I have spent the past four days in Fort Collins, CO.  Though I was not completely shielded from the headlines of the week, I took some time to take in the splendor of the mountains.  Following my impromptu spiritual renewal, I now feel it imperative to address the most recent events surrounding the allegations of sexual misconduct at Pennsylvania State University.

I am appalled and disheartened by the actions, and inactions, of the coaching staff, administration, and students of Penn State.  The events surrounding the recent allegations of sexual misconduct by a former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, have illuminated how misguided our priorities are.  As I watched footage from the rioting that ensued following the notification of the firing of Joe Paterno as the head football coach, my visceral reaction was anger at the level of support for a person who chose to ignore his obligation to humanity to stop these heinous acts and protect these children from an obvious predator.  But my anger then smoldered into pity for the misplaced loyalty of the students (and maybe faculty members) who stood together--at least 2,000 strong--in support of a mystic sports figure whose legacy I hope will always be marred by his crime of omission.  I wished this latest 'occupy Penn State' event would be in protest of joblessness and crushing indebtedness among new college graduates.  I wished these students would gather in protest of an institution that prioritized revenue generation and the mystique of an aging football coach over the physical and emotional health and safety of these children.  These protests are eerily reminiscent of the outpouring of love and support that O.J. Simpson, R. Kelly, Bishop Eddie Long, Roman Polansky, and other prominent athletes and entertainers have received even in the face of obvious wrongdoing.  

The central themes of this story are simultaneously awful and profound.  Have Americans completely de-valued each other's health and well-being in favor of elevating flawed men and women above the basic needs of everyday people?  The verisimilitude of an 'apology' from the former Coach Paterno lamenting the complete abdication of his responsibility to protect these children would be comical if it wasn't so tragic. Then, with equal temerity, the platitudinous nonsense of former players, coaches, etc. talking about the great Paterno legacy, with the indelible emotional trauma suffered by the victims as a footnote.  And though he is the most obvious target for swift retribution, the rest of the coaching staff, the administration, and the board of trustees are just as culpable as Sandusky.  Hell, they may as well as have been in the shower!  I hope the narrative will shift to the egregrious violation of the law and public trust being the subject and not the predicate.  And I sincerely hope our society will choose its heroes more carefully.  

Gifts

It seems like if you are woman who achieves the appropriate gender-assigned milestones, you'll receive recognition.  Whether it be a gift or a thousand 'Likes' or FaceBook comments, you will invariably be rewarded for what society expects you to do.  When you marry, there are wedding gifts.  As a bride, there's potential to get double the gifts because she also receives gifts at her bridal shower!  Hearty congratulations abound for not being a lesbian, for finding a man willing to commit his life to you, and for not being a 'babymama.'  When you have a baby, whoa!  It's like gifts--expensive ones--rain down from Heaven, irrespective of the circumstances under which the child is coming into the world.  It's a celebration of not being barren and of your sense of self being totally defined by your ability to bear children. 

I think it's really nice to celebrate the important milestones in your life.  But this is an honor that should be bestowed upon the rest of us.  Where are the expensive gifts for the man that has decided to commit to one woman for the rest of his life when the ratio of single women to single men is like 20:1?  Where is are all the gifts for the single father that has sole custody of his children?  Where are the greeting cards for the battered woman that finally decided to leave an abusive relationship, and made a better life for herself?  Or the battered man?  Where are the FaceBook 'Likes' and comments for a lesbian or gay couple who has decided to adopt a child that no one wanted before they arrived?

We should all have an opportunity for recognition for things that for many are nearly impossible.  The next time I hear someone who pursued and earned their PhD, I'm gonna throw them a PhD shower.  The next time I hear a couple adopted a child--same sex or not--I'm gonna throw them a non-traditional family shower.  The next time I hear a woman left a toxic relationship, I'm gonna throw them a thank-God-she-finally-got-way-from-that-fool shower.  Let's celebrate breathing!  Let's celebrate speaking!  Let's celebrate each other!  One. 

Birth of blogger

I’ve kept diaries for many years.  Some of the entries chronicle the celebrations of triumphs and life’s important milestones; others contain the mildly neurotic musings of a painfully inadequate colored girl.  I still appreciate the mellifluous sound of the roll of a pen on paper, and often pen my thoughts that way.  But the digital gods and goddesses have given me another medium through which I write—the blog.  I decided during a moment of utter counterproductivity that I needed an outlet (besides poetry) to free my right brain from the constriction and repetitiveness of scientific writing.  Matter of fact, I’m blogging while I am supposed to be working diligently on something I am expected to deem important.

The title of this blog is a play on my pen name, Indigo Lee, and each entry will undoubtedly put someone on notice about something important or totally inconsequential.  The complete liberation of blogging has the accompanying responsibility of addressing topics as diverse as my friendship circles are.  That being said, here is an open invitation into the matrix of my curiosity and madness to share your perspective on…whatever.  My only request is that everyone who posts be respectful of one another’s opinions.  I mean, the best soups have a variety of ingredients, right?

I’ll end my inaugural blog with…goodbye.  Peace, always.