I've been a little busy in the last couple of days so I haven't had a chance to get to my blog, which I do miss. This whole Penn State scandal has broken lose in the last week or so and I started reading up on the details a couple days ago. As I was reading through the timeline (which ESPN provides a really good one to date: Key Dates in Penn State Case), a message across the bottom of the TV screen announced that Joe Paterno was released immediately from coaching.
"Thank goodness" was my immediate reaction. The timing was perfect. I was reading the disgusting things that Jerry Sandusky has been accused of over the last 30 years and I'm sure there's plenty more victims then are coming forward, there always are. I was getting emotionally charged that all the numerous times Sandusky has been 'caught in the act' over the years of sexual abuse and yet each time somehow never punished, charged, prevented from his normal lifestyle or immoral behavior.
When the news first broke out about Joe Paterno, there were riots on the campus of Penn State and I think how 'stupid' are these kids to not understand the power and control Joe had in 2002 when he heard of the incident to make a HUGE difference in the future of so many. So many of these Penn State followers (whether alumni, current students or just football fans) want to argue that Joe did more good than bad over his life that he should not be punished for this crime of staying silent. However, I can't get my brain around the absurdity of these statements. How much more good would Joe P have truly done if he exposed these crimes and saved so many boys from experiences that can never be forgotten?
I don't follow football, so I admit that other than saying Joe Paterno is a great coach, I really don't know any other great things he's been a part of or contributed to. I don't for a second put all this blame on Joe Paterno. You can read the grand jury report yourself and see person after person dismissing Jerry Sandusky's crimes (Grand Jury Report). It's truly unbelievable that he got away with so much with mistake after mistake leaving trails and witnesses to his evil acts. But the first thing I think of with Joe Paterno is, "with great power comes great responsibility". Once Joe knew of the events that happened in 2002, then he had to be curious if this is the first time it happened, think of all the exposure that Jerry Sandusky had to children on a regular basis, and all the times he worked with him over and over and could recount suspicious activity, even if at the time it didn't seem suspicious. Hindsight is 20/20 so when Joe Paterno realized that Sandusky was capable of such horrific crimes, he had constant interaction with him to monitor and understand his behavior. This is not some stranger that Paterno only knew as an acquaintance---not that how well Paterno knew Sandusky has any baring on how he truly should have responded. However, because he knew him well, he knew Sandusky was sick at the very least.
At this current time, we only have high-level details that Paterno knew about 1 incident. However, I find it hard to believe that there was never discussions or conversations around any of this. I know when the full story comes out, there are so many to blame & be angry with. Even McQueary, who was the graduate in 2002 to witness anal sex, went on with his life and a career in coaching Penn State where he saw Sandusky on a regular basis. Amazing to think how everyone let this get brushed under the rug. I do know this. Sexual abuse is for some reason a sickness for some people and it's something they cannot stop themselves from doing. I also don't have any psychology degree to fully understand the mental issues that go along with this, but certainly at the very least Paterno, Penn State and all the other witnesses of this crime knew that this would reoccur. Why wasn't there more done?
This article gives an overview of why Paterno didn't say anything, but it's just not good enough (Why Paterno Didn't Call the Police). A great quote given in the article is this: As Edmund Burke once said: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This statement gives so much meaning to how this case & Sandusky got out of control. If good people don't intervene and remind ourselves what is right from wrong, then the wrong triumphs and wounds are left that cannot be healed.
As a mother of 3 kids, it's so "heart-wrenching" that even that phrase isn't emotionally charged enough to explain this. So many people don't want to talk about sexual abuse and let the victims continue to feel ashamed for most of their lives because generally everyone wants to ignore the consequences or harm that never goes away. It's shameful that publicity allows it to be shameful to bring to the public's attention. It's embarrassing as a human being that we cannot find a way to allow the victim to speak without also putting blame on them for getting in such a situation. However, these are kids that are being abused. It's almost more shameful to speak about children being sexually abused/raped, then discussing a grown woman having a date-rape occur. I don't understand why though. Why can't we as a population reach out to these innocent children and make it our goal to ensure their future doesn't continue in a world where there's no hope and measure them as less of a person?
Unfortunately, I'm aware of a couple sexual abuse victims and even those I wonder if I could have done more for even though I had no immediate involvement and heard about it long after the abuse occurred. It's terrible to think that child abuse occurs from people you know or family members you have. It's shameful to think that people are more worried about breaking up a tradition, a family or a reputation rather than bringing a criminal to justice who deserves every human being to be made aware of the harm they are capable of.
I am so angry with all the Penn State fans who are so concerned with how this reflects on their school. I have heard more people voice concern over Paterno's legacy and the college's reputation than the blatant omission of any wrong-doing. I am proud of the few, and I do mean few, Penn State alumni or students who are voicing their disgust over this 30 year timeline of a monster who preyed on boys already going through troubled time in foster homes. When the news first broke out about Paterno, I immediately starting cheering on Facebook about justice and long-needed attention to such hideous crimes. However, I was crushed when I started reading posts on FB from PSU alumni that eluded to the injustice of Paterno being released. One post that I may never forget is 'If you aren't part of the Penn State family, keep your comments to yourself' Unfortunately, this isn't the exact quote, but since all this news has broken, this person in particular has stopped me from viewing her 'wall' on FB. Shame on her again. How in the world could such a comment be made. None of the victims of Sandusky were Penn State 'family' or chose to be put in such a situation. How foolish can one person be? Here is another article that sums up some thoughts on Penn State's future: Letter from OSU to PSU
To those students and alumni who are voicing their hatred towards this behavior occurring with people carrying on their University name & occupying their campus space are the true leaders who will save this college from the shame it is currently enduring.
For those that still believe Joe Paterno is being punished unfairly or are falling silent because you don't want to seem like you're betraying your school, you bring additional shame to your University's name by not standing up to such behavior & making sure it doesn't occur on your campus again.
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