Pride

I'm struggling with the idea of it, lately. Namely, in the Penn State sex scandal.

I say Penn State, because I do believe there are more individuals responsible than Sandusky. He caused the crime, but not the scandal. I don't believe it was all JoePa- however, I struggle with that as well. People say he was a good man, responsible, had integrity. These are values I attribute to my father- and I can't imagine him ever letting something like this happening. When my dad didn't like how students were treated in our school district, he joined the school board and made his opinions known, even when they were wildly unpopular. He did this because he has a firm sense of justice, one that he instilled in me.

Yes, they were superficial things, and much less serious. But doesn't that make it even more important? I can't picture a world where my dad would ever let something like this happen, and that's why I think of him as someone to look up to. Because even when it mattered- especially when it mattered- he would act. The world is not black or white, but I have a hard time with "integrity" not being synonymous with "strive for justice".

But my problem isn't with the JoePa debate. It isn't any one person's fault, but in that way- it is everyone's fault. Anyone that knew should have done more. It didn't have to be Joe. But in needed to be someone. And in that way, it is everyone and no one's fault.

Back to pride.

People proudly beating their chests, pronouncing that they will still be PENN STATE, and persevere, and not let this change them- that seems wrong to me, too. Because something was wrong. Something in this culture made it okay to doubt the severity of children being molested, to hesitate in acting against it. I don't believe Penn State is an evil, inhuman, single valued society. That's a gross exaggeration.

But I do believe that even a hint of hesitation is an indication of something very, very wrong. And when that hesitation turns to inaction- there is a certainty. There has been a perversion of morals.

So to say that they will not let this change them- that seems even worse. We have been privy to a direct example of the consequences that can follow. We have the benefit of hindsight now. So why refuse to change? After all of this has happened- why allow this culture to continue?

I think pride would be in acknowledging what has gone wrong, and striving to fix it.

I don't know the answer. I don't think people should be hiding their heads in shame, and I definitely don't think they should stop supporting their team. But something should change. This revelation should mean something, should indicate some need for a revolution of sorts.

I believe there is pride in learning from mistakes and evolving from them.