Isn’t it amazing the recent rash of sexual allegations or, to use Bill Clinton’s classic adjective, “inappropriate” behaviour. First, Herman Cain gets accused of harassment and inappropriate advances which he has exacerbated by his clumsy handling of the whole situation. Now we get the sad and disgusting allegations against Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno’s longtime assistant and defensive specialist at Penn State, who has seemed to demonstrate another kind of specialty, accused of being a deviant sexual predator with young boys.
I’ve quoted before Henry Kissinger’s famous maxim, “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” Being in a position of responsibility gives the perpetrator a sense of invulnerability---I’m powerful and can do what I want. And sometimes that works for the benefit of the power broker, but, then again, it can backfire.
It is incredible how unzipping your fly can create seismic world changes on occasions. Look at Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, Napoleon and Josephine, Paris and Helen of Troy, to name a few obvious world shakers and movers. Then there are the just plain tawdry ones like JFK and Marilyn (among others), Bill and Monica, Eliot and the D.C. hooker. That tiny portion of the total anatomy has a disproportionately huge effect on occasions.
I think the Sandusky accusations particularly sad and capable of sullying the reputation of a very fine university, State University of Pennsylvania, and their legendary coach, Joe Paterno. Paterno had nothing to do with the sordid mess, but it certainly appears that his casual handling of the problem does not reflect well on his judgment. He fulfilled his legal requirements, but I don’t think he fulfilled his moral responsibility. Maybe at his advanced age he just doesn’t want to deal with it, but that is not a solution or resolution of the problem. I thought Ohio State’s recent mess a classic in mishandling; now it is more than matched by Penn State with many young lives tragically affected.
Sometimes I despair at the amorality and immorality so prevalent today. Maybe it’s always been that way, but we seem to have more than our fair share these days. It can drive a man to drink.
Bartender, make it a double.
Well said. When we have no morals we seem to lose our conscience, and that makes us uncaring about the human condition
ReplyDeleteWell said. When we lose our morals we lose conscience and that makes us uncaring about the human condition, much like many have become.
Paterno is hiding behind a technicality; anyone knowing of this, including the then Grad Asst. now Asst. Coach, who supposedly witnessed a boy being molested, should have immediately called the police.
ReplyDelete