Over a week ago now, the sordid and horrible story of former Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky and the kids that he is charged with sexually assaulting, blasted its way into the headlines. While we've mentioned it a few times, we'd hoped that by now, the facts of the case would have come further into focus, so that we could discuss this incredibly hurtful, shameful, twisted and far-reaching subject with a better knowledge of the facts.
After a little more than a week, we can't hold our silence on this issue any longer. Those individuals at Penn State who were aware of what was going on already held their own silence on this issue for years.
The allegations in the indictment are appalling enough - and you may read the indictment yourself, if you wish, though be prepared, as the content is explicit. What's been more appalling in this story, however, are the new discoveries every day, each more shocking and horrible in its own way than the one before.
Did you know the incidents with Sandusky appear to go back to the 1990s - but that similar incidents are being alleged at Penn State as far back as the 1970s? Did you know that a major market radio sportstalker published and discussed the story back in April of this year - and the major national media did nothing with it? Even the previous conduct of Sandusky's lawyer, on the issue of sex with minors, is appalling.
There are more details coming out every day, and the rumors associated with this story are even worse. Furthermore, the rumors not only appear to be spreading in all directions, but an astounding number of them appear to be panning out as true, upon further investigation.
What burrows into our hearts and minds most about this entire story isn't what happened to the kids, surprisingly - though that tears us up and sickens us greatly.
No, the worst part, to us, is that time and time and time again, adults failed to stand up, to step up, to do whatever it took to stop what was going on.
As we mentioned yesterday, we're certain the motivations for some of those who knew and did nothing were centered around protecting the brand of Penn State - including and especially the money their football team provides to the school and the community of State College, Pennsylvania.
In the broad experience of our staff, we've worked with college teams, major politicians, and major corporations in industries from drug manufacturing to retail. We're well aware how far reaching and endemic some forms of corruption are today - especially when dealing with a fiscal situation of the magnitude involved at Penn State.
At the heart of this entire disaster seems to be the nearly pathological need for those involved to remain silent, not to dig up any more trouble, not to stop the growth of the problem.
There is far too much of that kind of thing going on in our society today.
Sometimes, even when it comes to those that others consider legends and heroes, we simply have to be willing cut them off at the knees, if that's what it takes to do the right thing.
Allowing this kind of cancer to grow to this size is simply inexcusable.
