Stand With Me

B-Readers, today I write with a heavy heart and perhaps, an eye to the future. Yesterday afternoon, the jail sentence for former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was handed down. In a Pennsylvania court room, Judge John Cleland all but ensured that the 68-year-old Sandusky would spend the rest of his life in prison, by sentencing the convicted child molester to a minimum of 30 years behind bars. Sandusky has been found guilty of 45 o the 48 charges levied against him including 10 counts of corruption with minors, 10 counts of endangering the welfare of the 10-15 year old boys with whom he had heinously inappropriate interactions. These 45 counts carry a maximum of 442 years in prison, and there are still thoughts and hopes that Sandusky will face even more punishment for his involvement in the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

Sandusky being led into a Pennsylvania courtroom

Make no mistake B-Readers, what happened is absolutely disgusting, and simply cannot be overlooked. However, there can be a silver lining that comes out of this situation. The entire situation must not be looked  at merely as the societal and moral collapse that it was, but of a group of individuals who were not afraid to take on something that was bigger than all of them put together. Each of the victims has issued their own statement, but it is their unwritten message that rings the loudest. By coming together, these brave men have shown that they will not back down in the face of intimidation, tyranny, and societal pressure. Their work has helped to bring down more than just the statue of a man. The bravery, camaraderie and perseverance shown by these men has helped to expose men like Jerry Sandusky for the monsters that they were and are. In this case, silence is just as bad, if not worse than the crime itself. The decision not to remain silent was undoubtedly a difficult one, and the efforts have been well-placed.

 
As a generation on the verge of entering the work-force and the real world, there must be something from this terrible ordeal that we can take to heart. That is, never be afraid to blow the whistle! Do not be bullied into keeping silent, if something is happening to you, or to a friend, do not allow it to go unnoticed! Most importantly, do not allow those in a position of authority to use their position to unfairly gain an advantage over those who may work without a title. There is nothing but my highest praise and regard for those individuals who made the decision to not remain silent. By speaking out, they have shown the solidarity that we all must recognize. Until next time B-Readers.