Wilson encourages her daughter to attend college rather than rely on the diploma.

By the way, Wilson also offered the local high school a deal. If the high school officials allow her to walk during the graduation ceremony, she will play at the prom for free. Sounds like a good deal to me.