Category: Bullying

WHAT HAPPENED TO JOE PATERNO AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Bullying, Penn State, Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view

November 2011 — Penn State University fired Joe Paterno for his part in the Sandusky child abuse scandal coverup.
January 2, 2012 — Joe Paterno died at the age of 85 of lung cancer, stripped of all wins from 1998 to 2011.

Back then, just wearing a PSU sweatshirt was a conflict. How can you support a school that let Sandusky continue to use the football facilities where he seduced and sexually abused young boys?

Now it’s two and a half years later. Bill O’Brien did a remarkable job as head football coach and his successor James Franklin looks like he’ll do even better. Penn State has done everything that the NCAA has demanded and more. They want to change forever the culture that would allow a monster to live amongst them.

What have we learned?

Life goes on. The earth continues to rotate and the sun rises every morning. No one is irreplaceable. We grieve. We rage. We fear. We cry. One day we again feel joy.

As a psychiatrist I’ve learned that we are remarkably resilient. Tragedy strikes, but it doesn’t need to continue to bring us to our knees. We can battle adversity, bullying, emotional illness, poor parenting, physical illness, loss, and catastrophe by learning from the experience.

Maybe the NCAA will rescind a portion of PSU’s punishment? Maybe they won’t. Their decision doesn’t need to affect how we act.

We can be stronger because the real hero is inside each of us. An idealized hero, whose flaws are overlooked or minimized, is not as necessary as you think. We don’t have to stand on the sidelines and watch evil happen. Individually, we have the power to personally do what’s right.

“WE ARE” is really just a combination of “I AM”.

Dr. Art Smukler is the award-winning writer of Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

MICHAEL SAM, HERO OR PARIAH? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Bullying, Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view

A group of students formed a human wall outside of Mizzou Stadium to block from view members of a Baptist Church who were protesting against the outpouring of support for Michael Sam, the SEC defensive player of the year. When he signs with an NFL franchise, he will be the 1st openly gay NFL player.

Religious zealots have been attacking “outsiders” for centuries.

Actor and comedian, Alec Mapa said it beautifully, “I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear that religious people are coming for me and my family the one thing I can think is: Shouldn’t you be reading to the blind? Aren’t there homeless people in your area who could benefit from a kind word or a hot meal? Could there possibly be a better use of your time and resources than going after the lives and freedom of people you’ll never meet, whose lives and freedom will never affect you in any other way?”

It’s amazing that so many people know what’s right and will fight and sometimes even kill anyone who disagrees.

Women shouldn’t vote — repealed 1912 in the US. Now in 2014, Sharia Law professes that women shouldn’t read or attend school.

Prohibition — repealed 1933

Medical school quotas against Jews, unpublicized and denied, — stopped in 1960s

McCarthyism — Communist witch hunts against anyone who opposed Senator Joe McCarthy’s ideas. Finally stopped by President Eisenhower in 1954

George Wallace, governor of Alabama, stated in 1963, “In the name of the greatest people that have trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.”

Is Michael Sam a hero and a new role model?

YES.

Dr. Art Smukler is the award winning writer of Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.