Penn State, Forgotten in 5... 4...

So while I was lounging poolside bitching about my free wi-fi connection most of Twitter was shocked (SHOCKED) that Penn State totally knew about everything and really didn't care about it. Um, yea. Are you new to America? The Catholics took a beating when it was their turn but nothing in the Freeh report is surprising. Five minutes from now you won't care about it again. America really doesn't care what you do to kids as long as you keep it kind of quiet. Mostly when we get worked up about "The Children" we are referring to a specific (and quite small) subset of America's underaged. Talking about Penn State - that's fish in a barrel, right? Why am I shooting? I suppose it's because the Freeh Report was what - yesterday? The day before? Today the news cycle wants me to think about "The Children." Not the ones that were raped. That would be crazy. Those boys are probably completely over that. It wasn't all of them. It was a few sacrificial ones so we could have nice things. Most cultures appease their gods with virgins, yea? What's important are "The Children" that were not raped. Their mellow is being harshed like you would not believe.

Don't panic about it. Penn State is coming back!

CBS news tells us - "The school intends to remodel the football team shower and locker room area as a direct result of Sandusky's crimes, university spokesman David La Torre told The Associated Press on Friday." I know I feel better. Can you imagine having to take a shower there? Creepy! La Torre says the plans went into effect as soon as they knew Sandusky was arrested but can't happen until all that nasty legal stuff is done. OMG, what if they install some sort of Don't Rape Kids sign in there? That might help. Redoing those bathrooms, that is absolutely the right step to take. I'm glad they were on that. You should read the CBS article. It's awesome. Like, some of the players feel weird about using the shower now. And coaches from other teams want the Paterno statue pulled down so players won't have to hear about all this every time they walk on the field. People need closure man.

That's why I was so glad to read Adam Rittenberg's article on ESPN titled Community Begins Healing Process. I thought the pervasive and unmistakeable disregard for the safety of children would take Penn State more than a few days to come to terms with but I was like, wrong. He focuses on the fundraising they do for charity, he quotes alumni. My favorite words come from a current player. "It's Penn State," Brown said. "Penn State's going to be Penn State." He's absolutely right. Whatever happens, Penn State will keep being Penn State. Some of America's children are expendable. They are the sacrifices we willingly make to have the things we think we deserve. If they are hungry, if they are abused, if they are turned over to the hungers of adults, it doesn't matter. Girls on the streets of New York, boys in the showers of Penn State.

We don't care all that much. The status must remain quo.

Sure, some people care. Take ESPN's Howard Bryant. He thinks horrendous crimes against children should have consequences. He thinks we should go deeper than new tiles and administrative musical chairs. "  If a massive institutional failure that allowed young boys to be sexually molested on campus does not constitute reasonable cause to terminate the program and force true reflection, true change and true reform, nothing can legitimately deserve that penalty. " Where is this guy from? And could we get a few thousand more of him?