Penn State and Camelot

The Penn State horror continues to evolve. As with most of these smoldering abuse cases the magnitude will probably increase. The responses have been varied. Some, provincial athletic opponents, are glad. Others, provincial alumni, are rallying a defense. Paterno himself has always been a polarizing figure, the most successful major college coach in history will draw indiscriminate fire from the envious and his holier-than-thou persona will ripen quickly in the heat.

Penn State's reputation as an entity that does things right and is still successful will disintegrate, the efforts of well-meaning men will dissolve. But the real question might never have an answer. How can these well-meaning, thoughtful men explain their inaction? One of the janitors was reportedly so upset he was thought initially to have a heart attack yet he did nothing. McQueary, clearly distraught, apparently did the minimum. We have yet to see the others.

What is lurking in the background is the apparent consideration of other factors in the evaluation of these atrocities, mitigating factors that influence the situation for those peripherally involved. Reputations, job risks, perhaps friendships and appearances and the like all seem to have been considered in the evaluation of the atrocities. Letters of the law were studied. The "French Defense," "responsible but not guilty," may have been considered. Right and wrong were only additional factors.

We have become an uncertain culture. College campuses by their nature are peculiarly isolated and self contained. And Heisenberg and Freud are dangerous in the hands of amateurs. The legal system encourages doubt. Indeed multiculturalism demands hesitant judgment. Decisions are made like a poker player; your two queens are only as good as the other players bets allow. Circumstances and setting determine all. And so making a decision on right and wrong sounds like the behavior of a wild eyed fundamentalist.

There was a demonstration by some kids last night in support of Paterno on his front lawn last night, a wonderful response of youth. They just do not understand. Penn State will never be the same and many pasts will be rewritten.