[Kobi]

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

Seeing you don't work in that field no more, I see no reason why you can't be just as passionate. I was surprised at your Paterno thoughts in your RIP thread, as much as you are about not being oppressed seeing you excuse Paterno was rather shocking.


The laws regarding our children SUCK, animals have more protection in this country than a poor child.... The outcry over dogs in comparison to a childs life amazes me..

I dont know if I can explain why I reacted to the stuff with Paterno in a way that will help you to understand. But, I will try.

I learned early in my career, that my passion for doing the right thing and the law did not always jive. People are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of their peers. My gut, my feelings, even my evidence was suspect until it could be proven and even then, there was no guarantee the result would be what I wanted or expected.

Feelings are not proof. Passion is not proof. Allegations are not proof. Sometimes even proof isnt proof enough- it was a hard lesson to learn.

This stuff in the ideal world is a black and white issue. In the real world it is full of gray areas and that what makes it so difficult and complicated and frustrating.

I dont know what happened at Penn State. I know what the media said but is that irrefutable fact? Is a football coach a mandated reporter of something he didnt see or is he just ethically and legally obligated to report what was reported to him to his superiors? What is the Penn States policy and procedure on this? What is the state law on this? From what I read on the story, if Penn is anything like Massachustts, I could poke holds in every story I read.

Regardless, these are all allegations until proven to be truth in a court of law. The media is not a court of law. The media sometimes reports things later found to be untrue or half truths. But, the damage is already done. Reputations are ruined, careers are ruined, familys are ruined. And then what....say oops sorry, we made a boo boo?

Even getting a conviction doesnt mean the evidence was always correct. Think of the number of men who have spent decades in jail for rapes they were later found not to be guilty of via DNA testing.

Judging and pronouncing judgement on other people is a tricky thing. It is evaluating and weighing stuff and taking the appropriate action based on what you hope, in your heart, is the right thing.

People want it to be simple and clearcut. It isnt. People want someone to blame, someone to hold accountable. Sometimes people are willing to invoke viligante justice cuz it makes us feel better. It makes us feel like we have done something. It makes us not feel helpless. But is it the right thing to do?

I wont judge Paterno because I dont know what happened and I dont believe in vigilante justice. I cant judge a dead guy who cant even defend himself. It irks me that he will most likely be dragged thru the mud while people are clamoring to cover their collective asses. He is dead. He is the perfect scapegoat for those left living who are facing jailtime and massive law suits from victims. But, I still dont and doubt I ever will know what happened there.

And I wont judge Paterno, because I have been there. I am a mandated reporter. I know the system. I know how it works and how to use it. I have sat in courtrooms with my i's dotted, my t's crossed, with everything any normal human being would need short of a video of a kid getting sodomized, to get a conviction or at least an order of protection. And, I failed to get it. Want to know how I was blamed for not doing enough or not doing the right thing? Want to know how much I blamed myself?

People want it to be easy, need it to be easy. It isnt. And, to me, until we deal with the stuff that makes this not easy, the problem will continue. And that makes me livid. But I'm not sure even my livid would match your passion.

Maybe this will help you understand better. I dont know.