CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

"GO TO YOUR ROOM YOUNG MAN" WORDS MY MOTHER USED FREQUENTLY WHEN I BROKE THE RULES... HER RULES, NOT MINE! YET RULES NONETHELESS. SOMETIMES I DESERVED IT, OTHER TIMES IT WAS UNJUST, WELL AT LEAST THE LEVEL OF PUNISHMENT WAS, OR SO I THOUGHT. I WOULD GO THINKING MY MOTHER WAS UNFAIR AND MEAN AND EVEN WITH MY PLEAS OF INNOCENCE SHE STOOD HER GROUND. AFTER ALL, I BROKE HER RULES, AND I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER! THE RECENT AND HIGHLY PUBLICIZED RULES BROKEN BY SEVERAL NASCAR TEAMS HAS LEFT ME REMINISCING AND I CAN ONLY CHUCKLE, BUT WITH SYMPATHY OR PERHAPS IT'S EMPATHY. EITHER WAY...IF THE RULES ARE BROKEN THEN THE PUNISHMENT FITS...OR DOES IT? HARSH... THE SUPPOSED GUILTY THINK SO, BUT THEN SO DID I. NASCAR IMPOSED THE RULES...THEIR RULES AND AS THE OLE CLICHE GOES, "IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME DON'T DO THE CRIME"