There are dozens of articles today about the "harsh" punishment dished out by the NCAA to Penn as a result of their turning a blind eye to the sexual molestation of young children.
For years and years, it was all about protecting the brand and not protecting the children. Now, all of the sudden-"remorse" now that they are feeling it in the pocketbook.
To me, it rings completely hollow and is almost as disgusting as the sinister, protracted cover up.
In fact, I would go as far as to suggest that the worship of this sport, and the worship of the key players and the worship of this school was idolatrous. Haven't we been warned before not to create false gods? Not to create golden calves to elevate to supernatural status?
People cry "shame on them". But the administrators clearly had no shame.
They are now only expressing shame because they are going to have to figure out ways to pay for their colossal moral failing, and the economic implications of course will have a much wider reach than just the immediate campus.
No amount of money though can reverse history. No sum of money can compensate children for the terror of being sexually violated. No sum of money can ensure that given the same idolatrous circumstances, it wouldn't happen again.
How can you shame people who have no shame?
The hand-wringing by students ("why should we all be punished for the actions of a few") demonstrate that many of these young people have no concept of what is at stake-no interest in the damage that has been done to young lives, and the families that were destroyed.
Sometimes, there is no "fix" to a problem. Rotting structures cannot always be propped up by support beams. Nor should they. Sometimes, the entire edifice must be torn down and built anew.
