Talking about the "things that matter most" on Nov. 11
Live From Living Bread Radio in Canton, OH
In Happy Valley, Joe Paterno is King. In his 46th season as head coach, Joe Paterno can claim 409 career wins for a program annually generating $72 million. Penn State takes its football very, very seriously. Credible accounts that a former assistant coach was raping young boys? Not so seriously. Eyewitnesses saw former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky do horrible things in the Lions' locker room. And it appears now that everyone from coaches, athletic directors, administrators, and even the University President chose to look the other way. Catholic sports reporter Vic Faust is here.
4:20 – Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues
How do we make sense of life? How should we treat others? How should we reasonably be expected to be treated by others? When human life is at stake, are there reasonable principles we can rely on to guide our actions? How should our laws be framed to protect human life? What kind of society should be built? Many people rely on their religious beliefs to answer these questions. But not everyone accepts the same religious premises or recognizes the same spiritual authorities. Are there "public arguments" --reasons that can be given that do not presuppose agreement on religious grounds or common religious commitments--that can guide our thoughts and actions, as well as our laws and public policies? Father Robert Spitzer says “yes” and joins us to make the argument.
5:00 – Collin Raye: Catholic Convert, Country Music star, and Defender of Life
“I would just worship the ground that she walked on,” said country music legend Collin Raye, talking about his firstborn grandchild Haley Marie Bell. “Then eventually she didn’t walk. Then she couldn’t crawl. Then she couldn’t hold her hands up. She would fall over. She couldn’t control her head. She lost the ability to speak.” Haley had a neurological disorder that the best doctors in the country could not diagnose. Raye, a Catholic convert who has recorded five platinum albums sold eight million and has been nominated five times as country music’s Male Vocalist of the Year, is here to talk about his granddaughter, his faith journey and his new album of sacred music.
Al I look forward to hearing the podcast of this later. I still think based on what has been revealed so far, Paterno was made a scapegoat whose punishment did not fit whatever oversight people want to assign to a person who has shown a propensity to help not only athletes but other students as well. His punishment has been far worse, and he has been far more vilified in the media than any other character in this episode, debatably more than the perpetrator! And the one then 28-year-old witness who was there and could actually have stopped a rape first hand but chose instead to tell his dad the next day isn't even fired! The only reason he's not coaching Saturday is because of multiple threats against him! But the school used Paterno as a pr move to conduct damage control, in the same tradition the school looked out for itself in the past. Even the victims' lawyer has said the victims are not happy with Paterno's firing. I opined last night on the blog if you click my name. ;)
ReplyDeleteAl, I listened to the Paterno segment. I was a little disappointed that the guest did not go into detail on Paterno's culpability, but instead seemed to incriminate him on the grounds that he is the most "influential" guy on campus. I felt like his sentiment was: "Paterno is big time! Therefore he should have trumped his superior's investigation!"
ReplyDeleteWhat is far more puzzling here is that if McQueary truly believed he witness a child rape - then why on earth did HE not press the matter after the school officials gave Sandusky the wrist-slap? Paterno was not the witness. The vehement condemnation of Paterno still does not seem to me consistent with his actions. If there is damning evidence against Paterno's knowledge of child rape occuring, then I would like it presented. Calling him "influential" would not serve as evidence in any court.
Al, it appears that one of the university officials, Gary Schultz was the supervisor of campus police.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/penn-state-assistant-coach-mike-mcqueary-reverses-field-jerry-sandusky-sex-abuse-case-claims-spoke-police-article-1.978163
Would that affect your position on Paterno? It seems a lot of people have come down on him for not involving campus police at least, and yet the supervisor was indeed called into the matter.