Sandusky case shows need for safeguards
I understand the allegations concerning Jerry Sandusky were hard to believe.
I understand that an indictment of this magnitude would be a tragedy in any organization.
But Penn State, and particularly its football team, were known for all-American values of honor, integrity and hope.
Jerry Sandusky violated those values. Penn State violated those values as well because it allegedly failed to report sexual abuse allegations to authorities.
It would be easy to end the story with the firing of key university staff and the quick conviction of Sandusky.
It would be easy to say that we should always report suspicions of abuse, even if we are unsure of what really happened.
In the wake of all that has appeared in the media, we must take a deeper look at our responsibilities.
This tragedy is a wakeup call to every organization that works with youth. I hope such organizations will educate themselves, their families and their children about abuse.
I encourage every organization to understand what it must do to respond, to use effective screening tools and put policies into place about appropriate conduct. Then maybe we will see the silver lining in the horrific trial of Sandusky.
KELLEY GASKIN, MABLETON
Luckovich downplays a critical news issue
Regarding Mike Luckovich’s take on Fast and Furious (Opinion, June 22), it ill behooves him to criticize any news network or commentator who attempts to keep the public informed on critical news of the administration, while most of the other media outlets act as if it were, indeed, nothing more than frivolous entertainment.
Americans need and deserve to know what is being propagated by federal leaders, good or bad — particularly acts that are clearly ill-advised, lethal and covered up.
Shame on Luckovich for attempting to downplay the importance of a serious issue, and shame on the Barack Obama-struck media that fail to do their job.
BETSY M. KERR, LILBURN
People should have the right to be secure
Traveling through security at an airport, one gets a sense of how embarrassing it is to be singled out for additional screening. One also gets a sense that many don’t manage the situation well.
The reaction is normal for people who are not accustomed to being judged on their skin color.
For people of color, it’s just another inconvenience — until it turns deadly if one happens upon an overzealous police officer.
If it’s so easy to espouse belief in the “right to bear arms,” how do we not believe in the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures?
RONALD D. JOHNSON, AUSTELL
