The moral outrage expressed over what happened at Penn State is a perfect example of how people with divergent belief systems can agree. Whether liberal or conservative, nobody condones pedophilia. To one and all, Jerry Sandusky is a villain. Nobody condones what he has done.
At the same time, many are willing to give Joe Paterno a pass for his role. After all, he did report the incident to his athletic director, which was his responsibility. After that, it just seemed to go away. Those in charge didn’t want Sandusky’s scandalous behavior to tarnish the image of either the university or its legendary coach.
In essence, by refusing to go public, Sandusky was allowed to continue molesting young boys for another decade, ruining the lives of many innocent children who were unable to defend themselves. They had no voice. Their lives were placed on the sacrificial altar so that Paterno’s image and legacy would remain pristine.
Now that it has all come to the light, this is what he will be remembered for—not all the rest. Most think this is unfair, but I’m not among them. By not taking care of innocent children, he put his image above their welfare, which makes his demise sad and tragic, but justifiable.
—Jack Watts
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