Penn State: Where do I begin?

This whole Penn State mess is a cautionary tale to any school, church, business, government entity, or civic group. Your instinctual reaction upon hearing bad news may be to circle the wagons, handle it in-house, minimize the PR damage and hope it fades away. That may work where the "bad news" is embezzlement, drunken photos, improper language, or something similar. Those things can be fixed. It does NOT apply when you see a grown man performing a sex act on a ten-year old boy. That cannot be "fixed."

It also underscores the difference between doing what is legal and what is right. I have no doubt Joe Paterno acted within the guidelines of Pennsylvania State Law. But doing the right thing means you sometimes have to get your hands dirty---move outside of you comfort zone---think about more than the here and now. It may mean NOT kicking it down the road.

There was a teacher convicted recently in Northern Virginia on multiple counts of abusing teenage boys. It turns out he had repeated this pattern for decades---including a stint in Danville where he hosted foreign exchange students. The investigation revealed that several school districts in Maryland knew something fishy was going on; but they forced him to resign rather than be prosecuted. They legally washed their hands of him, but allowed him to continue his nefarious career. It was 25 years later before a school district finally decided to do more than just pawn the problem off of someone else.

One of the things we're going to learn soon in his Penn State fiasco is how many young boys Jerry Sandusky abused since 2002, when Paterno was told of the shower incident. Every one of those subsequent offenses could have been avoided if Paterno, the Athletic Director, the School's President, SOMEONE; had simply taken the initiative and decided that protecting children was more important than protecting the school's brand name.

Politics as usual

Given my position as News Director of two area radio stations, I avoid public discussions of local political races. That seems a no-brainer. I have no compunctions about discussing national politics, political philosophy, political history, or much anything else for that matter---but I usually shy away from the local stuff to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

But after listening to the latest salvos fired in a high-profile political race, I feel compelled to throw in my two cents---and its worth every penny!

(R) Bill Stanley and (D) Roscoe Reynolds are locked in a tight and costly battle for the redrawn 20th District Senate Seat in Southside Virginia. In what was one of the worst cases of gerrymandering I have ever witnessed, the new district boundaries cut an irregular swath through out area. It looks like a Dragon's Head in front of an old Viking ship. See for yourself below.

The new lines prompted Stanley, who already represents Danville and Pittsylvania County in the State Senate, to move a few miles west to challenge Reynolds in the 20th. More of Stanley's current constituents reside in the 20th as opposed to his redrawn 19th district. Yes, I know its confusing. Keep up with me here.

Stanley's residency has been one of the talking points Reynolds has highlighted in his campaign. His latest ad takes Stanley to task for "abandoning" his current constituents to run in the new district. It takes quite the level of chutzpah to call this an abandonment, especially when more of Stanley's current constituents are in the 20th than in the 19th. Reynolds, it should be noted, voted in favor of the new district boundaries. If he has an issue with them, he needs look no further than the mirror to begin pointing fingers.

One is forced to wonder what Reynolds thinks about fellow Southside Democrat Ward Armstrong. Thanks to a Republican-brokered redistricting in the House of Delegates, Armstrong was drawn out of his seat. Most of his current constituents are in the Ninth District. Like Stanley, Armstrong moved a few miles west for the chance to keep representing as many of his current constituents as possible. Would Reynolds say that Armstrong is "abandoning" his current constituents? Smart money says "no."

Lest ye think I'm picking on Democrats only; here's another beef. In one of his retaliation ads, Stanley made the sharp political move of getting his mother to vouch for his residency. I would think "Mom" would have seriously credibility with most folks. But in the ad, she says, "If Bill promises to bring jobs to Southside, he'll bring jobs."

Unless Bill Stanley opens a business and begins hiring people, he will NOT "bring jobs to Southside." That's not what the government does. Government's role is to create the economic climate by which jobs can be created. Thinking that jobs come from government is incorrect and potentially disastrous.

This race is just a microcosm of the "politics as usual" that has led to the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and a whole steaming stew of general frustration and dissatisfaction among the populace. I'm hesitant to blame either of the candidates, since their campaigns are being largely run by politicos from outside of our area. Those Washington and Richmond-based organizers know what works and what doesn't. Apparently what DOESN'T work is an honest debate, common sense, a frank discussion of the issues, and treating the electorate with respect.

