Monday, January 30, 2012

'A Smile As Big As the Moon' Redefines "All Stars"

A Movie Review
By G. D. Gehr

Just last night I was wasting some time very casually watching the NFL Pro Bowl game.  I think the effort I put into watching the game exceeded the effort of the athletes who were actually playing it.  You see, the Pro Bowl is the National Football League's version of an All Star Game.  It is played annually at the end of the regular season, after the playoffs and in recent years just before the Super Bowl.  It is a totally meaningless game and is played that way with half-hearted tackles and lackluster performances by all.  I am sure no one wants to get hurt in a game that holds no value and admittedly is for entertainment only.

Suddenly, about 10:00 in the evening, my wife enters the room to tell me that she is watching one of the best movies she has seen in a long time.  It is a Hallmark Hall of Fame production entitled A Smile As Big As the Moon.  She begins to tell me the plot: A Special Education Class attempts to join the Space Camp at the United States Space and Rocket Center.  They are rejected at first but their teacher refuses to give up.  After an exhaustive effort they finally win the right to join the elite group.  Of course the group consists of top High School students from around the country, many of whom are not very receptive to sharing time and space with kids they feel are inferior.

The Hallmark Hall of Fame has established itself as a leading producer of heart-warming, quality entertainment.  When I see the Hallmark label on a film I never doubt that I will find it to be a satisfying and engaging experience. So my wife did not need to do any convincing to get me to switch the channel and watch the second half of the movie.

Am I ever glad I did!

This is truly an inspirational production.  Based on a true story it features a quality story line with some truly great acting.  Anyone who lives or works with a person who has a special need will quickly appreciate the integrity of this film.  It does a great honor to those who struggle with developmental disabilities in a world that too often seems unforgiving.  I will not give away the complete story line, but I enthusiastically urge you to check it out for yourself.  The Hallmark Channel is going to rebroadcast the movie on Saturday, February 4 at 8:00 PM (EST), according to their web site.  Visit www.hallmarkchannel.com for more details.  They will also be making a DVD of the movie available for purchase.  I for one plan to place my order!

The Church I attend is blessed with a Pastor and a Leadership Team that is very sensitive to the needs of all God's children, including those with disabilities.  We have recently formed a Disabilities Task Team to address the needs of our special members and friends and develop ways to build a broader acceptance and understanding of their needs together with programs and activities that foster inclusion while providing spiritual nurture and growth.  We call this new effort The CARInG Ministry.  The Acronym stands for Celebrating Abilities & Rejoicing In God.  Our goal is to emphasize the positive and build self esteem and worth.  As I watched the movie last night I kept thinking to myself that this is a wonderful illustration of what we are seeking to do at our church. 

I thought of something else, too.  For a moment I considered the irony of my television programming selection that evening.  I started out watching a bunch of overgrown, over-paid, ego-inflated professional athletes just going through the motions and accomplishing nothing.  I ended the evening by watching a dramatization of a true story involving a group of young people who were rejected by many and thought to be useless - if not a severe drain on - society.  In contrast to the Pro Bowl these students put forth a total effort.  They never quit.  They gave it all they had and left nothing to apologize for in the end.

Their story is being played out in virtually every school district in every State in this country, as School Boards with little vision seek ways to cut budgets and alienate the disabled.  Unfortunately they do this while preserving their precious sports programs to the max!  Why bother wasting time and money on these kids who will never amount to anything any way?  As for the sports, hey, it may be somebody's ticket to college.  How else will they earn a degree that they will never use?  So goes the reasoning even if they do not dare to verbalize it.

Sports vs. Special Education.

Academic Honors vs. disabilities.

Who do you think will win these tugs-of-war?  You don't have to be on the Honor Roll to answer that one.  We all know if cuts are to be made it will be to the Special Education budget first, with the fine arts program right behind.

In A Smile As Big As the Moon we find a refreshingly powerful argument that upends conventional wisdom and humbles the viewer to realize the greater worth is found in the hearts and lives of challenged individuals with special needs and special grit.  On my scorecard these kids were the true All Stars of the evening!

