How the media, and the public are failing in the cases of Penn State and Syracuse

Lets start with the obvious.

We all as a society, object to what Sandusky and Fine have allegedly done.

We all object to the covering up, the looking the other way, the lack of investigating that is alleged to have happened in both cases.

We believe, according to media reports by ESPN, Yahoo, CNN, Fox News etc...that these things are all facts.

But we don't.

There has not been testimony by both sides at least none that have been made public. We have crucified McQueary, Paterno, Spanier, Shultz, and Curly at Penn State. It seems that we are attempting to begin crucifying Boeheim.

To date, in all the cases they have not been able to tell the media or the public what they did or did not know.

It seems as though neither the media nor the public care. Their minds are already made up. They all had to of known, and then covered it up to keep their reputations, and the reputations of their institutions spotless.

This MAY be true. But it also very well MAY NOT be true.

We do NOT know SPECIFICALLY what McQuearly told Paterno. We do NOT specifically know what Paterno said to Shultz and Curly. We do NOT know what Spanier was told and by who.

But the crimes that are alleged to occur, the time that has gone on since their alleged knowledge of said crimes and their silence is so salacious and upsetting that it seems to not matter.

The media could not help themselves it seems. With only a grand jury findings, where the nature of the crimes to have been alleged are so horrific and vile they had a story coming and they needed answers. And they needed them as soon as possible. The public needed them.

But none would be coming anytime soon. Paterno's press conference would be canceled. He would be fired. McQueary would be put on leave, and Spanier would also leave. The prevailing notion then became overwhelming

The thought was then that they had to have known, kept it quiet in the interests of their own personal agendas. They turned a blind eye. What else could it be?

I contest that we do not know.

I contest that we do not know the answer to these questions yet, and for all the media attention, and jobs lost, and sorrow for the victims....we are no closer to closure on the issue.

I contest that until Paterno, McQueary, are given a fair opportunity to defend themselves, we should be hesitant to claim omniscience into their respective minds.

I am not defending these people exactly.

I am defending the idea of a free society, and one that gives their citizens the ability to defend themselves against accusers, no matter who they might be, and what they might allege. No matter how horrific.

The media ought to be ashamed of how it handled this. Not because they're the media. But because they're Americans. And if you already had your mind up whether or not these people are guilty or innocent, you should be ashamed too.