This weekend is the NFC Championship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets. Both of these teams started the season in controversy. For the Steelers it was their star quarterback, a future Hall of Famer, who allegedly raped a woman, and later sexually assaulted another woman who wouldn't press charges. For the Jets, they made the news when they sexually harassed a news reporter who was interviewing in their locker room. This is all distant memory now. No one is talking about it. And why talk about it? Is it really a big deal? Isn't it more important that the team rose above the controversy and are on the brink of the opportunity to win it all?
Is this an issue? Is there a problem here? I mean, really, didn't the women have a role in this? After all, Andrea McNulty was after the money, and Google her name and see how she has been reviled on line for being stupid and ugly and just a B*#@* anyway. What was Ben thinking? For me, while I believed the reports, decided to give Ben the benefit of the doubt.
The second incident there was no question that it was rape. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5094224 Mr. Rooney said the right things, expressing his disappointment and disgust, and Rothlisberger said he would accept the punishment. A 4 game suspension. Wow! People go to prison for this! They go for a long time!!! However, the victim stated she didn't want to press charges. And no wonder, if she was going to get the same treatment that Ms. McNulty received!
The Jets incident. While not nearly as serious as the Rothlisberger case, still indicates that there is a keen disrespect for women.
WHAT IF....
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the finest franchises in the history of football. Whether a fan of the Steelers or not, you have to respect what they have done. The ownership has been stellar, the business plan solid, and have the Championship Trophies to prove it! Their fan base is strong and found in every state in the nation. WHAT IF the Steeler Nation stood up and stated that, while they have forgiven Big Ben, it's not enough. WHAT IF they insisted that Mr. Goodell and the NFL start making it a matter of high importance that this type of behavior isn't tolerated. What if they started an add campaign that expressed it's disgust of the abuse of women, and set a standard for honor and respect? Could you imagine an NFL sponsored Superbowl commercial that addresses the pandemic problem of the rape and abuse of women and children in our Land of the Free? What if the NFL sent contributions to help set in place rape crisis hotlines in every town? What if they developed programs to be taught in High Schools and Colleges that taught that sex isn't something to "conquer" but something to honor in a relationship with someone you love? Would this have a significant effect on our society? Change has to start somewhere! Why not football fans? Why not the NFL? Isn't it the National Sport? WHAT IF?
A few years ago Michael Vick was held responsible for illegal dog fighting and cruelty to animals and sent to prison. Yet we won't stand up for women. It is too ingrained in our society that women are at fault and "men will be men", despite the fact that every single one of us know women and children who have been abused. I do not believe that the Steeler Nation will take this action. I do not believe that they even see this as a concern. I do not believe that our country is willing to look at this devastating problem and do anything about it! But I have to keep saying it. I have to keep expressing my disgust. I have to hope that someday, somewhere, our country will actually decide to do something about it! Can you imagine what type of country this could be if we actually DID protect our women and children?
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