A survivor's perspective on the Penn State scandal.

Football is a game!

Children are living and breathing beings!

Comparing the crime of child sexual abuse and football is offensive, disrespectful, disgusting, low, and just plain wrong. People are taking the side of football over the side of 8 children who not only lost their innocence, they will lose their childhood, their sense of self, and their hope. I can say this because I am a survivor of child sexual abuse.

People are heated over the firing of Joe Paterno because he wasn’t the one who committed the crimes. The media is focusing on Penn State’s football coach rather than the crime being committed. However, “JoePa” turned the other way. Sure he might of reported what he knew to the school officials and shame on them for not doing what should of been done from the beginning. Paterno should of gone to the police, law officials that could of done something immediately. Just because Paterno did not physically commit these crimes to me he is considered an accomplice; he knew what was going on and instead of taking responsibility and going to the police he left it up to the school officials to decide. He is not the only one in the wrong!

This crime is receiving so much attention because it’s Penn State football. What about the cases that happen every single day. Most cases brought up in the media are those of the extreme. It hurts the victims, no one case should be considered more important than another.

Jerry Sandusky took advantage of 8 children. What he did is beyond wrong, those children will never be the same, they might not get over what has happened. The support given to the Penn State officials and Paterno is hurtful and disrespectful to those children. From experience you think others just think you are lying and you become more embarrassed. The support shown by college students for “JoePa” is sending a negative message to those children involved. The message:

Even if you tell the truth we are going to support those who could done something and saved you. We are going to support our football coach, our school, and everyone else who could of stopped this!

I feel for these children. I understand. This is not about Paterno or Sandusky this is about a crime being committed and people seem to think a game of football is more important than the lives of the children who have been affected by this.

This crime is already the most underreported crime there is. When rallying in support of those who could of reported it makes those who victims who haven’t more reluctant to do so. Our society should be supporting survivors in sharing their stories.

Education is so important. Maybe if these college students were educated on this crime they might feel differently about supporting their head coach. He knew what happened and he and the school choose not to do anything. This should receive zero support.

Joe Paterno will no longer be remembered as a great collegiate football coach but he will be remembered as someone who kept the secret that so many of us are trying to break. He helped Sandusky and Sandusky will be known a scumbag who likes children. Penn State’s reputation has been compromised because someone (JoePa) choose not do the right thing and Sandusky committed a crime so unforgivable that he stole the innocence of 8 children.

The focus of this scandal should be the crime that has been committed by all party members involved. Not that Penn State has a home game against Nebraska!