In between other things, have been reading some novels about 19th century England -- a place and time that has always fascinated me.

I read something last night that resonated with me about JoePa and our current situation. Ironically, the speaker was an Italian gentleman who fought alongside Garibaldi, one of the "fathers of the Italian fatherland." He was speaking to an English lady who had been his love interest when they were younger.

The woman had just said to him, "They mock because they don't understand." He responded, "Sometimes. It is far worse when they do it because they do understand but they hate what they cannot have. I remember my grandfather telling me that if I desired wealth or fame there would always be those who would hate me for it because both are earned at someone else's cost. But if I wished only to be good, no one would begrudge me that. I did not argue with him, partly because he was my grandfather, but mostly because I did not realize then how wrong he was. There is no hatred on earth like that for someone who possesses a virtue you do not have, or want. It is the mirror that shows you what you are, and obliges you to see it." (Emphasis added.)

I have believed this about Penn State and Joe for years, and in the midst of a novel find it articulated very well.