I tried to read the indictment against Jerry Sandusky last night but didn't get far. It wasn't like an episode of Law & Order: SVU where pedophiles and rapists are regularly featured by actors. Sandusky and these boys are real. This wasn't some writer manipulating the details to make them exciting and "TV worthy." This happened.
Numerous words come to mind but the one front and center is sick. This man is sick. However, the sickness doesn't stop there.
In March 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary claimed he saw Sandusky raping a 10-year-old boy in the showers. He reported the incident to Penn State's beloved JoePa. JoePa told Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, who told Gary Schultz, Penn State's senior vice president of finance and business. Curley and Schultz talked to McQueary 10 days later. Two weeks later Curley told McQueary Sandusky's punishment ... his keys to the locker room were taken away. Police and child welfare agencies were not notified and no one attempted to identify the victim.
Say what? That's like taking a stash of meth away from a junkie, waving your finger in their face and saying, "Don't do that again!" Duh. Problem not solved.
Eight victims. Eight lives shattered. Eight families ruined, poisoned. Ever heard of the cycle of violence? Maybe there are more victims out there, who knows? Do you think Sandusky, out of the blue, got the bright idea to begin raping boys in 1994 at the age of 50? Probably not.
In fall 2000, a Penn State janitor reported he saw Sandusky performing oral sex on a young boy. He told other janitors and his supervisor. No official report, nothing was done.
In 1998, an 11-year-old boy told his mother Sandusky showered with him while hugging and washing him. It was reported to the university police and investigated but dropped by the Centre County District Attorney.
Sick.
But that's not enough. After top Penn State officials announced they fired JoePa Wednesday night, students rioted. Rioted! They chanted his name, tore down light poles and overturned a television news van. They threw rocks and fireworks at police and toilet paper in the trees. They blew air horns and a group of girls danced on top of a car. A student blasted a police officer in the face with pepper spray.
A freshman remarked the students were making the point that, "the media is responsible for taking JoePa down" because he'd met his legal and moral responsibilities by reporting the incident.
Another student blamed the riot on the college officials who "tarnished a legend."
How ironic. Great idea ... your school's reputation is in turmoil, as well as your football program, Sandusky, JoePa, and what do you do? You riot and disgrace your school and town even more. Great thinking. Also, did you ever wonder what the victims would feel, watching you parade around your town on national television? Do you care? Actions speak louder than words.
JoePa didn't meet his legal and moral responsibilities. He reported the incident to a superior but did nothing to followup because he either didn't care or was hiding from the truth. He continued to work for an organization harboring a sick man. A man who fondled and raped young, at risk, impressionable boys while showering them with gifts and promises of football greatness at Penn State. Sandusky poisoned their minds, their futures and their families.
For the JoePa apologists. For the Penn State loyalists. Did you ever once think about those young boys whose lives are damn near ruined? Did you ever think the lives of those human beings are more important than your beloved JoePa, your football team and your school? Obviously JoePa didn't ... neither did the others involved. Shame on you and shame on them.
When did people become so desensitized, so jaded and apathetic about something as horrific as what Sandusky did to those boys? When did the home team become more important than a boy who had a man perform oral sex on him 20 times? Sandusky had these boys spend the night at his home and you're telling me no one knew about this? You can't sweep a sick man under the rug!
Shame! College football is not more important than human beings, especially at risk young boys whose lives have been ruined.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Election Day: Mississippi is letting us know when life "begins" -- Miss., the Personhood Amendment Initiative 26 and America's obsession with abortion
Can't say I've ever been to Mississippi. Don't know much about it either. I know how to spell M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i. I know Russell Edgington is the Vampire King of Mississippi and he lives ... oh, wait, that's "True Blood." Anyway ...
You've probably heard about the Mississippi Statewide Initiative 26: "Should the term 'person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof?"
This question makes me nervous. What a vague doozy! My answer to this question -- after I've stopped being baffled everyday people are being asked this question -- is:
Not my area of expertise for such a significant and difficult question. So ... pass.
Even as a college graduate, a somewhat well-educated youngish woman with a working vagina, I don't deserve the opportunity to answer this question. I studied Humanities for goodness sake. Liberal arts. Which means the majority of the people answering this question are either above -- more educated -- or below me -- less educated. What do they know because this isn't some random pop quiz. The answer to this question will affect a large population of people. Where do I get off trying to play the role of decider? You don't know me and I certainly don't know you.
