December 8th, 2011 by Joe
As a former NFL player, coach and child advocate, I am saddened (but not shocked) by the lack of moral clarity, responsibility and courage in the adults who failed to act on behalf of the children involved in the alleged molestations at Penn State and my alma mater, Syracuse University. As the Penn State investigations continue, many questions arise regarding the responsibility of the men who either witnessed abuse by a predatory adult or were told about it. To date this list includes a college president, senior vice-president, athletic director, legendary coach, assistant coach, janitor, high school assistant principle, wrestling coach, campus police officers and board members of a non-profit created to help disadvantaged boys. Each apparently ignored, dismissed or was confused about their moral responsibility to protect children. I suspect they are like some Americans who have trouble acknowledging such sordid realities and choose instead to live in denial and disbelief. This should be a wakeup call to every adult to reconsider their individual and collective responsibility to protect children and childhood.
BUT WILL WE WAKE UP?
Read the rest of this entry»
Tags: Abuse, Americans, children, Defense Fund, Grand Jury, indictment, moral responsibility, Non-Profit, Penn State, prevention, Social Contract, Sports, Syracuse, Viktor Frankl
Posted in Community, Corporate, Education, Faith-Based, Government, Mentors, Non-Profit, Parents, Sports | 6 Comments »
November 14th, 2011 by Joe
The reflective and regretful six words uttered by Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, “I wish I had done more.” could very well summarize what each of the men indicted or fired at Penn State must be feeling for their role in not stopping a predatory coach from sexually victimizing young boys. Arguably, each of these men is a “good man.” But that’s part of the problem – it’s not enough to just be a “good man” – you have to engage in what is around you and become a man of action. An involved man’s voice and actions are in alignment with his moral and ethical beliefs. Moral courage enables us to stand up for what is right even if it means standing alone or risking rejection or negative consequences. But as Edmund Burke stated, and the shameful inactions at Penn State illustrate, “all it takes for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Evil prevailed at PSU due to an extreme lapse in moral courage. What keeps us from being conscious and courageous enough to protect the hearts, souls and bodies of children? How could it be that for over fifteen years, at least nine boys were sexually abused?
I want to suggest three steps to demand accountability for the safety and protection of every child everywhere and to help good men and women become involved persons of action in the war against child abuse. My hope is that by implementing these steps, adults will become better protectors of those who cannot protect themselves. May we stay ever mindful of Joe Paterno’s parting words, “I wish I had done more.”
Read the rest of this entry»
Tags: accountability, athletice director, awareness, board member, CDC, Coach, coaching, courage, Edmund Burke, ethical, InSideOut, Joe Paterno, moral, Penn State, prevention, principal, protection, Sexual Abuse
Posted in Community, Education, Faith-Based, Mentors, Non-Profit, Parents, Sports | 24 Comments »
September 13th, 2011 by Joe
The recent accusations aimed at the University of Miami’s athletic department are just the latest example of moral failure involving educational institutions, athletics and athletes. Every scandal seems to debunk the myth that sports builds character. Instead these stories reinforce the need for student-athletes to be taught right from wrong with same diligence that they learn their playbooks. Sports at every age and on every level seem to have become the victim of a “win-at-all-cost” culture. We are sacrificing educational integrity and the social, emotional and moral development of student-athletes. The teacher-coach has been given an implicit mandate to “win or else.” Too many coaches and athletic administrators seem to believe that they should do whatever is necessary to get the “W.” Read the rest of this entry»
Tags: Athletes, civic, civil rights, co-curricular, Coach, coaching, counter-message, cultural divides, Education, emotional, femininity, game plan, human rights, InSideOut Coaching, integrity, learning, masculinity, Miami, moral, redefine, reframe, social, Sports Fans, teacher, Transformational
Posted in Community, Corporate, Education, Mentors, Non-Profit, Parents, Sports | 4 Comments »
