A subtle blend of politics, sports, and music blended together and seen through the eyes of a young adult.
The Shame of Joe Paterno
It was back in 2008 when revelations broke that President Obama’s past reverend said phrases that seemed to smite White America, with the most blatant one being “God damn America.” While I do not support those comments at all, I think I can make a similar statement about something else going on in the news right now: God Damn Joe Paterno.
Now, some people might think that phrase to be extremely harsh. To me, it’s not harsh enough. Instead of going down in history as the greatest college football coach, Paterno will now be remembered forever as the coach who lacked any kind of moral sense to help innocent children.
It’s been released that when Paterno find out about the allegations against his defense coordinator Jerry Sandusky, he simply told the AD at Penn State and then did nothing else. He never went to the police, he never went to the Board of Directors at Penn State, and he didn’t even talk to Sandusky about it at all- he let him be, and he even allowed him the use of an office owned by Penn State. If you knew a guy who was accused of raping a 10-year-old in a shower, would you want anything to do with him, and would you really have stayed silent and lived life like nothing had happened? Yea, me neither.
This whole “do nothing” approach puts into doubt Paterno’s moral code. If someone reported to you that they had witnessed the rape of a young boy, I’m pretty sure you and everyone else would go to the police immediately. Even if you didn’t go that far, I would at least hope that you would banish the perpetrator from ever setting foot in your workplace and totally isolating him for life. Paterno, on the other hand, simply did nothing besides tell some Penn State officials. The very fact that the man allowed Sandusky to still use Penn State facilities after he knew Sandusky had raped a boy is beyond comprehension for me.
What sickens me even more is the overflow of support for Paterno that has been going on at Penn State, whether it was the students camping outside of his house last week before he got fired, or the riots that broke out after he got fired. Seriously, are you freaking kidding me?? These students are rioting for a man who indirectly supported a sick child molester. If Bret Bielema were ever accused of raping a child or of knowing about a coach who did so and did nothing, you would see me on the frontlines of protestors to get his butt fired. The students at Penn State who are still supporting Paterno are honestly just being idiotic, as I cannot begin to understand how you can still support a coach who has no moral sense or direction of what is good or bad anymore.
On top of all that, if anyone reading this still supports Paterno, let me ask you this: if you’re child got raped by a local coach and another coach found out about it but did nothing, how would you feel? Would you still support the silent coach, or would you want to rip his head off with your own two hands?
Joe Paterno’s tenure at Penn State has come to an inglorious end, and he has no one to blame but himself. He could have avoided all of this back in 2002 if he had just gone to police and quarantined Sandusky until the police could take over. His grave was dug by himself, and I have lost almost all sense of respect for the man. Just because he was a great football coach doesn’t mean he can do what he did. God Damn you Joe Paterno.
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- A Short Little Conversation with a Walker Lover (106)
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- Here's To a Happy Beginning To The Holiday Season! (25)
- The Shame of Joe Paterno (57)
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- A Short Story: "There's A Bad Moon on the Rise" (33)
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77 Comments
bamaphd - Nov 17, 2011 5:21 PM
The big "P" had a moral code that allowed him to sleep at night, knowing that this kind of person was working for him and took no steps as a member of society to stop him from committing additional acts against these children.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-mones/protecting-kids-from-sexu_b_1100114.html
Marie R - Nov 17, 2011 5:38 PM
SA, I want to tell you that I most enjoy your words and how they make me laugh. Sometimes outloud and while at work! Your balance and perception is impeccable. But I must say, this time I don’t agree with your analysis. Hayett, I do see your point and agree with you. If you read what Hayett posted and found with balance and caution, you might agree. I take Hayett is not standing up for Paterno
I’m a mom of a young child and I most certainly follow your thoughts and emotions about the horrible life destroying abuse by this State coach named Sandusky. But let us not forget. Mr. Paterno is not the one who committed these horrendous crimes. Nor is he the one who found this. Or is he the one who should have called the police since Mr McQ said he called them. Hayett only said that until the full facts come out Penn State should have not fired Mr. Paterno but make Paterno sit for a while until the truth comes out. It is in the investigators report that Mr. McQ told the coach that he contacted police and that Mr. Paterno found this out a day after. Thus why you and this bama guy are wrong in getting so riled up. Hayett also pointed out to Andy his most horrible untrue accusation he made about Mr. Paterno.
Bama, your dragging in Hayett’s nonprofit work at St Rose as if he knew of an abuse like that is pathetic and very disgusting. I see why you have been banned. You are a man I call a complete coward
WFB resident - Nov 17, 2011 5:52 PM
Marie R - Nov 17, 2011 5:52 PM
You made these comments. - "As soon as he had wind of this the right thing was to remove this animal the same day." - "You take the pervert out of the system."
