Cartoon of the Day

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Underlying the horrific child rape story at Penn State is the theme that, from Wall Street to athletics and everywhere in between, powerful people and institutions try to insulate themselves from the consequences of their actions, passing them on to their victims. That has to change.

The Penn State Horror, Cont'd.

Matt Paknis was a graduate assistant coach at Penn State under former coach Joe Paterno from 1987 to 1988. He was also the victim of sexual abuse, but from a neighbor, long before he was at Penn State. Here he sums up his feelings in Mike Wise's Kaplan Daily column:

“The crux of the whole case isn’t protocol or right channels or who took the fall. There was no consideration from Joe Paterno, from anyone at Penn State, over how we can help this kid. That was the last thing in their minds.”

Looking at it another way, Paterno has had 46 years of adulation as Penn State's head coach; at age 84, his life is behind him. The boys that were abused have the rest of their lives to live in the pain caused by their rapist. If they live to 84, they'll never be able to look back on any "glory years" because no one cared about them when it mattered.

The Penn State Horror

The disgusting and still unfolding scandal at Penn State has resulted in the firing of long-time coach Joe Paterno, and the arrest of the accused molester, former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Penn State President Graham Spanier was also fired. There are at least 8 victims -- underage boys who were molested on the Penn State campus by Sandusky, who ran a youth camp. Paterno and several other officials at Penn State were made aware of Sandusky's abuse, but apparently decided that the school's image, recruiting and legacy were more important than protecting the molested boys and reporting the crimes.

Last night, some moronic Penn State "students" rioted in protest of Paterno's firing by Penn State. It's a shame that they were more concerned with the firing of the former coach than the victims of the crimes that were covered up by the school. No course can teach honor apparently. It's likely that the ramifications of this story will be with Penn State for years to come.

(h/t to AZ Gail)