Food for thought...

If the US Government was a family they would be making $58,000 a year, they spend $75,000 a year and are $327,000 dollars in credit card debt. They are currently proposing BIG spending cuts to reduce their spending to $72,000 a year.

Here's the math, folks. The U.S. takes in about $185 billion a month. Monthly liabilities for debt interest, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Prescription Drugs and Military and Federal Payroll total about $170 billion. If we default, it will be by political design rather than necessity.

Gotcha!!

Try to imagine this. You're a politician in the national spotlight. You've had three days of non-stop activities---speaking to people you've never seen, answering a myriad of questions that range from the ridiculous to the sublime. You've had countless microphones thrust in your face, you've eaten quick meals while hundreds of camera flashbulbs illuminate the room, you have not had a decent night's sleep in a little more than a week. At the end of the day, you mutter an inane answer to a question. The next day---GOTCHA!

It seems the only function of media today is to pester newsmakers, be they political or other in nature, until they FINALLY say something you can run with---something that makes headlines---something that makes for a great segue tease out of the commercial break.

One of my Virginia Tech Political Professors, Dr. Bob Denton, told us that everyone will say something stupid, if they talk enough. With the innumerable TV Cameras, Microphones, and Cell Phones waiting to record every politician's utterance; its a wonder it doesn't happen far more often.

As I read and hear the national media's breathless reporting today of Sarah Palin's gaffe on the history of Paul Revere, I am saddened. We are facing a 14 Trillion dollar debt, we have armies serving in hostile zones overseas, we are faced with critical decisions on entitlement spending and Palin makes the "A-Block" of every newscast?? And she's not even a Presidential Candidate!!

Lest ye think I am showing my conservative colors, I felt the exact same way when President Obama caught flak about signing the wrong date in the Palace Book in London last week---or when he misspoke about "57 states."

It would be wonderful if the same collective energy the national media devotes to making mountains out of molehills could be applied to raising the level of debate in this country about the stuff that actually matters. But that wouldn't sell nearly as well. Those of us offended by every hack who makes a lead story out of minor misstep should be more vocal. If not, this "Entertainment Tonight" brand of Gotcha Journalism will continue.

A little torn today...

It's not my nature to be maudlin over tragedy. My default setting is to move on. But every year when 4/16 rolls around, I can't help but reminisce about what happened at the school I love.

What I choose to remember the most are the 32 people who were killed that day at Virginia Tech. When I look at their bios, I am struck by the outstanding character that is obvious with most of them.

These were winners! A Holocaust survivor who held the door while students escaped through a second-story window; begin riddled with bullets in the process. A French teacher who seemed to possess a special connection with her students. A former wrestler who was killed while tackling the gunman.

Even more impressive is the public service resumes that had already been compiled by folks in their late-teens to early twenties. These were people who were on their way to becoming outstanding adults. It's trendy for middle-aged folks like myself to view the younger generation with benign disdain. To laugh at their ability to hold conversations while texting. The lives these young people led before their death should make all of us forty-somethings rethink our views on the next generation.

One in particular stands out. As a hopeless Detroit Tigers fan, I became familiar with the Motown Sports website years ago. Among the most frequent contributors was Brian Bluhm. He was also one of the best posters. I noticed that he had a VT logo as his avatar. I shot him an e-mail and he replied; talking about our shared love of the Hokies and the Tigers---and how trying both teams can be!

Brian was shot twice while sitting in an Engineering class in the second floor of Norris Hall. I wished I had e-mailed him more often.

I guess it shows maturity on my part that I've pretty much forgiven the shooter. Evil takes many forms and envelops people. Such it was with Cho. I hope his tortured soul is finally at peace. His final resting place is not my call.

I won't dwell on the tragedy today. I'll play with my kids and try to be a good husband and daddy. Tonight, I'll have a couple of beers and track the Tigers' game on the Internet. But a part of me will be thinking about Brian and the others.

Ut prosim.