I will be the first to state that I have strong opinions which are not always shared by others. I respect that others have different opinions, but vary rarely can you sway me from mine. Obviously something shapes us all in our belief systems and makes us fell how we do. This doesn’t mean because your opinion is different from mine that you’re stupid, or ignorant or wrong. It just means that you don’t feel the same way that I do.
But my opinions are very strong.
Very strong.
And I don’t apologize for them. I hope you don’t apologize for yours.
Today my strong opinion has been about Joe Paterno. I have been disgusted by all of the loving comments I have seen about him in his passing. I understand that prior to the scandal he was a very loved and respected coach – not to mention a very successful coach. I respect that he was good at what he did.
But I do not respect that he turned a blind eye to child molestation. Some have said “he did his job by reporting what was reported to him”. Ok, if we want to get technical, yes he did do that. But reporting what he knew yielded no results. He reported it to campus officials. They sat on it. He needed to report it to the police or child protective services. When he realized that nothing came of his report, he needed to act further on it. Because he didn’t, the molesting continued. Additional innocent boys were abused and their lives were ruined. Because of his silence. Joe Paterno was a father to boys. How would he have felt if one of his boys was molested because someone wasn’t proactive in reporting the abuse?
I am sure that his rapid decline in health and ultimate demise were well related to the stress of his inaction and subsequent firing. I also believe that karma played a role, too. His cancer was supposed to be treatable.
I am not saying Joe Paterno was a horrible human being, or a monster like Sandusky is. However, with his failure to do the right thing he tarnished a legacy that was golden. Ultimately, nothing he did before the scandal really matters much to me anymore. What he didn’t do when he found out about Sandusky is what will forever stick in my mind.
I wish his family peace, both with his passing and with the mess he created. I would not want to be in their shoes for anything. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for them. They don’t deserve backlash or ill feelings because of what he didn’t do. But when it comes to saying “rest in peace”, I don’t wish Joe Paterno peace – though I don’t imagine there has been much peace in his life the past few months. All consequences of choices he made.
About Katie
Well said! And never apologize for how you feel!
It’s just sad that someone could turn a blind eye to something like that. Hopefully, as you instill your children with the same determination they will stand up and do what’s right when called for.
I for one am nauseated by the sugary boohoo’s over this “great man.” As head coach, as a public leader and “hero,” as a self-proclaimed “devout Catholic,” …hell, as a human being…Paterno had an obligation to stop Sandusky’s crimes. His enabling inaction reveals that he either a.) was okay with filthy crimes as long as his football team won, or b.) he was completely incompetent as a leader in that he was unaware of what his right-hand man was doing {no one expects a leader to know the personal details of every single person under his command, but Sandusky was in Paterno’s closest top circle and a “leader” himself.} It is a very warped morality that will allow continued “hero worship” of such a figure in the name of winning football.
I feel bad for his family. He has left on stain on their lives. All I can say is that he has to stand before God now.