Day: June 12, 2012

Jerry Sandusky is finally having his day in court.

As his trial begins I can’t help but think about how difficult it must be for the young men involved to testify.

If as alleged, Sandusky did molest these boys he deserves the harshest punishment the law can impose.

If the law hasn’t got the stomach for punishing someone like this… I can think of a few dungeons that could use Sandusky in the same ways that he allegedly used the boys. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I firmly believe that everyones first sexual experience should be one of joy, humor, and fun.

Unfortunately there are 10 young men who allegedly never had that opportunity. In fact they never had a chance to discover what their sexuality might have been because someone they trusted and respected imposed his skewed twisted sexuality on them.

If proven guilty, Sanduskys’ betrayal of the boys trust and his stealing of their innocence is a crime for which I can find no forgiveness or excuse.

Let us not forget who Jerry Sandusky is.

He’s 68, self identified as straight, was an upstanding member of the community, reportedly a Methodist, and the adopted Father of six.

He’s the founder of The Second Mile which was a nonprofit organization for underprivileged and at risk children.

He was the assistant coach for most of his career at Penn State

In all he’s the typical all american guy next door who grew up in a time and culture where being homosexual was not a viable option. Then, much more than today the penalty was being ostracized, reviled, hated, and committed for psychiatric treatment.

The “treatments” of the time were notably gruesome. By any standard then… or now, such treatments are classified as torture.

None of this is meant to provide excuse for what Sandusky is accused of.

However being mindful of what being homosexual used to mean does provide a context for how someone like Sandusky could become as fucked up as he apparently is.

Sanduskys’ founding of The Second Mile is a particularly twisted element in this case. He effectively created his own private hunting ground and then used it frequently. Sadly the organizations charter to provide help to “At-Risk” children didn’t include protecting the kids from Sandusky.

This kind of twisted human is what comes out of lifelong terrified repression.

Yet, the crucible that forged Jerry Sandusky is exactly what the religious right, and the ultra right wing members of the Republican party seek to reinstate.

Had Sandusky been allowed to grow up and live without such fear and repression, would he have molested 10 young boys?

That can’t answered for sure. Perhaps it’s something to think about the next time you find yourself nodding and saying amen during a hateful sermon from the likes of Pastor Charles L Worley, or comments from politicians like Rick Santorum.

After all…

You have to think of the children.