Once again staring into the Abyss:

[PCIntern]

In the last two months, I have now had two horrifying experiences which have permanently altered my consciousness. The first occurred in the Jefferson Hospital imaging center when the technician stopped what she was doing in order to get a doctor to come speak with me about what she had seen on the ultrasound. Two hospitalizations and one (painless!) surgical procedure later, that issue is now resolved.

The second episode is, in a crazy way, more disturbing over time, since no amount of 'treatment' administered will 'cure' this problem: the thousands of people who feel that there are mitigating circumstances at Penn State which should allow Paterno to 'return' and that there are those with whom I have spoken - otherwise rational, reasonable, thoughtful, sincere, and yes, liberal folk who feel that since no one has been convicted of a crime, then all these dismissals are a travesty to 'Justice'.

Now my response to these people is that we don't know 5% of the real story and that there is much more which may or may not ever come out into the public domain, and these folks are fleeing for their lives. But this is not my point here today.

Due to the evolution of the mechanism of Propaganda here in these United States, we can have not a few, or a few hundred, but thousands upon thousands of people automatically take the side of individuals who themselves have testified that they were aware of behavior which is taboo, anathema, outrageous, grotesque, perverted-to-the-extreme, and 'rationally' defend them without knowing all the circumstances which, NO, not would mitigate the sins, but would make it even worse. Yes, worse. The situation is primed to evolve horribly over the next weeks and months. At one time in my lifetime, there certainly would have been a few or even many who might feel this way for a variety of reasons: that they themselves have committed certain acts in their lifetimes which would not be favorably regarded, that they seek a level of 'Justice for all' which comes at everyone's expense including that of terrorized victims, that they just quite frankly feel that this particular behavior 'just isn't all that bad'. People's sexual mores vary widely, as everyone here knows, "who's to say what's right or wrong" can be taken to the extreme, witness NAMBLA's (former, I hope) existence.

Yesterday I saw, including recall visits, about twenty patients. Yesterday's topic-of-the-day was Penn State of course. Of the twenty 'random' individuals, several voiced reservations about what 'precipitously' happened to all of these administrators. My measured response to them was that in the world of the scandal, people involved often respond to issues about which we have no awareness, and that there is much more going on here. I'm not sure I changed any minds. i know one thing: I'm vaguely depressed and now even more cynical than I was one week ago.

[Angry Dragon]

1. I am glad you are on the mend ..... I missed your posts greatly

[PCIntern]

8. thank you...

it's great to be back.

[Fumesucker]

2. "No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up" -Lily Tomlin..

Did you know that the judge who released Sandusky basically on his own recognizance did volunteer work for Sandusky's charity?

Here's my take from someone who has taken Lily Tomlin's advice to heart, the judge, quite possibly subconsciously, wants Sandusky to either flee or commit suicide, there are a great many influential people who desperately want there to be no trial because the foul depth of this moral cesspool is going to exceed our wildest nightmares.

[hlthe2b]

3. I agree with you... Best wishes on your continued return to health.

The excuses being given for Paterno (and others) shows a displaced set of priorities among some in our society that values their entertainment over justice for children raped. Of course, I also remember people advocating for Michael Vick to get a pass from his prison sentence for horrific animal cruelty, because of his talent and supposed cultural influences that they perceived as "insurmountable."

As though NOTHING matters but the entertainment of these "masses."

[Fumesucker]

4. I was always made a bit uneasy by the whole jock worship culture..

Now I'm to the point where I think it's a full blown cult in everything but name.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Its tribal ............

[Fumesucker]

6. False dichotomy, it can be tribal *and* a cult..

It's a floor wax and a dessert topping.. :)

[Angry Dragon]

7. yes it could be both

[Divernan]

9. For many fans, team worship is the equivalent of a born-again religion.

The most rabid fans I've known have a deep-seated inferiority complex which leads them to sublimate their whole sense of personal worth and their identities into a sports team. You know the ones - they handle neither wins nor losses with grace or class, and don't believe "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game".

Otherwise kind and gentle people (usually men, but some women) gloating and preening over wins as though they themselves had played in the game, rather than sitting on their butts, getting drunk and watching from the sidelines. They idolize and idealize players and coaches, painting their bodies, wearing jerseys of favorite players, even naming their kids after jocks, for god's sake - until the team loses a game or, god forbid, a season. Then these faux jocks take to the call-in shows and letters to the editor, detailing how cowardly the players were, or how stupid the coaches were, and how THEY, the rabid fans could have won that game if THEY were on the field or calling the plays.

And of course, they spend hour after hour with their fantasy leagues - god forbid they spend that time volunteering in their communities; or educating themselves about critical issues like the environment, education or healthcare; or getting their own bodies in shape to improve their health.

Nearly all of these rabid fans lack enough physical stamina to run 50 yards.

It would be very interesting to see how many of these rabid fans were among the 27% voter turnout in my county's elections last Tuesday.

P.S. to OP - very glad you're better. I've had a bunch of physical issues myself this past year, and was delighted to note that in the month of December, for the first time in a year, I have ZERO medical appointments!

[WinkyDink]

10. I'd suggest asking that the topic not be discussed in the office.

[PCIntern]

11. One could suggest that...

but people luv to talk about current events...you can't dictate the agenda.