Watch the movie if you have the option to do so.  You will not be disappointed!





gdgehr  January 30, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Success With Honor: Making Sense of the Paterno Persona

The death of Joe Paterno has caused me to do a lot of contemplation regarding the importance of individuals as opposed to the values they stood for.  Paterno was one of those rare individuals who could control a room full of people and play them like a flute.  He was a complicated man in many ways yet strikingly simple in others.  I suppose that is one of the reasons why I have found myself compelled to write this post for my blog.

I sometimes wonder how people living outside Pennsylvania feel about the tumultuous events of the past two months that have completely shaken the Pennsylvania State University and the highways and byways of our Commonwealth.  To wrestle with it in its entirety one needs to understand the impact that Paterno and Penn State in general has upon our Community.  I won't even attempt to explain it.  Rather I shall only ask that you take my word for it. 

With the passing of Joe Paterno comes the need for a consideration of what the nest steps will be.  I am not referring to the legal steps.  Those are out of our control and will proceed regardless of what anyone suggests.  Instead, I am referring to the need to restore confidence in the University and enable healing to take place in the community.  This is the monumental challenge that stands before the Pennsylvania State University Board of Trustees and the schools Administration.  Herein lies my concern.

Right now, I rather doubt any steps taken by the Trustees will bring about the desired end.  The wound is too fresh; the pain too deep.  Still, to do nothing only compounds the problem.  There are a few steps that can and need to be taken.  The full impact of these steps will not be appreciated in the present setting, perhaps, but can pave the way for a more viable future and eventually restore the integrity of this once-proud University.

And so, clothed in humility and acknowledging a severe lack of expertise in the world of Academia, I shall cautiously offer a few suggestions.

1.  Complete the Purging Process.

I refuse at this point to argue whether the firing of Coach Paterno and President Graham Spanier was warranted or not.  The issue is a done deal and irreversible.  The more significant issue for me is that these two were not the "big fish" in the sea of scandal.  They were the front men, perhaps.  They represented the public face of the University.  And clearly they bore their share of the burden, whatever that may have amounted to.  By firing them the Trustees set forth a standard.  They were making the statement, through their actions, that they will not tolerate a cover up; they will not turn a blind eye to the ugliness of the moment.  I cannot fault them for that, certainly. 

But if Paterno and Spanier bore responsibility, then so did others.  So did Tim Curley, the Athletic Director and Paterno's superior to whom Paterno referred the matter.  So did Gary Shultz, the Senior Vice President who was the head of Campus Security.  So did Mike McQueary, the Graduate Assistant who was the only eye-witness to Sandusky's crime and the one who brought Paterno into the whole mess by reporting the incident to him.  Yet for reasons I do not understand, these three individuals received only a tentative slap on the hand, thus far.  Shultz was allowed to quietly retire and thus continue to receive all his salary benefits, while Curley and McQueary are simply placed on "Administrative Leave".  All three have a much deeper level of involvement than Paterno or Spanier, yet they have not been fired like the other two.  Why not?  Why won't the Trustees address this apparent injustice?

There remains yet an even deeper level of concern for me, however.  If the five men named above are deemed responsible to one degree or another for the safety and protection of the victimized children, then what about the Board of Trustees, themselves?  Think about this for a moment.  If the Trustees are sincere about sterilizing the public perception of Penn State University;  if they truly seek to go beyond justice and restore - or create, as the case may be -  a moral integrity of the highest order, then the cleansing must be complete.  The question of morality was introduced into this drama by the Board itself when they claimed that Coach Paterno, while fulfilling his legal obligation by reporting the matter to his superior, Curley, failed in fulfilling his moral obligation by not following up on the matter later.  It’s a strong argument, and anyone who works with people, especially children, should take heed and know that if a moral code has been violated and you become aware of it and report it to the proper authorities but fail to see any corrective steps taken, pursue it further!

