The cover up at Penn State has unearthed the larger question… what are our REAL priorities and responsibilities?
When you are given information of a crime against a child...when is your responsibility to that child over? Yes Joe Paterno reported the crime through the University chain and he did what he was “required to do” when it comes to the laws of the University. But why didn’t he go to the cops? Why did he believe that it was all ok when the man perpetrating the abuse was still working at the University? Why did he not act further when it was announced to not bring young boys around the campus anymore?
When we have knowledge that a child has been harmed we have a responsibility to that child to see it all through to the end, whatever that outcome may be. Paterno reported the abuse to the University but then obviously saw that nothing was being done about the abuse and yet he remained silent. There were countless others who also remained quiet to maintain the good PR for the University and the football team. There are even people who perjured themselves to cover the abuse. Children were sacrificed to maintain the University’s good PR and the money generating football team; that will NEVER be ok.
Where are the men and women who will take the responsibility to do what's right even at high personal cost- who will protect and give a voice to a child who doesn't feel they have one of their own to protect themselves.
Instead those who perpetrate great harm or perpetuate great profit are protected more than our children.
Our priorities are skewed... we need to come back to center and do what is intrinsically right and not just the minimum that is required by a company, or a university, or a law.
That is always where greatness is found and where cowards are discovered.
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