Hero Worship - have we gone too far?

It’s all over the news and we can’t get away from it, so I have chosen to address it, the abuse scandal at Penn State University. There are so many things that strike a pretty deep cord with me, but one thing that I am really having a hard time with are those who are protesting the firing of Coach Paterno, the head coach to whom the abuse was initially reported. He did his basic duty to report it to his higher ups, but that’s it. He did not continue to see it through that the person responsible for this abuse be fired and reported to police.

If we put ourselves in the shoes of someone close to the victims, would we not want anyone in a position of authority to do whatever it takes to see justice prevail? How can people cry that it’s not his fault, that he did his basic duty, sometimes the basics are just not good enough.

Is it only me who seems to think that anyone in a celebrity position goes by a completely different set of rules. Had he been a regular guy who did not go directly to the police, the public would be furious! Simply because he is a celebrity sports figure we should let it slide? It’s so sad how we see this all the time. It seems that the regular code of conduct as well as laws don’t apply to politicians and celebrities, if they slip up, they can get a slap on the wrist and go on their way.

It should be the total opposite! Someone who holds a spot in the public eye must be more particular about their conduct and needs to be held to the highest standards. For better or for worse these are the people that our society looks up to, we put them on a pedestal. If they shatter that platform they need to rebuild it, with showing they can be trusted, not by simply getting on a new one.

Each and everyone one of us needs to evaluate how we look at our chosen “celebrities” whoever they may be. We need to be the ones who hold them responsible; we can’t depend on the next person, or the media to do the right thing. It has to start with each and every one of us. And when the message becomes clear that we won’t put up with false heroes, then real ones will emerge that we can truly look up to and be proud of.