To qualify for the ballot, 89,000 signatures were needed. The petition received 106,000. Hopefully everyone understood what they were signing but it doesn't mean much as the 2010 population of Mississippi, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is 2,967,297 with the percent under the age of 18 at 25.5%. So, here's some Vendetta Math. 25.5% is what ... 1/4 of the population? So, with that in mind, we're talking about 741,824 or so people, which leaves us with over 2 million people voting. That's a lot of folks, a lot more than 106,000 bozos.
Lemme jump back to the wording of the Initiative -- 21 words. Jay-Z had 99 problems -- luckily a bitch wasn't one of them -- and Mississippi is giving its people 21 words? Twenty-one words that could change abortion rights for women. That is unacceptable because it leaves so many loopholes.
What about the Plan B Emergency Contraceptive, aka the morning-after pill, or birth control? Those OK? I guess the morning-after wouldn't be but what about birth control since nothing has been fertilized yet ...
What about in-vitro fertilization (IVF)? I can just hear the supporters of this Initiative saying it's "God's will" that some women are infertile. It's so amazing these people are mildly educated at best but have the ability to read and interpret the Bible so clearly. I bet God is so proud of you guys. Gold stars for everybody!
Not every fertilized egg goes on to become a child -- the numbers are around 20%. So, how does that work in with this?
What about women who are raped? What about women who are molested by a family member -- a brother, uncle, cousin or father?
What about an ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube?
So, it's about these embryos having legal rights ... how do you know what the embryo wants? Typical answer: "Well they wouldn't want to die you Satanic heathen!" True, but would they want their mother to be miserable, raising their rapists' child, a child they resent and reminds them daily of a traumatic incident? Would they want to live a painful life from a birth defect? Be raised by a mother who boozed or danced with Mr. Brownstone during the pregnancy or simply wanted some Government Cheese after popping another kid out?
Why should people seek answers from strangers about personal issues? These loud mouths don't have to live as a woman raising their rapist's child. They don't have to die giving birth to a child, to have their fallopian tube rupture during an ectopic pregnancy. Isn't that the point of scientific breakthroughs? We've come so far as a civilization. We can help barren women have children, we can help prevent pregnancy related deaths. What was the point of it all if this Initiative passes?
This Initiative would be like me walking to my neighbor's house, knocking on the door, and saying, "Hi, it's me from next door. I know we don't know each other well but I had a quick question for you. My husband is cheating on me and just overall awful. What should I do?"
File all this under Mind-Your-Damn-Business. Also see files for Stay-Out-Of-My-Vagina and Stop-Pretending-You-Are-The-Second-Coming-Of-Jesus.
You might think I'm a complete sinner asshole (if you think this than suck it). Or, you might be thinking, "Oh well. Those poor, nutty people in Mississippi." Maybe you shake your head, maybe you sigh or chuckle.
But wait, there's more ... activists are pursuing efforts to put the Initiative on the ballot in at least nine other states. Yes, Ferris Bueller, nine times. Nine!
Florida. Ohio. Wisconsin. Colorado. California. Montana. North Dakota. Arkansas. Alabama. Hope you don't live there!
There's also potential for citizen-led drives in other states, including Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon and Oklahoma, as well as legislative efforts in Michigan and Kansas.
This makes me think of Prohibition. Won't women go to other states to have abortions or IVF treatments? Maybe someone will offer abortions in-state on the down-low in their basement like in "American Horror Story." You can't change the mind of everyone by passing some vague Initiative.
Ugh. Of all the things to worry about right now. Yeah, maybe our state won't have enough money for public schooling or thousands of people will lose their homes and jobs because of the economy. However, at least we save those little babies from dying! We saved those sinners from themselves and that means we go to Heaven. Right?
Politicians like this shit, this abortion talk, because it's easier than dealing with a failing economy or with the threat of terrorism or the new Census data showing there are 49 million poor people in America. No, let's all talk about abortion for the 1,000th time.
In conclusion, mind your business and stay away from my body and out of my body, as well as the bodies of my female friends, family and future children you f-ing psychos. I would never have an abortion but who am I to tell other people what to do?
You've probably heard about the Mississippi Statewide Initiative 26: "Should the term 'person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof?"
This question makes me nervous. What a vague doozy! My answer to this question -- after I've stopped being baffled everyday people are being asked this question -- is:
Not my area of expertise for such a significant and difficult question. So ... pass.
