For all those that are angered, sickened, saddened, devastated, or outraged by Freeh Report, I want to say this: Good. Feel that. Feel anger. Feel sick. Feel sad, and outraged. Feel it all. Shed a tear. Punch your desk. Do whatever you need to do to feel what you need to feel. Then, once the emotion can settle, do something. Do something for children. Do something for victims. Speak about abuse. Talk to your children about their self-worth, and teach them to not allow anyone to violate them. Write letters to lawmakers. Donate to local shelters. Take all that energy that you are feeling right now and use it.
Jerry Sandusky is in jail, but there are thousands of others like him in the world. Don’t believe the lies that predators want you to believe. Don’t believe that it can’t happen to you. Don’t believe that it can’t happen to your kid. Don’t believe that no one would cover up something like that. The Freeh Report needs to shock us into reality. It needs to shock us out of hiding and into the light. Sexual abuse and domestic violence cannot be a secret anymore. So go ahead and get mad. Call talk shows, talk to your friends, tweet, and update your status, but do not let it end there. Educate yourself and others. Advocate for those with no voice. Serve in places that need caring and loving people.
We need to learn some lessons from Penn State, Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Gary Schultz, and Tim Curley. The Penn State Four covered up for a grown man that was raping children. When those children needed someone to stand up and shout, “Stop!” silence was their answer.
If you are outraged, listen to that outrage. Do not let silence be your answer.
1-800-4-A-CHILD or 1-800-422-4453
P.S. I wrote this blog, entitled Paterno’s Legacy (not his eternity) in January. At that time, a few people made comments saying that I wasn’t being fair. I wonder what they’re thinking now.
If you want to make an impact on a child’s life, become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. Go to casaforchildren.org for more information and to find a CASA office near you.
Reblogged this on Thinking & Driving and commented:
I was getting ready to write the same thing and found this. Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. Thank you Fat Pastor.
Well said. Telling people to take more action. I never understood why some people would take a situation like this and go on and on about how bad it was, but never do any action to help others. They think that just saying how bad it is, all the time, will magically fix things. I like what you wrote. People sometimes need to be reminded, that action is louder than words.
Also, in regards to your p.s.; some people put others, like Joe, on a high pedestal. They think that they are so great and can not do anything wrong. It is dangerous because then, something happens that makes them not so great. But, people do not want to believe it. I think another big lesson from this is not to hold anyone to high, understand that everyone is human and can make really bad choices.
If you do the right thing (turn in people who engage in unethical sexual behavior), it will probably be VERY difficult. Some people won’t believe you. Some people will get upset that you’re rocking the applecart. Some people will try to discredit you. Some people will try to discredit the victim. Some people will protect the organization more than any human. The list goes on and on. It’s MUCH easier to do nothing. It’s important to recognize that fact. People who do the right thing are uniquely brave and heroic – and we need more of those kind of people.
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