drugging

All-star running back Adrian Peterson has been embroiled in a legal battle for more than two months, leaving him sidelined. It appears that Adrian Peterson decided to discipline his young son. The discipline, according to the Houston Chronicle, consisted of grabbing a tree branch and striking his son repeatedly. At first glance, no big deal. Then again, let’s think about this. Is beating your 4-year-old really the best way to exact punishment? This is not 1965.

If some can consider Rudy Giuliani America’s mayor, then I’m positive we can qualify Bill Cosby as America’s father. Bill Cosby has been on our TVs as a constant presence for over 50 years. From I Spy to numerous appearances on the Tonight Show; from the cartoon Fat Albert to the beloved Cosby Show, we’ve always loved Bill Cosby. His humor always seems to be perfect. He isn’t too over the top. He doesn’t curse or swear (at least not in his usual routines). How can America’s father be a serial rapist? It is crazy to think about. It is crazy to comprehend. But, at last count, there are 14 women who accuse Bill Cosby of drugging them and sexually assaulting them. Unfortunately, I think it’s nearly impossible for us, as outsiders, to be able to make any intelligent decisions one way or the other. We don’t have enough information. All I can tell you is that 14 women rarely stand up and point at one guy. It is hard for me to believe that 14 women all just want to ruin Bill Cosby and take his money. I would love to believe that Bill Cosby is a smiling, Jell-O pudding eating father whom we’ve all grown to love over the years, but this may be a façade.

Slowly but surely our society is changing. Hopefully, we are changing for the better. It is not okay to beat your kids so severely that your kids have physical scars from the encounter. Adrian Peterson has been suspended for the rest of the NFL season without pay.

It is not okay to sexually assault women. As a matter fact, it’s never been okay. It’s only now that women feel empowered enough to step forward and and tell their stories. NBC has cancelled the newest Bill Cosby show and they should have done this weeks ago. For the sake of Bill Cosby and for the sake of the women, I hope we can find some resolution. I’m talking about resolution in front of a jury of his peers. Let him clear his name or be found guilty. Let these women have some resolution. Let these women have justice.