Penn State Scandal: To Feel Sorry for Joe Paterno Supporters or To Ignore Them?

I was originally not going to write anything about the whole Paterno situation at Penn State, because I am not a college football writer and know nothing of the players or schools, but I changed my mind this morning.

I realize that the web has been flooded with these articles, but I had to vent my frustrations, so please don't bother leaving a comment telling me how you are sick of reading about the situation because it is you who clicked the link to read the article.

I have been seeing a ton of articles posted which will either completely lambaste Paterno or take a neutral approach, but I am not really seeing anyone writing anything in support of Joe Paterno, which makes me happy.

Joe Paterno may be a legend in the college football world, but this story and situation overshadows anything he has done in the sport.

Students took to the streets to protest the firing of Paterno to show their support for the 46-year coach of Penn State.

These demonstrations have put a lot more anger into the situation, because Paterno supporters feel they should have let him finish out the year since he announced his retirement already, and the Paterno haters think that anyone supporting the man is wrong to do so.

I have to say that I agree with people who say Paterno is being justifiably fired. Frankly, I am shocked he does not have criminal charges against him for allowing the abuse to continue by not reporting the situation in the way he should have.

People can point fingers at the man who discovered the abuse and the administrator who Paterno took the matter to, but the fact of the matter is all three men are liable.

All three men did less than the minimum effort it would have taken to get this to stop, and that is just plain unacceptable.

The supporters of Joe Pa keep saying the same two things: "This is Sandusky's fault not Joe Pa's" and "Why didn't the children or parents do something?"

These arguments are so ignorant and shortsighted that I have to wonder if I should feel sorry for the people who support Joe Pa.

I am usually inclined to ignore people like this, because generally their position is a matter of opinion, but I don't think this matter comes down to opinions.

Joe Pa had the ability and information necessary to save other boys from being molested in the future and he did nothing, just like the other two guys who knew and did nothing. For that he deserves to lose his job at the very minimum.

If I was just a little more bitter I would probably say he belongs in jail because he is just as responsible as Sandusky once he found out and did nothing, but I know that Sandusky is the real monster and Paterno is simply the one who did not stop him.

So to all the Paterno supporters, I want you to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself—really ask yourself—what you would have done if someone had come to you and told you they witnessed someone molesting a little boy in the shower?

Would you have immediately called the cops? Would you have taken matters into your own hands? Or would you do what Joe Pa did and tell someone who will not do anything about it and leave it at that?

Justify your support for Joe Pa any way you want, because at the end of the day, every word you say in honor of him is against those who were abused after he found out and chose to do nothing.

Those are my two cents—if you agree with me then you must be a rational human being, if not then please feel free to leave a comment telling me why I should let a man who allowed crimes to occur keep his job.