Accepting The Unacceptable

The sad chapter at the end of Coach Joe Paterno's remarkable life and career was totally avoidable. Even the paragons of virtue can enable terrible things to happen by not speaking up or acting decisively when power is used wrongly. I am fortunate to be removed from that situation now, but recent events serve to remind me that it can happen to the best of us. We can't control everything around us, but there may come a time when we are associated with people whose words or actions are simply unacceptable. Whether you call it illegal, immoral or grossly unfair, you know when the line has been crossed to the point where you want no part of it. To openly support the injustice with the promise of short term gain wins nobody's respect. The idea that resistance is futile can be the height of cynicism. History is full of principled and honorable people who questioned authority and produced sweeping changes for the better. It also has its share of good people who looked the other way and found themselves on the hotseat next. Sometimes it helps to say, "It is what it is" and "just roll with it"... but not always.