The question is, does the Board of Trustees bear any moral obligation for what has taken place under their authoritative eyes?  Do they bear any of the responsibility?  It seems to me that a few resignations on the Board would be in order, starting with all the Executive Officers.  If for no other reason the clumsy way they handled the firings and their lack of reprimand for the other three persons should warrant their own removal.  In the process the message this would send to the public would be immense.  They would declare, in effect, that they acknowledge their own shortcomings and are putting the University ahead of their own security in their desire to assure the public that Penn State will rebuild itself, its image, and the trust that is placed in it by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

If a purge was needed - and it was - let it be completed.

2.  Institute Policies To Protect Against Any Similar Situation From Occurring.

At the very heart of the Sandusky case lies a very troubling question:  Why was The Second Mile allowed to use University property and equipment?  I don't understand why any outside group not affiliated with the college should be allowed to function routinely on campus.  It is one thing for an organization to rent space for a Conference, for example, or even for a weekend sports tournament perhaps.  In Sandusky's case, however, he and the young men he worked with were seemingly granted full rights and privileges to roam around campus and use the facilities and equipment intended for the students and staff.  Remember by this point Sandusky was no longer staff, and these young men were not even old enough to be college students.

Therefore let the Board of Trustees implement policies that specifically state such activities will no longer be tolerated.  Any person or organization desiring use of the Campus or its assets must enter into a contractual agreement with the Administration in which details of the arrangement are listed, register all participants in the event, pay an acceptable rental fee, and be responsible for those present.  OK, I am not a lawyer and I likely am missing some detail here, but you get the picture.  Let PSU make a valuable statement that they will not tolerate another offense like this one from sneaking past their watch.  If such a policy is already in place then it clearly needs to be revisited and strengthened.

One thing few people outside of Pennsylvania may know is that Penn State operates a first-class Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA.  It seems to me that it would be in the interests of all if the next medical research grant sought by the University would be used in some way to deal with the crisis of child abuse.  Perhaps some sort of clinic could be established to support victims and their families.  Educational tools and resources could be produced to offer support both in prevention of this horrible phenomena and to bring awareness to the help that is available after the fact.  Maybe they could even study the psychology of predators to gain a greater understanding as to why they do such things and what might possibly be done to prevent its spread.  If ever something good could come out of something bad this is certainly it.

3.  Reconcile the Paterno Legacy.

This will by far be the most difficult challenge Penn State must address.  There is no way to deny it:  The Paterno Legacy runs deep, well past the shadow of Mount Nittany.  Joseph Vincent Paterno made a lasting impression upon untold numbers of people in and out of sports.  His commitment to "The Grand Experiment" which highlighted a merger of athletic and academic excellence, fashioned together with personal integrity and an over-riding commitment to community, must not be forgotten.  Somehow, someway, the University now needs to embrace these ideals and secure them for future generations.  And, it needs to do so without making a martyr out of JoePa.  It is the ideals and values, after all, which need to be the focus.  No one can question their worth, nor the urgency to promote them in today's culture.  Can the essence of these values be embraced and their author be honored without allowing the Paterno Persona to take center stage?  I sure hope so.

Personally I think it may be difficult to do as long as the Paterno Statue remains outside Beaver Stadium.  I am sure I find myself in near isolation on this point, but to me that statue is like a golden idol, and just like most forms of idolatry it brings forth intense emotions: passionate loyalty and devotion on the part of some; scandal, hypocrisy, and the sanctioning of child abuse on the part of others.  Every time a loyalist stands admiringly before the idol, an activist or a victim will cringe with disgust.  The statue immortalizes the man rather than the ideals he stood for.  It can only serve as a hindrance to healing.

Having said that I fully realize removal of the statue is not going to happen.  The problem is it never should have been erected while JoePa was still coaching.  Never jump to conclusions before you read the end of the book!  The old coach's love of literature should have taught that lesson to the powers that be.  Let other schools and institutions of every genre take heed.

