Joe Paterno's dismissal from Penn State is right decision; good job Penn

The football scandal that rocked Penn State last week warrants discussion.
Not only was longtime football coach Joe Paterno sacked due to a “cover-up,” but so was the university’s President Graham Spanier.
The question here is what should have been done, and was the action taken the right choice?
Of course there are probably hundreds of different responses to this, but let us just start with the facts.
The fact that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky could sexually abuse and molest little boys is disgusting.
The fact that Penn State officials and higher ups knew about this abuse and did not go to police is disgusting.
The fact that Paterno knew exactly what was happening and let it go on, regardless of the fact that he told his boss, is disgusting.
Why didn’t anyone in this situation think it pertinent to go to the police when the knowledge of this child abuse came into the open?
What kinds of people are employed at Penn State?
Yes, Paterno is 84 years old and was going to retire at the end of this football season and that fact that he was fired before he could coach the last football game of the season is sad.
But you know what’s even sadder?
It is the fact that he did nothing while his assistant football coach raped little boys.
I feel bad for the guy.
It must be hard to deal with the fact of getting fired right before your last football game, but why on earth would you sit by and let your former assistant get away with sexual abuse.
Paterno should have reported that abuse to police back in 2002 when Mike McQueary told him he had seen Sandusky rape a young boy in the locker room showers.
He knew for almost 10 years and did nothing about it but report it to his boss.
According to Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Paterno met his obligations under state law when he reported the abuse to his boss.
Yet when it became clear that nothing was being done about the situation, Paterno had the moral obligation to go to police and stop the abuse.
Through Paterno’s, school officials,’ and McQueary’s silence and cover-ups, a child molester was allowed to walk free and abuse more children for close to 10 years.
So yes, it is a complete tragedy that Joe Paterno was fired the week before his final football game. It is a complete travesty.
Let’s just overlook the fact that through his silence he cost numerous boys their childhood innocence and subjected them to a monster who should have never been allowed to set foot near them.
Oh and for those of you who say that the university did do something about the abuse.
I forgot they did do something.
They banned Sandusky from bringing children into the football locker room and they took away his keys.
They should be given a medal for that. It totally worked.
They completely did everything in their power to keep him from molesting more young boys.
Joe Paterno is not Jerry Sandusky.
He did not rape or sexually abuse young boys, but his assistant coach did and he did it under Paterno’s watch.
So in my opinion, Paterno deserved to lose his job.
He may have fulfilled his obligations under the law, but he still sat by as more boys were abused.
I’m sorry if I do not feel sorry for someone who enabled a child molester. That’s not in my nature.
Personally, a job is not that much to pay for what Paterno covered up.
Maybe those who disagree and those Penn State students who rioted in the streets in outrage at Paterno’s dismissal should realize that there are more important things in the world than football.
Maybe like making sure innocent children are kept safe from the clutches of child abusers, rapists and molesters.

Comments, opposing views, concerns and questions about this column can be emailed to opinions@mercercluster.com.