I believe our country's foundation was built on a democracy that states in the constitution that all people are created equal and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
I didn't know one man or woman could crucify another person on their opinion. If this is how we can prove someone's guilt then why have the court system? Look at the money we could save.
I understand Louis Freeh once served as director of the FBI. Maybe he was the best man to conduct the investigation. That does not mean I have to accept all of his findings. And I certainly did not know it gave him the right to condemn coach Paterno publicly.
I really don't care what he feels. I understood his job was to find out all of the facts. How do we know he spoke to everyone he should have? How do we know he asked all the questions he should have? How do we know he did the entire investigation unbiased?
Did Freeh go into this with a vendetta? It may sound silly since he was a professional investigator, but how do we really know? I guess that is one of the reasons we have a constitutional right to trial by jury.
In this case, the accused is deceased so I guess we should act on the assumption that this man's opinion is 100 percent correct, and we should act on his recommendations.
I believe I read at least two of the abused children went to their parents about the abuse and were told something to the affect that, "an upstanding citizen and coach like Jerry Sandusky would never do such a thing."
All of this said because of free football tickets and other perks. I wonder what would have happened if they would have gone to the authorities then, instead of riding out all of the perks? There's a good chance we wouldn't be going through all of this now.
I haven't heard a word about bringing up charges against them, or is it all right if the child in question is your own?
I can tell you one thing, if any of my children would have come to me with a story like that, I would still be in prison!
As far as I am concerned, if everyone wants to forget what the Paternos have done not only for the university but for all of central Pennsylvania because of one man's opinion then maybe the university should open its wallet and pay the Paternos back all the donations made to them over the years.
William Light
Tyrone
Media orchestrate Paterno fall
I wish to refute Cory Giger's July 17 column "Paterno not the man we thought."
Joe Paterno was not Penn State.
Who said he was? The media made those references. Who developed the cult-like worship? Once again, the media.
Joe was not the idol the media portrayed him to be, nor was he the demon the media now choose to create.
His staggering fall from grace is once again orchestrated by media frenzy.
Let's look at who else should be criticized for allowing a pedophile to run rampant for so many years: The Second Mile, Tom Corbett, police investigators who repeatedly said there was not enough evidence, and last but certainly not least Mike McQueary, who allegedly walked in on a rape.
McQueary left the locker room while an abuse was in progress, but you throw the blame in the lap of Joe Paterno?
Giger claims he doesn't understand the Penn State culture. That is not news to those who read his columns. He certainly criticizes this culture mercilessly; perhaps he should work to understand us before he criticizes.
He believes Penn State needed a coaching change years ago. Many agree, but this is still an opinion not a fact.
His most offensive remark states that Joe had nothing else to do, so he selfishly refused to retire.
Did he ever think that Joe dedicated his life to Penn State - the university, the football program, and the students, that he felt he had more to give and was willing to do so?
Finally, he refers to Paterno's "impeccable integrity."
The only people with impeccable integrity are fictional characters. No real human being has impeccable integrity.
I would like to see the day that users of the media think for themselves. We are all entitled to our opinions but stating an opinion as fact does not make it a fact.
Furthermore, no situation is simple. Rarely if ever can we know the whole truth. Our opinions are based on the little we know - or believe we know.
My opinion is this: Joe Paterno did far more good in his life than most people. He never pretended to be perfect. He made mistakes, but no more than any of us have made, and he did more good than most people I know.
To vilify him now, after his death, is a cheap shot.
Karen Bond Wilcha
Hollidaysburg
PSU should be pro-active
Concerning Jerry Sandusky and Penn State: I am so very sad, so very disappointed and so very mad.
It appears this tide of public opinion is rolling toward the "death penalty" for Penn State.
I can see only one possible way to mitigate that verdict - to voluntarily come out and pledge to, if allowed to compete this year, donate all but proceeds needed to cover expenses, to worthy charities associated with child abuse.
Otherwise, I feel certain we will be given the death penalty and likely for more than one year.
While the death penalty may make a lot of people feel vindicated, it really only hurts a lot of innocent people such as students, alumni, athletes in all sports, along with merchants and townspeople of State College and surrounding area.
Who does it help? It certainly does not help the innocent children. It would only be an example of how the powerful can extract their pound of flesh or cave in to a mass hysteria of the media and others who want to see Penn State broken.
While I certainly concur with the need to punish those who have perpetrated this horrible tragedy, I think those identified are - or will be - given their just do.
Again, a way to make a positive from this situation, I believe, is to step up in advance of the NCAA decision and proactively offer a plan as previously stated or one equally sincere and robust.
Bob Nassif
Altoona
Stop putting Paterno first
We collectively must stop putting Joe Paterno and his program first.
That's what led to this horrible mess. The abused kids come first.
The statue must come down and now. What's there to think about? He was the boss - the Penn State boss - so take it down as a reminder that power has huge responsibilities.
Either by omission or commission, he must not be honored.
Al Schiavoni
Mohnton