If I were raped would you feel the same way? If it were an accusation, would you do the same and call the police if at work or go to your officials at work before passing judgment?
I’ve read these posts for many years. I certainly don’t recall ever reading about you, as bamaphd or under your other real name when you were allowed to blog for this company, making this same effort when President Clinton was accused of rape. And more than one time! Why didn't you come forward like this so to "take the pervert out of the system?"
Maybe to you rape of an adult women is less of a crime than rape of a child.
Andy_Kristensen - Nov 17, 2011 5:58 PM
wrong. I never stated that Paterno saw or stopped the ACTUAL abuse. I wrote
that he didn't know about it until after the incident. By saying that he should've
gone to the police and quarantined Sandusky, I am saying that, after he got the
report from McQueary, he should've talked to Sandusky to see if the allegation
was true, contact police if he had any feeling that it might be, and then quarantine
Sandusky, aka keep him out of EVERY Penn State facility and not allow him on
campus at all. So, therefore, I am not accusing Paterno of having seen the actual
abuse or anything like that. I think you simply just misread what I was saying. My
faulting with Paterno is that he didn't even TALK to Sandusky or follow up on the
allegations at all. That, right there, is enough to charge him as morally guilty.
bamaphd - Nov 17, 2011 6:04 PM
Your are totally mistaken. I have only posted here under bamaphd.
"If I were raped would you feel the same way? If it were an accusation, would you do the same and call the police if at work or go to your officials at work before passing judgment?"
If you told me or if a co worker had told me you had been rapped, I would be calling the cops. The workplace has no capacity at all to investigate these cases.
jhayett - Nov 17, 2011 6:14 PM
was true, contact police if he had any feeling that it might be, and then quarantine Sandusky, aka keep him out of EVERY Penn State facility and not allow him on campus at all. So, therefore, I am not accusing Paterno of having seen the actual abuse or anything like that. I think you simply just misread what I was saying. My faulting with Paterno is that he didn't even TALK to Sandusky or follow up on the allegations at all. That, right there, is enough to charge him as morally guilty...Andy
Andy, but that's not what you said at all. But well taken and accepted.
Andy_Kristensen - Nov 17, 2011 6:31 PM
confusion!
jhayett - Nov 17, 2011 6:35 PM
jhayett - Nov 17, 2011 6:35 PM
jhayett - Nov 17, 2011 6:54 PM
bamaphd - Nov 17, 2011 7:26 PM
This was up on Hemmer's blog, but i think it applies far better to the case outlined by Andy than what Hemmer illustrates.
This was evil. Real evil.
reformed trucker - Nov 17, 2011 7:59 PM
Ouch dude, that was harsh. I wouldn't wish that sentence on any woman... ;)
Had I witnessed the attack, 911 would have been dialed... for a stretcher to remove the attacker. I'm sure I would be hauled away in cuffs for further questioning. Seeing something like this, no way am I sneaking away to report it to "the proper channels".
If JP followed proper protocol, his follow up sucks. No way am I letting something like this go.
yert49 - Nov 17, 2011 9:56 PM
bamaphd - Nov 17, 2011 10:29 PM
Then you don't read all that well Marie or you are unable to comprehend a hypothetical argument.
The fact that he was so carefully weaselling around the very simple question makes on wonder if it may need some extra digging.
So you seem to know a lot about him: What do you know about this?
sharpaxe - Nov 18, 2011 9:21 AM
Now ask yourself how many years was this taking place.
Then imagine how close-knit this "family" of coaches/staff/administrators are, especially when paralleled with the MASSIVE amounts of money Penn State's football program generates. Anybody who's ever been involved in team sports understands how close these "families" are.
Now find out who's been fired, the money they made, and the positions they held.
And one last time, ask yourself how many years these crimes were taking place.
Then come back and tell me Paterno had very little knowledge of what was happening. EVERYBODY associated with that program knew, for a very long time. The hammer is only beginning to drop on this university. I believe whole-heartedly in "innocent until proven guilty", but I'm not willing to hide behind it this time.
sharpaxe - Nov 18, 2011 9:51 AM
Let me inform you about Mr. Sandusky. For two decades, he ran some of the best defenses in college football history. He was easily the heir-apparent to take over Paterno's job. Football programs around the country were tripping over themselves for him to become their head coach. We're talking millions here, folks. Then suddenly, in '98 - '99, he was told by Paterno himself he wasn't going to be the coach (hmm..coincides with an alledged incident in the grand jury report). Instead of moving to a head coaching position, and making millions, Sandusky abruptly retires. I wonder why.
And Joe Pa should be placed on leave.
jhayett - Nov 18, 2011 10:44 AM