We Don’t Deserve Heroes

WE DON’T DESERVE HEROS

We love our heroes. But we love to tear them down even more. For 47 years Joe Paterno represented everything right with college sports. He emphasized education and sports. He taught young men how to be men not just football players. In his bubble at Penn State he did good work. But one unproven allegation and we don’t just throw him under the bus we crucify him. What many don’t understand is that at most universities faculty and employees are prohibited from reporting incident to authorities outside the university. There is a tremendous amount of crime that occurs on college campuses that is never reported to municipal authorities. Colleges do not want the public to know the types and amount of crime that occurs because that would hurt their bottom line. So, the administration tries to keep it all in house. Sandusky “retired” in 1999 after he was accused of inappropriate conduct with some kids. So the administration knew about Sandusky’s criminal activity. Why didn’t they report it then? Why was he allowed to retire and was not fired?

If Penn State operates like most of the universities in this country then Joe did exactly was he was told to do. He reported This non football, non university activity of a man already know to have “issues” with children to his immediate superiors who did nothing.

Joe is being held accountable for not reporting to police. If he had reported the incident to the police it is very likely he would have been suspended or possibly fired.

Joe lived in a bubble. A comfortable bubble where he got to do what he did best. He played by the rules. The rules were made by the same people who used the rules against him in order to keep from being held accountable themselves.

Joe may be guilty of more that we know so far but to direct all this judgment toward him without all the truth is wrong.

Who allowed Sandusky back on campus?

Why was he allowed to retire instead of being fired?

Why does McCrery still have a job?

Why is he being treated as a victim?

A man who built his life on honor, integrity and character is being torn apart in the court of public opinion while others who are more culpable escape and some even hold the judgment stick.

I guess that all us perfect people who never make a mistake have a right to judge everyone else.

Seeing our heroes fail makes us feel better about ourselves. It makes it easier for us not to have any standards.

We have no grace for anyone who is less than perfect. Except ourselves of course.

We don’t deserve heroes

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