Post by sobener35 on Nov 16, 2011 22:48:45 GMT -5
Salem Visits Happy Valley
In American society today, people are held to specific moral standards. When one does not follow these standards, it may cause the downfall of that person or the destruction of the group or community in which they belong. These moral standards go all the way back to the time of the Puritans, and to the time of The Crucible. Although the standards have changed since the Puritan’s time, they still exist. A part of these moral standards in America that has not changed since the Puritans is the idea that when an individual sees, hears, or knows of something horrifying that may cause harm to others, they are expected to act in order to prevent it before matters get worse. When one is in a position to prevent harm to innocent people, the expectation is that they will be selfless and do the right thing without worrying about what may happen to their own reputation. In the Joe Paterno scandal involving Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley, and innocent young boys, it is the expectation of society that those individuals with knowledge about the situation will do everything in their power to stop the crisis. Penn State University athletic director Tim Curley is one of the guilty men who did not live up to the moral standards of American society. Curley’s behavior is closely related to the behavior of John Proctor in The Crucible due to the fact that neither of them stopped a crisis from occurring when given the chance.
Tim Curley was once a highly respected man in the Penn State University athletic program just as John Proctor was once a highly respected man in Salem. Early in the play Proctor is aware of information about Abigail Williams that could potentially stop the Salem witch trials before they begin, but chooses not to share this crucial information because he worries that his affair with Abigail will be revealed and his good name ruined. Curley had the same selfish ideals back in 2002 when making the decision not to inform law enforcement of the sexual assault of young boys on the Penn State campus. When made aware of the situation, Curley remained silent in fear that informing the police would ruin the reputation of the university’s football program. Unbeknownst to him, in November of 2011 the scandal was made public, and the consequences for everyone in the situation were made worse. If Curley had done what society expected of him years ago, several young boys would have been protected from Sandusky. Curley’s decision to end the abuse would have prevented the resulting cover-ups, which are now causing the ruin of Curley along with the Penn State football program and others involved.
Both John Proctor and Tim Curley have shown that they would rather protect the interests of a few people, including themselves, rather than lead by the example of helping the greater society. Curley’s behavior and the morals that influence his decision to value the powerful coaches and financial success of a college football program more than the welfare of a child led to a bigger scandal and harm to more children. John Proctor behaves similarly before the Salem Witch Trials began when he was given important information could have saved lives, but selfishly chose not to share this information. Each man caused his own failure by not preventing a crisis when given the chance and by not holding themselves to the moral standards of society.
579 words
www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_213055.asp
In American society today, people are held to specific moral standards. When one does not follow these standards, it may cause the downfall of that person or the destruction of the group or community in which they belong. These moral standards go all the way back to the time of the Puritans, and to the time of The Crucible. Although the standards have changed since the Puritan’s time, they still exist. A part of these moral standards in America that has not changed since the Puritans is the idea that when an individual sees, hears, or knows of something horrifying that may cause harm to others, they are expected to act in order to prevent it before matters get worse. When one is in a position to prevent harm to innocent people, the expectation is that they will be selfless and do the right thing without worrying about what may happen to their own reputation. In the Joe Paterno scandal involving Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley, and innocent young boys, it is the expectation of society that those individuals with knowledge about the situation will do everything in their power to stop the crisis. Penn State University athletic director Tim Curley is one of the guilty men who did not live up to the moral standards of American society. Curley’s behavior is closely related to the behavior of John Proctor in The Crucible due to the fact that neither of them stopped a crisis from occurring when given the chance.
Tim Curley was once a highly respected man in the Penn State University athletic program just as John Proctor was once a highly respected man in Salem. Early in the play Proctor is aware of information about Abigail Williams that could potentially stop the Salem witch trials before they begin, but chooses not to share this crucial information because he worries that his affair with Abigail will be revealed and his good name ruined. Curley had the same selfish ideals back in 2002 when making the decision not to inform law enforcement of the sexual assault of young boys on the Penn State campus. When made aware of the situation, Curley remained silent in fear that informing the police would ruin the reputation of the university’s football program. Unbeknownst to him, in November of 2011 the scandal was made public, and the consequences for everyone in the situation were made worse. If Curley had done what society expected of him years ago, several young boys would have been protected from Sandusky. Curley’s decision to end the abuse would have prevented the resulting cover-ups, which are now causing the ruin of Curley along with the Penn State football program and others involved.
Both John Proctor and Tim Curley have shown that they would rather protect the interests of a few people, including themselves, rather than lead by the example of helping the greater society. Curley’s behavior and the morals that influence his decision to value the powerful coaches and financial success of a college football program more than the welfare of a child led to a bigger scandal and harm to more children. John Proctor behaves similarly before the Salem Witch Trials began when he was given important information could have saved lives, but selfishly chose not to share this information. Each man caused his own failure by not preventing a crisis when given the chance and by not holding themselves to the moral standards of society.
579 words
www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_213055.asp