Even as a college graduate, a somewhat well-educated youngish woman with a working vagina, I don't deserve the opportunity to answer this question. I studied Humanities for goodness sake. Liberal arts. Which means the majority of the people answering this question are either above -- more educated -- or below me -- less educated. What do they know because this isn't some random pop quiz. The answer to this question will affect a large population of people. Where do I get off trying to play the role of decider? You don't know me and I certainly don't know you.
To qualify for the ballot, 89,000 signatures were needed. The petition received 106,000. Hopefully everyone understood what they were signing but it doesn't mean much as the 2010 population of Mississippi, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is 2,967,297 with the percent under the age of 18 at 25.5%. So, here's some Vendetta Math. 25.5% is what ... 1/4 of the population? So, with that in mind, we're talking about 741,824 or so people, which leaves us with over 2 million people voting. That's a lot of folks, a lot more than 106,000 bozos.
Lemme jump back to the wording of the Initiative -- 21 words. Jay-Z had 99 problems -- luckily a bitch wasn't one of them -- and Mississippi is giving its people 21 words? Twenty-one words that could change abortion rights for women. That is unacceptable because it leaves so many loopholes.
What about the Plan B Emergency Contraceptive, aka the morning-after pill, or birth control? Those OK? I guess the morning-after wouldn't be but what about birth control since nothing has been fertilized yet ...
What about in-vitro fertilization (IVF)? I can just hear the supporters of this Initiative saying it's "God's will" that some women are infertile. It's so amazing these people are mildly educated at best but have the ability to read and interpret the Bible so clearly. I bet God is so proud of you guys. Gold stars for everybody!
Not every fertilized egg goes on to become a child -- the numbers are around 20%. So, how does that work in with this?
What about women who are raped? What about women who are molested by a family member -- a brother, uncle, cousin or father?
What about an ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube?
So, it's about these embryos having legal rights ... how do you know what the embryo wants? Typical answer: "Well they wouldn't want to die you Satanic heathen!" True, but would they want their mother to be miserable, raising their rapists' child, a child they resent and reminds them daily of a traumatic incident? Would they want to live a painful life from a birth defect? Be raised by a mother who boozed or danced with Mr. Brownstone during the pregnancy or simply wanted some Government Cheese after popping another kid out?
Why should people seek answers from strangers about personal issues? These loud mouths don't have to live as a woman raising their rapist's child. They don't have to die giving birth to a child, to have their fallopian tube rupture during an ectopic pregnancy. Isn't that the point of scientific breakthroughs? We've come so far as a civilization. We can help barren women have children, we can help prevent pregnancy related deaths. What was the point of it all if this Initiative passes?
This Initiative would be like me walking to my neighbor's house, knocking on the door, and saying, "Hi, it's me from next door. I know we don't know each other well but I had a quick question for you. My husband is cheating on me and just overall awful. What should I do?"
File all this under Mind-Your-Damn-Business. Also see files for Stay-Out-Of-My-Vagina and Stop-Pretending-You-Are-The-Second-Coming-Of-Jesus.
You might think I'm a complete sinner asshole (if you think this than suck it). Or, you might be thinking, "Oh well. Those poor, nutty people in Mississippi." Maybe you shake your head, maybe you sigh or chuckle.
But wait, there's more ... activists are pursuing efforts to put the Initiative on the ballot in at least nine other states. Yes, Ferris Bueller, nine times. Nine!
Florida. Ohio. Wisconsin. Colorado. California. Montana. North Dakota. Arkansas. Alabama. Hope you don't live there!
There's also potential for citizen-led drives in other states, including Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon and Oklahoma, as well as legislative efforts in Michigan and Kansas.
This makes me think of Prohibition. Won't women go to other states to have abortions or IVF treatments? Maybe someone will offer abortions in-state on the down-low in their basement like in "American Horror Story." You can't change the mind of everyone by passing some vague Initiative.
Ugh. Of all the things to worry about right now. Yeah, maybe our state won't have enough money for public schooling or thousands of people will lose their homes and jobs because of the economy. However, at least we save those little babies from dying! We saved those sinners from themselves and that means we go to Heaven. Right?
Politicians like this shit, this abortion talk, because it's easier than dealing with a failing economy or with the threat of terrorism or the new Census data showing there are 49 million poor people in America. No, let's all talk about abortion for the 1,000th time.
In conclusion, mind your business and stay away from my body and out of my body, as well as the bodies of my female friends, family and future children you f-ing psychos. I would never have an abortion but who am I to tell other people what to do?
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