UPDATE: I am closing the comments on this post. I guess I didn't realize just how fired up people might get. I really found Kristin's comment insightful. Make sure to read it since it's one of the only times I have heard the "other side". Just something to consider.
So, remember this post about Ted Kennedy? When he died some called him the greatest senator ever and the like. I was interested because he did something pretty awful. Basically he drove a car into a river with a young female passenger inside, whom he was suspected to be having an affair with. He swam to the surface and then let the woman die...not reporting the incident for nine full hours.
So, remember this post about Ted Kennedy? When he died some called him the greatest senator ever and the like. I was interested because he did something pretty awful. Basically he drove a car into a river with a young female passenger inside, whom he was suspected to be having an affair with. He swam to the surface and then let the woman die...not reporting the incident for nine full hours.
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| (photo by Associated Press) |
So, here's the thing. Joe Paterno passed away this week. Of course, you know that. But he is not really being mourned or remembered for his good contributions outside of Pennsylvania. Here, people are hurting and mourning and remembering. Our news is filled with tales of his good deeds, philanthropic work, inspiring students, helping the needy. But elsewhere?...not so much.
In making my own judgement about the recent scandal and his part in it I have concluded that I do not think he did his due diligence. I think he should have gone straight to the real police. I think he should have done more. However, is that worse than driving away from a drowning woman in a car? It seems to me that the timing of this scandal has made a world of difference in the public opinion following Joe's death.
Is it because Kennedy had time after his scandal to continue to do good and therefore repair his broken public image? Will Joe Paterno's good deeds, which I believe outweighed this scandal (especially since it was a sin of omission) be overshadowed and forgotten by the general public? Wouldn't it be horrible to be remembered this way? Is it fair?
Weigh in.
11 comments:
Ted Kennedy had time to do good in this world.
Joe Paterno was old enough when the "incident" occurred to know better. And allegedly, he spent years ignoring this situation.
A sin of omission? NOT reporting sexual abuse? These are children we are talking about. Their lives are forever changed. And he could have stopped it. So could have others, of course.
I grew up in Philadelphia, so I know the good JoePa has done in Pennsylvania, but I can't forgive him.
I'm sorry he has suffered and passed away, and I feel for his family.
But his entire career, in my mind, has been clouded by this scandal, and is irreparable. Sad, but true.
I actually agree with you totally. Both men made HUGE mistakes. HUGE! Only difference is that one owned up to what he did wrong and regretted it terrible then died while the scandal was still a hot topic. The other never really admitted the truth of what happened and was never punished for his wrong doing.
Lisa - But he DID report it to a sort of Police. Campus Police. I do think he should have gone straight to the real police, but it's very possible that he thought he did enough. I'll be interested to see how it shakes out in court and what comes out as how much he really knew.
I don't think it's fair to compare them and expect that just because one was treated one way, the other should be treated the same. The fact that Ted Kennedy seemed to be more or less forgiven has nothing to do with the fact that what Joe Paterno did was WRONG.
Instead of looking at is from his perspective, look at it from the perspective of a mom, aunt, grandma, teacher, or friend of someone with a child. Imagine that child having UNSPEAKABLE things done to them by some dirty old man. UNSPEAKABLE things that that child will have to live with for the rest of their life. UNSPEAKABLE things that that child will NEVER EVER be able to get away from or forget. Now think about Joe Paterno. Think about that he knew that was being done to that child of yours, or nephew, or grandchild, or friend. Then think about the fact that he mentioned it to someone, and went on with his life.
The fact that he wasn't OUTRAGED, SO outraged and disgusted, and HURT for a child who couldn't defend themselves that he felt the need to just simply FOLLOW UP or even MENTION it to the man who was doing it disgusts me. It should disgust you too. It should disgust all of us.
Those boys (now men) have to live with that shame. No death will heal that for them. And so I have to say that personally, I don't care HOW the media is reacting. I don't care WHAT people said about Ted Kennedy. As a mom of a 7 year old boy, the whole thing makes me sick and Paterno didn't do NEARLY enough.
I must live in a bubble, because i have NO idea what you're talking about. *sorry*
Loving your posts...trying to comment more!!! ♥
I am torn by this topic. I have to take Ted Kennedy out of the whole equation because it is history and doesn't really matter. That said, Joe did not do all that he could have to stop the abuse and that is his to address with God. I think this absolutely has to do with timing and it is unfortionate. However, those who loved him will remember him as the true Joe and that should be what really matters. Does it matter that people like myself who only knew of him because of the scandle know that there was a good side to this man? Probably not because in a year from now I am not going to remember any of this but the ones who loved him will. I do feel sorry for them though as they have so much more to go through.
I think I'd have a really hard time working side by side with someone I thought abused children. If I'd reported it and then wasn't seeing anything done about it, I think I'd escalate it and escalate it again until I felt sure that something was being done.
I don't think what Ted Kennedy did is forgivable. I don't really care what good he did afterwards--murder is murder is murder is murder. And he's a murderer.
Joe should have done more. Absolutely. I can't believe he continued to work with a man that raped children. But he wasn't the one raping children, and everybody would do well to remember that. I feel bad that his legacy will be clouded by that mistake, but he deserves it.
I have tried to stay out of debates because I like living my life drama free. But some points need to be clarified. I lived and work there, I know.
University police IS REAL POLICE.
When you call 911 on campus this is who answers the phone. Centre County is a small town and the actual police department has less resources than the university police department. These are REAL COPS, with REAL TRAINING.
He didn't work along side Sandusky after this incident was reported. Jerry had retired long before this.
Joe followed up on a vague report that in no way reflected what was in the Grand Jury Report.
As a social worker, abuse survivor and Mom I have no problem with Joe's part in this. Had he actually gotten more involved, and these allegations are true, he absolutely would had interfered with an investigation that would have made it even more difficult for justice to be served.
I totally respect everyone's right to disagree on this since your opinions have been formed for you by the media.
If the media wrote the story as, Joe was told of Sandusky in the shower with a young boy and he called the police, would we be so upset?
That's what happened, calling Gary Shultz is calling 911.
In 2002 in PA a childline report wasn't required to be made unless the person making the report was a witness or heard the information directly from the child. Thankfully that law has been changed.
The whole thing is a mess and I wish that Mike McQuery never told Joe to begin with.
When I die, I optimistically hope people remember the good that I have done for my family, church, and community. I hope that I am not remembered for my many sins. Of course, all the perfect people out there don't have anything to worry about!
We don't know all the details of what Joe did/didn't know, and we may never. But he is no better or worse than all of us in God's eyes if he believed and was sorry for his sins. I guess that is what counts in the end.
-Tamara
I take issue with the fact that JP claimed not to know males raped other males in his last interview. This man had a Brown education, and it seems highly unlikley to me that in all the years he had been on this earth, especially being a Catholic, he had never heard of this type of thing occurring.
I don't think you can compare the Kennedy situation with the Sandusky abuse case. However, if you want to see why the media may sway one way or another in these incidents, there are some really good case-study books on public relations that you may find interesting.
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