This isn't going to be a long post. I just needed to get out my thoughts on this issue. When we left class on Wednesday I went directly up to Curtain Road, to watch the procession. While I waited out there, I couldn't help but think of how we will remember this in years to come. We stood out in the cold along a street to watch the passing of a man most of us never even met. And yet because of who he was and what he stood for, I feel like I know Coach Paterno as well as my own grandfather.
This is where the rhetoric comes in I think. I found it amazing the things that came out about JoePa minutes after his passing. The media and those who fought so hard to ruin his life, were suddenly commemorating him. No one wanted to speak ill of him. They chose their words careful, almost as if they were trying to apologize. All of the sudden the scandal was just a blip at the very end of a long lustrous career. They began by listing his accomplishments. Former players were interviewed talking about how great he was. You didn't see this when the scandal broke out. All of the sudden Joe was a hero again.
Then I see what we as the students have done in memory. As I said before most of us never met the man. But we could all connect to him. Every time I heard a speech he would make, to us or the players or the community as a whole, I felt like he was talking to his children or grandchildren. The love and care he had in his voice for all of us.... well it made me feel accepted here at PSU. I think that's how we all felt. That's why their have been this out pouring of pictures and quotes and status's remembering him in all his greatness. The pictures of Joe just standing with his arms crossed smiling in front of the camera... the one of Beaver before and after Joe. All of these created by students and others in the community to show how much he has done for us, and how much he meant for us.
Courtesy: Andrew Johnson
For me, this truly is like losing my grandfather. My mother's father passed away before I was born. I never knew the man. But somehow he is more important to my life than any other living relative. I've always heard how much I am like him. I have his nose, his build; I have his wit and clumsiness. I made up an image for the man I didn't know. Ironically Coach Paterno fit it perfectly. I never met Coach but somehow I knew he was was like my grandfather. Maybe its because their stories were so similar. Born to poor families; both fought in the war; both played football at Ivy League schools (My grandfather was the starting guard of the Yale Bulldogs... Oddly enough He told my mother that he remember's playing Joe when He was at Brown in the Early 50s), and both were kind loving men that were known for putting others before themselves. I guess it just made sense that Coach Paterno could be the physical embodiment of my Pops. With his passing... well needless to say I felt it.
So I guess to conclude what was supposed to be this short post I want to say this: Thank You so much Coach Paterno. Not only for what you gave to the football program or the school, but for the love and kindness you showed to all of your 40,000 children. We will always remember you in our hearts.
Before I begin writing I just want to add a disclaimer. The views expressed in this ad are very far from my own so I would ask that if you watched the link above and you disagree you do not aim your attacks at me. I posted this because there is a personal story tied to this advertisement. Some might find it comical others offensive so for those of you out there who are afraid of conflict this isn't the blog for you.
Alright so now that that is out of the way I shall begin. For those of you who haven't yet done so I would ask that you click on the link above and watch the video above. Alright now assuming that you have done so let me introduce to those of you who don't already know him, Texas Governor Rick Perry. Gov. Perry is in the race to gain the GOP nomination for the 2012 presidential race. He is an outspoken opponent of the Obama administration, a staunch conservative, and as we can see, a very poor rhetor.
Before I go further into that previous statement I want to tell you the story of how I discovered this.... how should I put this... unusual piece of political propaganda. My roommate and I were sitting in our dorm one day, some weeks ago watching TV. Both of us consider ourselves republicans but neither are very conservative, swaying more towards the moderate view of things. We don't discuss politics often, although the subject has been broached on occasion so we both know each others view. So needless to say that when this commercial popped up on the screen, the two of us both turned to stare wide-eyed at the other. This was followed by a sudden burst of laughter, and then a deep discussion of the usual, "what is this country going too?" "its people like that, that's going to drive us back to the dark ages" "are you going to eat that"... you know the important questions one asks after witnessing such an event as this... piece of work. Needless to say neither of us were very much impressed with Gov. Perry. My roommate being a navy man himself, found this especially amusing as it seems the dear Governor was trying to appeal to those in the military.
Needless to say as a rhetor Gov. Perry is no expert. He not only succeed in pushing away the audience he was trying to target, he proceeded to insult and segregate the 17% of non-christian Americans as well as the 4% that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual (abc.com news pole). Though these numbers seem insignificant by secluding these groups Perry gives Obama a 21% lead, providing he is the GOP candidate. Besides this he has refused to take into account people like my roommate and I who clear see this commercial as a very intolerant and rather frightening foreshadowing of what is to come, if he becomes president. He is not only driving off a large portion of the voting intentionally, he unintentionally drives off the very people he should be trying to sway to his position. Conservatives will already vote for him so wouldn't the politically smart thing be to try to sway the vote of the moderates who make up a large percentage of his own party? This commercial is a perfect example of why it is wise to choose your wording carefully. Perry has focused on a very small and very secluded group of christian conservatives, simply by using the incorrect wording.
Today Governor Perry is no real contender in the race. After making ignorant and rather offensive comments on the Turkish involvement in global Terrorism, he is being called to drop out of the race by many, including those from his own state of Texas. Yet another slip up for the Gov and all because he doesn't understand the importance of proper rhetoric.
