The problem is that none of you knows all the facts -with respect to Paterno.
None of you knows exactly what Paterno knew or understood or remembered at his age.
I don't either.
I just don't know for certain that Joe Paterno knew that "children were being raped."
Maybe he did. And if he did, shame on him. But, at this point I just don't know for sure what he knew or how it registered with him.
I suspect that there is far more gray to the story of Joe Paterno and the administrators than there is black and white.
I know. I know. It is "terrifying" that somebody might raise questions - or that somebody might express empathy for another in a bad situation or that that somebody might want to know more before completely castigating a man who up to ten months ago was viewed as a model human being.
That kind of thinking is not allowed on this board.
Indeed, regardless of Paterno I find the ease with which so many of you generate "hate" for people and things remarkable - whether it's a coach, a writer, a poster or an institution. I just don't see pure evil very often. It is normally not quite that simple.
I am sorry that that perspective bothers so many of you. But, if it makes you feel better go ahead, really let me have it.
There's a little bit of irony in this post in that JoePa's entire legacy was built upon black and white -- PedSt's unis and all.
But there are parts of your post that I get. I mean, there almost certainly is gray area -- discussions we aren't privvy to, documents we haven't seen, stories distorted by their re-telling, etc.
I also believe it's generally ugly to revel in someone else's misfortune or to presume to know whether someone is in hell or not (or if hell even exists).
I also met JoePa and will say he seemed to be a genuinely charming person.
But, where I think you're getting so much pushback are in these areas:
-- We may not know everything, but there seems to be a pretty good mountain of evidence that at the bare minimum JoePa had to have some very, very, very serious suspicions yet did little to dig into them. Did he actively cover things up? I believe so, but even if you don't believe that, JoePa himself is on record saying he "didn't know what to do" and "wished he had handled it differently." (paraphrasing)
-- When confronted with the enormity of the whole thing, JoePa still appears particularly concerned with his rep and the rep of the program. I'm in sales. I get competitive about it and want to do well. I work hard. I like to think I'm pretty good at it (debatable). But when something happens to one of my kids or my wife or a close friend or family member, it automatically reminds how stupid it is to worry too much about what medical equipment facilities choose to use. That seems to be something JoePa didn't really have.
-- JoePa's family to this day appears farm more concerned with wins and legacies than atonement and at least appearing contrite. Going to rub people the wrong way.
-- The hate posters have -- myself probably included -- is ugly, but this is child rape we're talking about. Not sure if you have kids or not, but it's pretty tough with three kids 6 and under not to look at this situation and just abhor a guy who didn't try to help kids out. Hard not to think of your own kids and get emotional about it.