Pain Of The Paterno Statue

This is written for all child abuse victims that know far too well the pain of what they endured.  It is also written for those that choose to stay in the dark, when it comes to the issue of child abuse.  There is no greater pain, then the betrayal as a child, of people you look up to or trust.  The pain is greater than anything one can imagine and it isn't like it leaves you alone for the rest of your life.  The pain of child abuse becomes your constant companion throughout your life as you try to heal and move on from it.

Seeing people talk about the penalties that Penn State received in regards to their football program as if they were excessive, is somewhat shocking to me.  As I tweeted yesterday, they must not realize the pain of child abuse.  While I know Paterno did not abuse the children, he held a position where he could have put a stop to it.  However, the almighty sports program and money making donation machine was more important than the welfare, safety and respect of children.

Sandusky and the Paterno Statue

This story has ignited passions and comments throughout the internet.  If you read the trending on twitter today, it is ranking high because they took down the statue of Paterno early this morning (Sunday, July 22, 2012).  While Penn State is trying to move forward and distance themselves from this horrible stain of blood on their university, it will be forever remembered what happened to many children.

Everyone wants to believe that child molesters are some evil looking people hiding in the bushes waiting to pounce on innocent children.  No one wants to think about the child molesters that are normal looking people in places of power, position or influence.  Time and time again, we see this happen from the Catholic, Mormon and Baptist churches to our schools, communities, Boy Scouts and summer camps.

It doesn't stop there though as this happens within families all the time.  The fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins and other relatives that molest their children often go unseen and unheard.  There is a culture of molesting children, while family and friends look the other way.  What Joe Paterno did at Penn State is no different then what happens each and every day in our world.  Far too many people look the other way acting as if nothing is happening.