I want you to imagine something with me:
Imagine you’re the father of a daughter. From an early age, your daughter takes a keen interest in gymnastics. She shows a deep gift and develops an abiding love for the sport over her teenage years.
With enough practice and with the right coaching, she develops into a world class gymnast. She’s good enough to compete for a slot on the United States Olympic team.
I’ll admit, I don’t follow gymnastics. I don’t get it. I appreciate it, but it’s not for me. But this may be the worst peasant story I have ever heard.
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During practice one morning, she lands from a tumbling pass in an awkward way, and she tweaks her knee. This takes away her mobility and her flexibility, which are both keys to the success of a gymnast.
I mean, it’s obvious.
You put your trust in a doctor who you believe is not only going to make your daughter’s injury better, but could make her better than ever and ready to go when the torch is lit.
While this doctor may help your daughter feel better, she starts acting a little jumpy and scared. She’s not her regular, bubbly self.
While her injury may be better, it comes out that the doctor has touched her inappropriately.
In your investigation, you find out that she’s not the only one.
And then you see on the news, this doctor in handcuffs. Child pornography.
I’ve gone after some heavy hitters in this King Series. From filmmaking powerhouses to the President of the United States, I’ve spared nobody who I see as worthy of my condemnation. But I can safely say that nobody I’ve gone after has been worthier of the title of peasant.
Not even Logan Paul.
There has never been a more deserving addition to the wheel of peasants than former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
I’ll admit, I don’t follow gymnastics. I don’t get it. I appreciate it, but it’s not for me.
But this may be the worst peasant story I have ever heard.
Here’s my understanding of the facts of the story:
Nassar was a licensed osteopathic physician and the official sports medicine doctor with USA Gymnastics. He also ran a gymnastics clinic and club at Michigan State University, of which he was also a faculty member.
In December 2016, federal agents arrested Nassar on federal child pornography charges. The FBI accused him of possessing over 37 thousand images of child pornography including video of him allegedly molesting girls in a swimming pool. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
In February 2017, three former gymnasts came forward with accusations toward Nassar of sexual abuse during medical examinations. Nassar initially denied the charges, claiming legitimate medical examinations.
In an interview with 60 Minutes, former gymnasts Jeanette Antolin, Jessica Howard, and Jaime Dantzscher claimed the emotionally abusive atmosphere found at the training camp at the famed Karolyi Ranch in Texas run by Bela and Marta Karolyi intimidated the athletes into staying silent and allowed the Nassar abuse to happen.
USA Gymnastics has cut ties with the Karolyi organization.
Since the initial three allegations, more than 160 people have come forward with allegations against Nassar. Included in those levelling accusations are Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles – the last two Olympic all-around gold medalists, and fellow Olympians McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman.
In November 2017, Nassar pleaded guilty to seven first degree sexual assault counts in an Ingham County, Michigan court. The court heard statements from about 160 of his victims.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina laid down a 175-year sentence for his crimes.
“It is my honor and privilege to sentence you because you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again,” Judge Aquilina said when handing down her sentence. “I just signed your death warrant.”
First of all, damn! That’s a pretty brutal rebuke of someone with a brutal history.
Well deserved, I may add.
As I said earlier, Nassar may be the most deserving person I’ve ever nominated for the wheel of peasants. And normally, I’d be glib and funny about this.
This isn’t anywhere close to being funny and worthy of glibness.
I am not a father. I pray that I am blessed to become a father one day, but I’m not yet a father.
But I believe that any parent reading this piece can say that you must have a lot of trust to be a parent. You have to trust that your child is going to be safe. You have to trust that your parenting skills are going to work best for your child – even through you’re going to make plenty of mistakes.
All parents I know want one thing for their child over anything. Even happiness.
You have to trust that your child is going to be safe. Safe in their schools, safe in their after school or before school activities, safe in your vehicles.
Is your child safe?
My mom and dad were both dyed in the wool hippies. They were both part of that flower power generation. They were both about as laid back as they came.
Intimidation and shaming tactics can keep people holding onto deep seated secrets for generations.
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But I remember many, many times my mom telling me when I was a child that if someone was threatening my sister or me, she’d lay her own life on the line to protect us.
Of the 160 victims who spoke against Nassar in court, the vast majority were apparently underage when they were molested and abused. They were all minors. Their parents put a lot of trust in this man and in the system that provided their daughters the canvas to paint their dreams.
And while many of these young ladies have gone on to huge successes outside of gymnastics, none of them will be the same. They all have wound to heal. They all have pieces to pick up for their lives to be normal again.
The world isn’t working. And when someone like this can run roughshod over so many people, it’s an unfortunate statement about how broken the world really is.
Many questioned why the accusers who came out against former Alabama senatorial candidate Roy Moore were silent for almost 40 years. Intimidation and shaming tactics can keep people holding onto deep seated secrets for generations.
I have a ton of gratitude for the women who came forward against Nassar. It takes a lot of courage to fight the shame they probably feel.
And let this be a lesson to everybody.
We need to trust each other again. Kings trust other Kings.
As we say back in Alabama – you can’t trust some folks as far as you can throw them.
In closing, I’m grateful for all involved that Nassar will be behind bars where he belongs.
And certain people define the word peasant to the letter.
Larry Nassar – you are the worst kind of peasant.
Photo by Lemonjenny