Reagan Gomez's shizzznit.

When the Penn State scandal first broke, I found myself listening to sports radio. Something I don’t usually do. Ever. I wanted to get an idea of what college sports fans thought of the firing of Paterno, and the reasons for it. I wasn’t surprised. People are outraged. Disgusted. Pissed off. And if you ask McQueary, some are pissed off enough to take “justice” into their own hands. Oh, McQueary… we’ll get back to that coward later.
I have to say, I was, to be frank, embarrassed for the students, the school, and the victims watching the Penn State students riot after coach Paterno’s firing. To be fair, I know a large number of the students probably didn’t know the exact reasoning for his firing, and I highly doubt any of the rioters actually read the Grand Jury Report. They just jumped to the defense of their coach and school as an automatic “We Are Penn State” reaction. Okay. But, if they had read the report showing, in detail, the obvious cover up by Paterno, the school and others, how could they support this man? “He did what he was supposed to do in contacting Tim Curley (Penn State’s athletic director), it was up to Curley to contact authorities.” “Jerry Sandusky is the monster, not Paterno”. And here’s my favorite. “If it were my kid, I’d only be worried about Sandusky”. These are actual excuses. Why one would have to explain why the firing of Paterno was the right thing to do, is amazing. The phrase, ignorance is bliss is obviously not just a phrase, it’s a way of life for some people. One thing I can agree with, if Paterno had to go, McQueary, should’ve been on that list. I mean, come on? What type of man can walk in on the rape of a ten year old boy, and do nothing? Not only do nothing, call his daddy for advice? Then just LEAVE THE LITTLE BOY THERE, go home, eat dinner and go to bed. Then report what he saw the NEXT DAY. Not to police, but to Paterno who calls Tim Curley to his house…THE NEXT DAY. We all know what happened after these conversations. As Smokey from Friday would say…not a damn thang.
This case has everything that Americans love and despise all in one big Penn State gumbo. Football, greed, pedophilia, possible child prostitution, and the cover up by all involved. This is what I wished the rioting students realized. Ironically, had the circumstances of some of these students been different, some of them could’ve easily been victims of Sandusky…and Penn State.
I wonder what the victims thought, watching people their age care more about the football program, than their abuse? It was an embarrassment. And I was so pleased to know that more students held a candle light vigil, and wore colored T-shirts in honor of the victims. Some say, all of the proceeds from the game on Saturday should’ve been donated to Child Abuse Charities, an idea I agree with. This story is deeply troubling on all fronts. People turn their heroes into mini-gods so when they see them doing horrible things, as McQueary did, they let it go. Then there’s the elephant in the room. How we, as a society, embrace sexual abuse victims, particularly, MALE, sexual abuse victims. Sexual abuse, on all fronts is a horrific crime, act, and I believe there to be a special place in hell for anyone who harms a child. Having said
that, I do believe we look at male victims of sexual abuse, differently than female. I’ve heard ignorant excuses for the abuse of both. For female victims it can be “She was fast, look at how she dressed”. These are excuses I’ve actually heard for this particular case, “Obviously none of these boys were from the hood, we don’t play that shit.” And this ignorant gem. “Well, was the boy screaming and crying? Maybe McQueary didn’t know the boy needed help”. I swear, a quick punch to the jaw should be legal in these cases. But, you get to hear what people really think of child, sexual abuse. And you also understand why pedophiles still exist. Because, we shame the victims so much, that they are afraid to come out and tell their stories. Imagine if one of the victims actually went to Penn State when Paterno was fired. Would he have been the victim of taunting? Violence?
People don’t realize, pedophiles are very slick, sneaky and clever. They “groom” their victims. Gain their trust. Confidence. Sandusky was taking these boys to Penn State games, and other events. They got to meet the players, and the staff. These boys were already high risk, so Sandusky knew exactly what he was doing. Not that a child from a two parent, household can’t be abused. They can. But, predators target, high risk children. Why? Many of them come from a single parent home. The mom may need help with her son. She many work two and three jobs. So here comes a man like Sandusky. A coach for one of the top universities in the country, and the founder for the Second Mile Charity. He wants to teach her son responsibility. Take him to Penn State games. Spend quality time with him. And just as the predator hopes, she’s grateful.
We warn our kids of the danger of strangers. Stranger Danger. But the reality is, most victims of child abuse are abused by someone they know and trust. These are facts. We have to be so careful of the “friends” and “family” that we allow around our children. It’s a shame that the Penn State case has happened. But I hope, more can learn from it, so that it doesn’t happen again. Not at a charity. Not at a University. And not at your home.

I hate when folks try to tell new moms to stay in the house. I wish someone would even ATTEMPT to banish me to my house for 6 weeks after having my baby. Unless you’re her doctor, please keep your “back in my day, new mothers stayed inside until the chickens came home” stories to yourself. First of all…who are you to tell her to stay ANYWHERE for 6 weeks like she’s some dissobedient child? “You have to keep the baby away from germs!” Um, do you think she’s laying her baby on the Bathroom floor at McDonalds? News Flash. Your house has germs. As does the hospital. Chill. I got this. “You need to stay inside and heal!”. Um, is she doing gymnastics or running a marathon? And, why do you need to tell her that she NEEDS to heal, as if she doesn’t already know that? She’s walking around….something most new mothers DO AT HOME AS WELL. And being active HELPS the healing process. Your life does not end, nor should it, when baby comes along. You wanna stay indoors for 6 weeks? Go right ahead. Me and mine will be outside, in the sunshine. Why? Cause the world is ours;)