Well said!

right on knowing about a crime might still be called a conspiracy.

Perfectly put. Joe Paterno was a flawed human, like we all are, who did some good. However, his willful blindness resulted in ruined lives and that will always be a part of his legacy as well. I am saddened by his death, I am saddened by the pain felt by his family and to all who mourn him, but the Penn State board did what they needed to do. I think Tom Corbett is making a purely political move to cover his behind and atone to the angry Penn State Community. I can understand their anger even if I disagree. I cannot respect the spinelessness of the Governor who showed some of the same blindness as Attorney General.

He did serve our country in, I believe, the last year of WWII. He is a veteran! Do your research.

He did the legal minimum and when Sandusky started showing up with kids (in violation of the minor slap on the wrist that Penn State issued) he stayed silent. Sandusky was even on campus the week before the Grand Jury report was released. If Sandusky disappeared after Paterno made his report I would say Paterno did all he could, but Sandusky kept coming on campus with kids and no one said a word.

Lee Harvey Oswalt was a U.S Marine and they didn't fly the flags at half-mast when he died. Granted his one "episode" was a bit bigger than Paterno's.

The point is, Paterno should not receive the same honor as those who died serving their country. Paterno was a football coach and a philanthropist, but he made a really bad decision that, in my mind, prevents him from being deserving of this honor.

Marc you really should listen to what you are writing. Joe was a hero to many. He helped and changed for the better the lives of many, many people. Hindsight is 20/20. Look back on your life Marc, can you say that everything you have done in the past could not be looked at with the same jaundiced eye you are viewing JoePa's by. Even the state's prosecutor said that Joe was the only person who did the right thing and he couldn't understand why he was fired. It's funny, John Bonheim from Syracuse, had a much smaller staff and Fine was actually still working from him, yet he still has his job, even after he criticized the victims. Maybe it is because ESPN knew about it for 9 years.
I hope JoePa rests in peace. he was a great man and he deserves every honor.

I don't dispute the fact that Joe Paterno was a hero to many. Michael Vick is a hero to many, as well. I think that we, as a society, elevate people upon a certain pedastal beyond even what makes sense. I do not dispute the fact that Paterno did some truly wonderful things during his time at Penn State, on the field as well as off the field. Where I find fault is the way that Corbett is honoring Paterno with something that is normally reserved for those who died in service of this country. Joe Paterno, as great as a coach as he was, did not serve this country in a way that is fitting of such an honor.

I was not comparing Oswalt to Paterno. I was comparing the idea that one mistake or event among many is all it takes sometimes to tarnish the reputation of an individual. I am not perfect, but never in my life have I ever done something that allowed the rape of children to continue. I've asked myself what I would do -- what I would "REALLY" do -- and that answer is always "Whatever it takes to make it stop." If I were Paterno I would have done a heck of a lot more than report to my bosses and plug my eyes and wear blinders as if nothing happened. Sadly, this man's reputation was not 1/10th of what it should have been upon his passing.

And I apologize...it's Oswald. Must have Oswalt on the brain being a Phillies fan.

Steven: According to the Gettysburg Flag Works:

•Only the president of the United States or the governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure.

•In addition to the traditional half-staff salutes when proclaimed by the President, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring citizens who have died, especially government officials and prominent citizens. However, the Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether they belong to an organization or not, whether they are recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non-government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen. It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flag code required to be followed.
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So that is not to say that the honor is given ONLY for those who died while serving the country, but it is an honor that is usually reserved for those who have.

Well said!

stick to the topic

I disagree. There is no dishonesty in saying I would have handled it differently. There's no dishonesty in saying HE should have handled it differently, either. Even Paterno himself said he wished he did more. I can say, without any shadow of a doubt, that I would have handled it differently. If I were in the same position as Paterno, I would have contacted the authorities on the spot. I do agree with you that it's all very sad, but sad doesn't make up for it.

You said: "But Marc, saying ':if I were Paterno' as if you ever could be"
I think it's a wonderful thing that I am not Paterno. I would never want to do anything to sour my reputation like he did before his passing. Please don't confuse your own morality with mine. Just because you may not have done more doesn't mean that others wouldn't.

it's so sad, i know

Despite what disagreements you have to my opinions based on what comments I've made on Patch, Ted, I have a pretty good reputation at both of my jobs, in my community, with my friends and with my family. I was an honor roll student, I graduated from Central High and from Temple U, I've never been in trouble with the law, and I even have great credit. If you want to pay the money to do a background check on me, go right ahead. But you'll find that my reputation is quite good.

Or are reputations only available to "published authors" and college professors? (There's no big enough eye-roll for this one)

I can assure you, Donna, that I'm most definitely not on Corbett's payroll (in fact, I didn't even vote for him as Governor). You can attack my education all you want, but the fact of the matter is -- while Paterno did some great things to help make the lives better for children of ALL socio-economic backgrounds, there are ten specific children I have in mind whose best interests he ignored. What he failed to do in light of knowing about Sandusky is a terrible thing and I don't think someone who would do that deserves to have the U.S. Flag fly at half-staff in his honor.

I still have no idea where you are getting the idea that the governor is trying to get "people like me to forget he had nothing to do with this" when it's Corbett's actions that are bringing this to light once more. Your argument makes no sense. What do you mean you hope I wasn't on the payroll when writing my messages? Whose payroll? What messages?

I know you're drinking from the Paterno Kool-Aid, but I also think someone spiked yours with something. Take a breath. Chill. It'll help make your comments make more sense.

Thank you Donna. My thoughts exactly regarding if Corbett would have done his job years ago, this whole situation could have been handled a lot differently. Corbett turned a blind eye to the allegations to further his political career. Since he has been governor he has continued to hurt the children of this state with all his education budget cuts. On the other hand, Joe Paterno did what he should have by reporting the allegation to his superiors. And Joe has contributed mllions of his own money to help Pennsylvania students. My daughters are students at Penn State and are always in the Paterno Library. Joe Paterno is and always will be PENN STATE. RIP, JOE!

And Mary, I really wish you would stop deifying a man just because he was a good coach. Even if he knew of only one child, the fact that he did nothing means it is one child too much. The thought that only one child suffered based on the inaction of Paterno and the rest of the PSU football community who knew about Sandusky is the idea fueled not only by ignorance but also fueled by blind allegiance. I understand that you are a fan of Penn State and Joe Paterno and that it's unlikely there's anything he could have ever done that would be seen as wrong in your eyes -- but face the facts. There's a reason Paterno lost his job. This reason alone means he didn't deserve the honor bestowed upon him posthumously.

Marc, not a football fan, did not go to Penn State. Did you ever eat chocolate or coffee that wasn't free trade or clothing produced in countries that do not have child labor laws? I bet you have. Then you are not doing all you can do to protect children. If your going to paint JoePa with a brush, paint yourself with one also. Or is it because it is only "American" children?

You're really grasping at straws on this one. Comparing me eating a candy bar to Joe Paterno turning a blind eye towards sexual abuse is astoundingly obtuse. Do you need any more hay for that straw man you're building?

Joe, you break my chops for nit picking. Let me elaborate. This action - half mast - is assinine. In this situation, he is being an ass.

The balanced budget...or the attempt there to is good work. However, in this case, he is an ass. This is about the flag lowering token coming from the guy who, as a member of the BOT, voted to fire Joe Pa. Corbett is making a weak attempt to make ammends for his decisions.

Thanks for projecting my views, but you are completely off base. Teacher's unions are out of control (see Neshaminy) and accountability is a good thing. The Chester situation is more complex, but the state did fail in this case).

Anyway, this is silly. Corbett should not have done it.