Penn State Scandal: Franco Harris, Others Only Hindering Healing with Paterno

Franco Harris has been fired by Meadows Race Track and Casino for defending Joe Paterno in his being fired by Penn State. Certainly this will seem "unfair" to the Penn State faithful, but it shows why those who would defend Paterno don't get it, and in fact, why that prevents the healing process.

While it might seem like more fuel to the fire for the defenders of Paterno, it only prevents the healing process from being able to work. 

Harris had argued, 

"

I feel that the board made a bad decision in letting Joe Paterno go. I'm very disappointed in their decision. I thought they showed no courage, not to back someone who really needed it at the time. They were saying the football program under Joe was at fault.

They really wouldn't give a reason. They're linking the football program to the scandal and, possibly, the cover up. That's very disturbing to me...I think there should be no connection to the football program, only in the case that it happened at the football building with an ex-coach. I'm still trying to find out who gave him access to the building, who signed that contract.

"

If Penn State is going to heal from the process, the first thing they have to do is acknowledge this isn't the case. The incident isn't what links it to the football program, it's the cover up that does. Paterno had a moral obligation to report the incident to the police, and he didn't. His actions were consistent of those of a person trying to protect an institution, not a child. 

Harris had something to say about that, too, responding to Frank Noonan's comment that Paterno had a "moral obligation" to report this to the police. 

"

When I heard that, it blew my mind. Why would they bring the moral into the legal? Now, everyone gets to interpret in their own way. That's what really bothers me: Joe did what was right for him to do. He forwarded the information to his superiors. That's the legal procedure at Penn State.

If I had to choose today between the moral integrity and character of Joe Paterno and the politicians and commentators criticizing him, I would pick Joe Paterno, hands down, no contest every time.

"

And herein lies the problem with the entire "defend Paterno" argument. The only ones conflating the "moral" and the "legal" are the defenders. Paterno is getting fired, not convicted. You don't need to try someone before a jury of your peers to get fired. 

The truth is, people are fired all over the country for ethical reasons. Whatever Paterno has done that is ethical, no matter how much integrity he has shown over the years, is moot. It does nothing to take away from the fact that, at the very least, he knew a child had been involved in a nude, sexual situation with Sandusky and failed to report it to the police. 

What Harris and the rest need to realize is that Penn State can't begin to heal until they acknowledge the wound. You can't heal until you seek treatment and you can't seek treatment until you acknowledge you are sick. 

Rather than erecting straw men to maintain faith in a man who did an egregious moral wrong, the Penn State community needs to acknowledge it and move on. Only then can the healing begin.