Complicity

A little more than a week ago, I pondered the question, "Would the early morning runners of Central Park notice or protest were the USDA to come in one day and round up geese?"

 

I think the answer to that question is a probable "no," considering we as a culture seem to look the other way when our own children are preyed upon by pedophiles.

 

I don't usually use this journal to comment on news events, but today I am making an exception.

 

Some things just strike an emotional and moral core too large to ignore.

 

One has to seriously wonder and question what we have become as a society when leaders of churches or college football teams seemingly push aside and dismiss what should obviously represent "red flags" of egregious criminal and twisted behavior in favor of "political correctness" or organizational reputation.

 

Last night, after returning from Central Park with my dogs, I switched on the TV.

 

Bob Costas of NBC was interviewing accused child molester, Jerry Sandusky, assistant football coach of Penn State University.

 

It was truly hard to believe one's ears as this shadow of a man plundered through excuse after excuse and denial after denial for his actions against young boys covering 15 years.

 

"Horsing around"....."showering with young boys," "touching legs with without sexual intent," etc,.etc.

 

Certainly one understands the wisdom and justice of "innocence until proven guilty."  But, there is so much smoke around this guy -- especially from his own words -- that it is hard not to envision a burning barn in flames.

 

When questioned about the witness testimony of others alleging child rape and oral sex on a young boy and why people would make up such charges if false, Sandusky simply shrugs and answers repeatedly, "You have to ask them that (question)."

 

The real question to ask if how did all of this despicable and manipulating, criminal behavior occur for 15 years without seemingly anyone taking necessary action to insure this man was reported to police and ideally removed from society?  (Certainly, at the very least not allowed anywhere around children.)

 

Rather, it seemed at Penn State (like the Catholic Church) there was tendency to pass the buck, look the other way and return to business as usual.

 

But, rape of a child can never be considered "business as usual" or something to simply be pushed off on a higher official to make decision upon and then forgotten about.

 

Nor is it "men acting stupid" as comedian Bill Maher seems to equate child molestation to.

 

"Acting stupid" is drinking a case of beer and falling down drunk or driving a motorcycle off a cliff.

 

Intimidating and using one's power and authority to gain the confidence of and then molest and rape children is rather, one step lower than actual murder.  It is among the very worst of actual crime.

 

Children who are victims of pedophiles are "murdered" in a sense. Their trust and innocence forever altered and destroyed, they are (even without realizing) forever changed into someone and something else.

 

Recently, I pondered the question of whether most people would notice, care or protest if all the wildlife in our parks was suddenly rounded up and killed?

 

But, after witnessing some of the news events of these past couple of weeks, I sadly have to conclude the answer to that question is, "no."

 

We have blurred the lines between "looking the other way" and taking action when necessary, as some of us (including the accused) apparently confuse "stupidity" with actual and serious crime.

 

Those who perpetrate these depraved acts upon trusting and vulnerable children are sick and severely compromised individuals who have obviously lost their moral compass (if indeed they ever had one.)

 

But, those who witness and fail to take proper and necessary action to stop are guilty of perhaps an even worse crime not listed in law books.  That of complicity to and acceptance of wrongdoing.

 

"The only thing necessary for evil to prosper is for most good people to do nothing."

 

That is what ultimately played out at Penn State University, as well as the Catholic Church and to large degree our city parks.

 

If we cannot and will not protect the children of our society from the evils that some people do, then it is highly unlikely we will protect anything or anyone else -- including the innocent and vulnerable geese in our city parks and indeed, the planet itself.  -- PCA

 

 

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