blogs are a place of opinion, a semi private, also known as public forum of thought. i rarely think i use this blog as a place to appropriate judgement or negative nature. i don't think that i use it as a tool to place blame, or even a place to spark distaste. but, please, if you don't mind me while i discuss a little topic known as the Penn State Scandal. it has been a long time since something in the news has captured and offended me as much as this...disclaimer: the thoughts below are mine alone.
Now, my immediate thoughts are of sympathy for a man and a program that has been built on trust, compliance and loyalty. Joe Paterno is a legacy. People worship this man, and in his old age, this scandal is something that could potentially remove all of his hard work of building such a clean respected program and place it into absolute shambles and in the minds of many an implacably corrupted program. but, of course, after reading the 23 page grand jury report my thoughts are otherwise. this is a man who by law did what he was expected. he after being told of the sick behavior that Jerry Sandsusky (JS) engaged in told his direct supervisor, and left it in the hands of the decision makers of the University...those who did nothing for a week, and neglected to get police, or even University Police involved in what should have been reported immediately. so, after being aware of what has been reported, telling those who are supposed to control the issue, and then going on to coach a football team and lead young student athletes, nothing was done. nothing. meanwhile, his fellow coach, his friend is preying upon children, and those who are in the position of power to change it, turn their backs. so who is responsible now? does he not have the moral obligation, the societal obligation to take things into his own hands? to put the game aside and concentrate on what has been brought to his attention? does he not, as a man in his position have the power to make a change? i think he did....but, as the story goes, he didn't, and neither did anyone else.
"Never mind the ruins he will leave behind. Paterno has said that if the allegations are true Sandusky then fooled everyone, but he didn't. He didn't fool Paterno because Paterno has known about this since 2002. He was told face-to-face, point blank without ambiguity." By Howard Bryant, ESPN.com
my thoughts and condolences go out to the now young men, who have for years had to hold their pain and anguish, their fear and their confusion inside for so long. if that is not heartbreaking, i dont know what is. chances are they would have been told to keep quiet or pushed aside in the attempt to have their story be heard....until now. they were taken advantage of. they were preyed upon, and they were victimized. they were made to feel that they would be punished to report a thing, and that nothing was wrong at all. JS used his position of power, his idealistic "friendship and role model" persona to engage in sexual activities with not one but so far reported, 8 children. it is even harder to believe that after years, YEARS of silence, and quiet investigation this University, this program is now being scrutinized. This is not about a football game that they will play in front of national television on Saturday, or even about how "Joe Pa" will leave behind a legacy....this is about a man, and 2-3 university officials who did wrong.
"But Penn State president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, vice president for business and finance Gary Schultz and coach Joe Paterno should be held to a higher standard. So should The Second Mile, a charity that was founded to help children. Whether or not Sandusky is convicted, each was faced with a critical choice with damning information and chose to protect the program. This is what power has become. More accurately, it is what power has always been, in existence to protect itself.
There is no defense for the number of people in positions of authority who had an opportunity to stop Sandusky and did not."
if by law any of these men are found innocent than i can only hope that justice will be served for their wrong doings, because it is absolutely not fair for those to be taken advantage of in any state; not mental, not emotional, and certainly not physical. this man is a sick individual and should absolutely not be remembered for the national championships that he may have been part of, or the fact that he helped raise up such a well respected program within the NCAA. instead he should be known as a man that is absolutely responsible for ruining the lives of so many. he should be known as a man that is sparking a national controversy due to his lude and obsessive behavior, and he should absolutely be reminded for the remainder of his days on this earth what the severity of his wrong doings have become.
i look forward to seeing how this unravels, as i am sure do many, but when Penn State hits the field on Saturday i can only hope it is not about the game, but it is about those men who have had their lives negatively altered by the decisions of others. i can only hope moving forward that a positive light is shed on all those who are taking the steps to bring justice to men who did nothing to help those in need and let it be an example moving forward that this behavior is not accepted, anywhere...
"Sports might not be as important as law enforcement or religion, but the betrayal of trust is just as deep."
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