Diva Dialogue-November, 2011

The news is buzzing! I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with Penn State and their issues. As a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State was one of our biggest rivals so imagine my interest in this unfortunate situation. A grand jury indictment has been raised against former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky for allegations which include sexual abuse of eight children over a fifteen year period. I am saddened when any sexual abuse is raised and this situation is no different. I think the fact that so much is focused on Joe Paterno running a clean upstanding athletic program where he stressed moral values and scholastic achievements is overshadowing the real issue which is adults violating children's trust. Paterno has had a long illustrious career. It is safe to say this will be his last year as coach of the Nittany Lions as he announced that he will retire at the close of this season. He did go to the administration with the accusations, the administration chose to cover up the abuse and Paterno is being called on the carpet for not pushing for more action on their part. Given Paterno's level of influence in the Penn State community, I do think he fulfilled his moral obligation but I also feel that given his respected position, he should have advocated for the children involved instead of going forward without questioning the actions of the University. What would you have done is his shoes? Is fulfilling your moral obligation enough?

On a sad note, former Heavyweight champion boxer, Smokin Joe Frazier lost a battle to liver cancer. He was 67 years old. He handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat. Frazier had a devastating left hook and was well respected for his determination and strength. By all accounts, he had a great personality and will be sorely missed by the Philadelphia community where he worked closely with children. As a child, I clearly remember all the hype surrounding the "Thrilla in Manila." It was an awesome fight and your adrenaline got pumping just by watching. I won't even discuss the pre-hype and trash talking that occurred. I am no longer excited by boxing, it simply isn't the same.

On another sad note, rapper Heavy D, age 44, died yesterday. Heavy D was one of my favorite hip hop artists. He had longevity in a field where people don't last very long. Last month, he performed on an award show and the performance was phenomenal. His career began in 1987 with the single, Overweight Lovers in the House. Dwight Myers(Heavy D's Government name) was also an actor. His most recent role was in Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy which was released last week. I am a saddened fan because I loved Heavy D, his rap was clean, catchy, and boy could he dance despite his heavier weight. He came across as sincere and fun loving. Based on the celebrity response, he was all of those things as well as a caring artist and father. Hopefully, heaven has gained an angel.

Last but certainly not least, Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Joseph Jackson. Let's hope that MJ's family can finally find some peace in what is really a tragic situation. Let's face it, we all know MJ needed professional help. I think eventually, MJ would have self destructed. It is a travesty that Conrad Murray didn't take his Hippocratic Oath seriously enough to walk away from the fame of treating a superstar celebrity or to attempt to help him resolve his demons. Murray may not serve more than the 20 days it will take before his sentencing due to overcrowded California prisons. He will never practice medicine in the US again. He is vilified because MJ has remained larger than life even after death and his fans are a loyal and dedicated group. My hubby thinks Murray should leave the States where he'd be in a better position to start over somewhat more anonymously. I feel sorry for him. He was wrong and I think he will pay dearly for his mistake for the rest of his life. The choice to be a doctor is a serious one. The verbiage in the Hippocratic Oath is clear. To be a medical profession in violation of it is dangerous and deadly. I see this as a wake up call for patients and their doctors. We all have a role and with it comes boundaries. It is important to operate within those guidelines to keep us all safe.

I have said a lot and now it is time to close. Life is short. There are a ton of lessons to be learned as we live it. In the case of Penn State, you have to think about the situations from a personal point of view. Would you have reacted the same if it was your son, daughter, or grandchild? I think the same applies to Conrad Murray. Someone has to be bold enough to take a stand. In the case of Joe Frazier and Heavy D, both the hip hop and sports arena have taken serious losses. Both men had warm personalities and were well respected by their peers.  Till next time, love life and live it to the fullest.


In Diva Love,

Pam