The Real Terror isn't the Sandusky's of the World

Even though the news and the stories about Jerry Sandusky is disturbing and shocking. As a parent, Martial Arts instructor, and mentor to several boys and young adults, this news angers me. I have realized very early that there are predators out there who seek to harm those we love. As a child, someone tried to molest me. Thankfully, I had family, friends, and school officials who were quick to protect me and ensure that the predator wouldn't hurt anyone else. From what we have been hearing about Sandusky, is that it was not the same for his victims.

It seems as if every ten minutes a victim comes forward whose family did the lawful thing and inform the authorities or a school official. Each and every time those authorities failed to do the lawful thing. If anything, the worst part about being a victim is when he or she turns to the people that are supposed to help and are rebuked. Then the victim watches as the victimizer continues to harm others despite all of the efforts by the victim to see justice done. It is much worst when that victim is a child.

A very long time ago, I have come to grips with the reality that our world is full of monsters. There are monsters who would eat at your table and commit horrific acts on people we know and love. It's a hard pill to swallow but it's the sobering truth. The thing is, many of these monsters are allowed to prey each and every time. In the Sandusky case, we see that people continued to drop the ball even though several victims and their families did what they could to seek justice.

I worry that people in authority who are supposed to protect our children will do the same thing that was done with Sandusky each and every time. What message does that send to our children? What does it say about the rights of victims? While we know that Sandusky will go to jail, what about the people who worked with him that failed to do their part? What about all of those law enforcement agents, school officials, and mentors who didn't do a thing? Will they be outed, fired, suspended, or charged with anything?

If a close friend comes to my house and plans a crime openly on my table and then commits a crime and I do nothing to stop that friend or contact the authorities, I am guilty of conspiracy. In some states I can be charged with that exact crime even though I never actually committed said crime. Shouldn't that be the case with Jerry Sandusky's friends and co-workers. While Penn State University loses revenue and future students, it's not justice. Many of the people who knew about Sandusky's crimes and helped to cover it up are still working there. None of them will lose their jobs or see the insides of a jail. What message are we sending to our children?

While I can't be everywhere my children are, it is my duty to listen to them when someone hurts them and then do what I must to seek justice. That is part of being their protector. This same protection is extended to their friends whether I know them or not. Yet if my children see that the protection I provide is inadequate, how will they continue to live as full human beings? I expect this sort of protection for those who I leave in their care. The same question has to be asked of them.

I do not hesitate to remind my children that there are monsters in this world. We have long, hard discussions about that. There are great people in this world. And most people are generally good. I remind them of that as well. I tell them that because there are monsters we should not ignore the good people. I also remind them that we are in this together as part of humanity. History will not just us as victims, it will judge us as how we responded to the monsters. It will judge us on why we allowed too many of them to walk around and harm people. It's not history that I am worried about however, it's our children. If we allow the Sandusky's of the world to walk around, then I am more worried about us then the monsters.