'Neanderthal'
implies primitiveness and brutality. As I reflect on the tragedy at Penn State, I've been thinking about this subspecies of modern humans-whose halcyon days took place long
before humans were truly human.
Consider the opinions of truly human, 21st Century
Man, regarding Penn State.
Some are dismissive: “It’s like discussing religion or
politics at a party. Let's change the topic.”
Others recite each atrocity in the 23 page Grand Jury Report: “I'm obsessed. I’ll never trust a coach with my child again.”
Many defend the actions of a 28 year old man who witnessed horror and fled, and a working man (or two) who witnessed horror and never called the authorities: “How can you witness something like that and not turn and run?” Or “If the guy opens his mouth, he loses his job. How will he support his family?”
A few applaud the students who riot: “They rightfully want to see the legal system work before a beloved institution or coach suffers the loss of a stellar reputation.”
A church understands and prays for the victims.
Individuals wonder: how might I react in a similar situation? Would anyone believe my word against a big, powerful, protective machine? If the perpetrator is a friend or a colleague, could I really call the police?
Others recite each atrocity in the 23 page Grand Jury Report: “I'm obsessed. I’ll never trust a coach with my child again.”
Many defend the actions of a 28 year old man who witnessed horror and fled, and a working man (or two) who witnessed horror and never called the authorities: “How can you witness something like that and not turn and run?” Or “If the guy opens his mouth, he loses his job. How will he support his family?”
A few applaud the students who riot: “They rightfully want to see the legal system work before a beloved institution or coach suffers the loss of a stellar reputation.”
A church understands and prays for the victims.
Individuals wonder: how might I react in a similar situation? Would anyone believe my word against a big, powerful, protective machine? If the perpetrator is a friend or a colleague, could I really call the police?
I listen. I read reports, thinking,
“Neanderthal.” But I am wrong.
Neanderthal was simple. He wanted to stay warm and alive.
21st Century Man is complicated. He wants to be liked and he doesn't
want to be bothered. He listens to experts, or waits to hear what John Stewart
or Rush Limbaugh has to say before choosing his words or beliefs. He analyzes
all the moving parts of a very big picture. Immersed in gray, he dismisses black
or white. He finds
fault with victims or their parents. He protects his fiefdom. Employing helicopter parenting, he forgets
that ‘It takes a Village.’
21st Century Man considers many angles of the Penn State
tragedy: reputation, employment, safety, livelihood. But within the
complicated, he misses the simple.
This tragedy is not about coaches or universities, students or
janitors, reputation or legacy, money or employment, you or me or us. It is
about eight boys; children lacking a support structure, children as young as ten
years old who were assaulted in unimaginable ways for years- by an adult they
trusted.
Consider this, 21st Century Man. Mull over being a ten year old boy and having to suffer
through the pain, fear, loathing, humiliation, shame, and alienation associated
with Crimes against Humanity. Contemplate reliving these acts of
violence and degradation committed against you-every day for the rest of your
life-beginning when you are ten years
old. Ponder the emotional scars you will carry, and the struggle you
will have avoiding the same path of destructive behavior that is the norm for
untold numbers of abuse victims. Reflect on losing
your soul when you are ten years old. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45283472/ns/sports-college_football/page/2/
Now imagine walking into a locker room at your school gym, and seeing a grown man assaulting your ten year old son. Or your ten year old brother. Or your ten year old cousin.
21st Century Man, while we consider varying viewpoints, children lacking support structures wait for heroes; adults who will stand up for them and save other young victims from losing their soul. Turns out, an abused ten year old boy had to grow up, speak out, and become the long-awaited champion that all those abused children in Pennsylvania deserved, and expected the adults around them to be.
I thus apologize to a whole subspecies of modern humans. Neanderthal, I misjudged you. I now imagine you walking into that locker room and investigating a strange sound. Witness to an unspeakable crime, you lock eyes with the perpetrator and the child victim, then quickly leave the shower to find a baseball bat, considering only one thing: is it more traumatic for that ten year old boy to continue being assaulted, or to have to watch a Neanderthal introduce the abuser to an unflinching baseball bat.
Simple. No gray matter for Neanderthal.
Now imagine walking into a locker room at your school gym, and seeing a grown man assaulting your ten year old son. Or your ten year old brother. Or your ten year old cousin.
21st Century Man, while we consider varying viewpoints, children lacking support structures wait for heroes; adults who will stand up for them and save other young victims from losing their soul. Turns out, an abused ten year old boy had to grow up, speak out, and become the long-awaited champion that all those abused children in Pennsylvania deserved, and expected the adults around them to be.
I thus apologize to a whole subspecies of modern humans. Neanderthal, I misjudged you. I now imagine you walking into that locker room and investigating a strange sound. Witness to an unspeakable crime, you lock eyes with the perpetrator and the child victim, then quickly leave the shower to find a baseball bat, considering only one thing: is it more traumatic for that ten year old boy to continue being assaulted, or to have to watch a Neanderthal introduce the abuser to an unflinching baseball bat.
Simple. No gray matter for Neanderthal.
Finally, a hero.
QUING Hereby Decrees: In distress, your child is my child. Period.
QUING Hereby Decrees: In distress, your child is my child. Period.
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