Like many people I’ve been following the trial of Jerry Sandusky who was found guilty on 45 counts related to the sexual abuse of young boys who looked to him for a father figure. Â What is so sad to me is how many people turned away from these kids. Â Not only the staff of Pennsylvania State University who fearing their own jobs or a loss of prestige for the football team that they were willing to sacrifice these boys. Â Jerry Sandusky targeted boys from low income one parent families where he was seen as a ‘hero’ that would help these boys be on the right path.
I don’t know how the adults in their lives can live with themselves. Â The mother who insisted her son keep visiting Jerry Sandusky, the staff who WITNESSED abuse and didn’t anomyanously report it to the police, the senior staff who looked the other way and the ‘beloved’ coach who didn’t want to admit the man his friend was.
How can people turn away from this? Â So many people don’t want to get involved, cause trouble or see the ugly but as a society we must protect the weakest among us. Â It’s always best to err on the side of right since one day when you face judgement from your God how will you answer the question? Â What excuse can you give for standing by and turning away?
What would you do if you suspected this crime? Â Would you choose to protect the victim or yourself? Â I know what I would do. Â I always choose to protect kids. Â I had a neighbor who was abusing her kids and I reported her to social services. Â When she confronted me I told her to her face to stop beating her kids! Â When she started to harassing me with keying my car, calling the police on me and making threats but I stood my ground. Â Eventually she moved away and sadly Social Services never were able to ‘catch her’ but I am without guilt since I did the right thing at cost to myself.