Letter of the Day: Calculating criminals

Calculating criminals

EDITOR: Tuesday's editorial ("Penn State penalty harsh, as it should be") summed up by saying, "It's also the best way (the NCAA) has to send a clear message that this kind of cowardice — among adult leaders, no less — won't be tolerated." Those "adult leaders," including the formerly revered Joe Paterno, acted not as cowards. They were calculating men who clearly deliberated between two evils and chose to protect their football program in preference to protecting the young boys Jerry Sandusky had preyed upon before and would prey upon again.

No, they are not cowards. They are criminals, as deserving of prosecution as was the Rev. William Lynn, the Philadelphia monsignor who was sentenced to prison for his role in covering up for pedophile priests.

GARY DEVINE

Santa Rosa