One of the hot topics in the news is the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. The NCAA sent a strong message including sanctions against the school. Some do not understand why the whole program is punished because of the acts of one man. Simple answer. There may have been sexual acts by one man, however it was either actively or passively condoned by many.
About 30-40 years ago collegiate sports was a hot topic. There were schools that were doing anything and everything to get prime players and win games. Why? Trophies? Bragging rights? No. Money. Sponsorship. New buildings, and bigger salaries for those who ran the schools. It was a trickle down effect at its' best (or worse). There was a big crackdown, and much, but not all, of that big money manipulation when down the drain.The rules today are much different than years ago.
Now we have a totally different issue. A man who used the football program as his own little harem for sexual deviancy. The problem is, when you have a person like that in your presence, you have a huge problem. He (or she) needs to be immediately, totally, and completely cut out of the program, and prosecuted. There are no other correct options. Penn State chose to look the other way at first, then they tossed him out, but allowed him access to the stadium, fields, and showers where he committed his crimes! Just to save face! The face saving was due to wanting to keep that $50 million or so per year flowing into the Penn State coffers, not something to sneeze at, but you cannot put a price on a young person being abused.
Investigations show what anyone with common sense knew all along. Other people knew, they tried to put a band aid on things. They told other people in the circle, but no one did a THING to stop more children from being abused. Their focus was SAVE THE MONEY, instead of SAVE THE KIDS!
Abusers FREQUENTLY choose jobs and volunteer positions that put them in constant presence of young people. They are your teachers, coaches, scout leaders....it is a shame what they do to the reputation of all the really good people who want to help kids, but they are most usually in these types of positions.
Years of trying to sweep the problem under the rug made more and more opportunity for more boys to be abused. Jerry Sandusky was in heaven. Money, young boys, and a literal playing field for his obtaining and enjoying his perversion. The problem is that others facilitated that abuse. Not because they agreed with it or would do it themselves, but for the almighty dollar.
The fact that many at Penn State are taking an attitude of "we are being punished unfairly" shows what a hold collegiate sports has at these big money colleges. The NCAA came down on Penn State hard, but it had to. It would be a crime for them not to be punished. I know the ones who are there now may have done nothing, but this guarentees there will not be another Jerry Sandusky, or big money shenanigans at Penn State, or any other school ever again. No other child will ever suffer for a group of people to roll in the dough ever again in big college sports.
Simply, when there is child abuse even suspected, it is the legal duty of all who are in knowledge to report it to higher authorities. When and if nothing is done,it is their moral and legal obligation to report it to legal authorities. This was not done. Everyone thought they could control Jerry Sandusky so he wouldn't hurt more children. They were dead wrong, and they cost not only the peace and protection of these boys, but Penn State its' winning titles.
Don't be mad that the media, or the NCAA, or the world. Be angry with Jerry Sandusky and anyone who turned their head while he abused children.
The Universe always allows us opportunity to make good, to right wrongs, and to be better people. When we fail year after year, the hammer comes down hard. It just did. If this ensures that no other child will be abused in the name of big football money, I am all for it. Maybe someday Penn State fans will understand why it was so important and that they weren't treated unfairly. Maybe one day they will understand the severity of this and how all the others named in all of this literally "dropped the ball". Scholastic child abuse is so regulated that, "dropping the ball" gets you in jail, and fired. Every one of them, it is the way it works, because without all the others turning their heads, Jerry Sandusky would not have had his playground to abuse others. Without them turning their heads, he would have been in jail, where he belongs, a long time ago.
As for Joe Paterno, actions speak louder than his words. He held the power to put an end to it all in a swift, strong manner. With 1 minute on the clock, and the game in his hands, he dropped the ball. When he had a chance to live up to his words for his boys, he didn't do what he always told them to do, he put on his blinders and allowed things to go on.
Do the right thing for the right reasons, and don't wait for the Universe or for someone else to "take care of it". Each day you allow a child to be abused, is a day of hell for that child. Child abusers are the lowest form of life on this planet. NEVER allow, condone, or look the other way . NEVER. There is zero tolerance, and a damn good reason for that. No one was treated unfairly here except the victims.
Go Universe!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
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