Conclusion

I am remiss if I do not point out that the Board of Trustees have authorized their own investigation into these tragic events.  The result of that investigation, along with any legal steps by civil authorities, remains to be seen.  I pray it will be direct and to the point.

Some may ask why this is such an important issue.  The answer lies in the last paragraph of Number 2 above.  First and foremost this whole thing is about the victims of child abuse.  Yes it involves an iconic sports figure.  Yes, it also is about the University he loved and which dominates the academic life of Pennsylvania.  But these things are peripheral to the alleged victims of Jerry Sandusky and the ever-growing number of similar victims everywhere they may be found.

Every scientific experiment seeks to reach a definitive conclusion.  I'm thinking that the conclusion of Joe Paterno's "Great Experiment" is found here:  that victims of abuse regardless of their age must always come first.  In love we need to find a way to offer support and encouragement so lives can be rebuilt and healing, true healing of body, mind, and spirit, can take place.  If that means dismissing responsible parties, so be it.  If it means spending huge sums of money, fine.  If it means removing the idols that cause us to have a blurred vision of truth, then by all means do it.  Only then can we hope to achieve what JoePa called "Success With Honor".





Gdgehr, January 24, 2012
Comments welcome

Friday, January 13, 2012

Seven Contradictions On A Winter's Eve

Recently I found myself musing on some trivial matters.  If nothing else they seem to remind me that life is full of contradictions.  For example:

Ø  I have noticed that here in Pennsylvania the hours of daylight are increasing.  This can only mean one thing.  The earth is shifting on its axis and the Northern Hemisphere is tilting toward the sun.  The result:  more sun;  longer "days".  So why is it the daytime temperatures are becoming colder?
Ø  The Republican Party feels President Barak Obama is vulnerable this election year.  They believe they have a fighting chance to win back the White House.  I say "fighting chance" because to date their own hopefuls have spent an incredible amount of time, money and energy fighting each other and, in the process, appear to be destroying any chance they may have had to win.
Ø  Speaking of the GOP, if so many conservative Republicans dislike Mitt Romney why can't they settle on one candidate to defeat him?  Can't they see that their stubbornness is actually working to Romney's advantage?  By dividing their votes among four candidates Romney will win the nomination by default.
Ø  Have I missed something in the Jerry Sandusky scandal?  The Penn State Trustees fired Coach Joe Paterno and President Graham Spanier for allegedly not doing enough to protect the children involved.  Yet the two men who really failed in their responsibilities - - Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz, who was the head of campus security, seemingly get off on their own terms.  Curley was placed on Administrative Leave and Schultz was allowed to retire.  I am not defending JoePa, but the legal authorities have said that he did his duty in reporting the incident to his superior, Curley, as soon as he heard of it.  Curley and Schultz are the ones who were required to report the incident to civil authorities and failed to do so.  So why haven't they been fired by the University?
Ø  On the news today I heard that Cadillac is coming out with a new model known as the ATS.  It can easily go 150 mph, according to tests.  This raises an interesting point:  If an American automobile manufacturer can invest so much money and technology to design a car that will go faster than anyone would drive it, why can't they design a gas-powered car that is capable of getting 75 - 100 miles per gallon & still seat a family of five comfortably?
Ø  Along that same line of thought, I do not know what the top speed limit is in this country.  I know of some stretches of highway governed by a 75 mph speed limit.  If that is the fastest legal speed that a person may travel, then why not build cars that will automatically shut down when the driver exceeds that limit?  The term "Speed Limit" does refer to the maximum speed permitted by law, doesn't it?
Ø  One North Korean official made this statement at the death of President Kim Jong Il:  "Even the crane seems to mourn the demise of Kim Jong Il, born of Heaven."  "Born of Heaven"?  I thought North Korea, as a Communist State, was by definition atheistic.  If so, then how could Kim, or anyone for that matter, be "born of Heaven".  Do atheists actually believe in heaven?  If so, who rules it?



G. D. Gehr
January 13, 2012
Comments invited.  Please submit below.