Story Published:
Nov 16, 2011 at 6:08 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Nov 16, 2011 at 6:08 PM CDT
The people in charge have a sense of entitlement--a sense that they have no reason to take responsibility for actions that subordinates initiate. Such is the relationship of those in charge at the Air Force mortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, and at PennState University in State College, Pennsylvania.
At Dover, remains of dead service personnel from the Middle East were misplaced and, in some instances, were discarded into landfills by people who held positions of trust at the mortuary where the nation's honored dead are returned to American soil. Bodies, some horribly mutiliated, must be positively identified and prepared for shipment to hometowns. Dover is the only armed services mortuary. It is just inconceivable that remains from combat service persons could ever possibly be treated with such measures of disrespect. It absolutely shows the mindset of those in command. There was a deliberate attempt by those in charge to actively suppress, to purposely subvert the indecencies that occurred between 2008 and 2010. It is about the same as the mishandling and improper identification of remains at Arlington National Cemetery just a few years ago. Were it not for whistle blowers, the sordid accounts would have been buried. Again, like Watergate, the coverup is disturbingly damning.
The tie to PennState is hideous. There has been an ongoing attempt by higher-ups at PennState to cover up what Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly did over several years. We have all read of his alleged molesting of at least eight boys, some on the college campus. Yet many in positions of authority chose to cover up his actions--a coverup that reeks of selfishness out of misguided loyalty to the University. It has cost several in authority, those in command,. their jobs. It has sullied the good name and reputation of a leading American university. It will take many years, if ever, to outlive this sordid blemish. It cost an icon of the coaching ranks--Joe Paterno--his job. It would appear his name and legacy has been permanently sullied. He will forever be remembered as the Head Coach who valued money over children.
I have three pertinent questions that haven's been asked concerning the PennState/Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandel:
1. Why didn't the graduate assistant football coach forcibly stop Sandusky from abusing the 10-year old boy when he observed the crime?
2. Why was Sandusky allowed back in the football facility after he was caught?
3. Why weren't the police ever notified in 2002?
It's enough to make you cry. Big money trumped decency for a while. But, decency won in the end!!!
