How to commemorate, or not, the Joe Paterno Era at Penn State is such a divided issue that I will not try to debate it here, much. . .
However, I found this image particularly stunning and fitting in many ways.
It represents not the greatness of sports or higher education but rather the underlying and inherent weakness we all share as human beings.
Imperfection.
Sports can do a lot of good for people, institutions and society. Sports can also bring out, or exemplify weaknesses we all share.
The desire to be immortalized. And the desire to remain immortalized, especially when money is involved.
There is no question that the Penn State sports program under Joe Paterno and others, did a lot of good.
It helped establish role models and leaders for not only sports, Penn State but also for the rest of us to follow.
There is also no question that in moments requiring great leadership and decision making, certain role models and decisions failed.
Which is a shame.
Hopefully we all will be able to make some good come out of these tragic set of circumstances and events.
As role models, we should look to establish not immortality, but honest greatness, not for ourselves, but for those around us, those who are following, and those who will lead in the future.
