September 30, 2009
Roman Polanski Raped a Child The above title sums up my feelings in a nutshell on the recent arrest of famous film director, Roman Polanski in Switzerland. Considering the title to this piece is an accepted fact that Polanski plead guilty to, you would be shocked by how many people are now jumping to his defence. For those of you not in the know, here is a brief synopisis of events. The year is 1977 and Roman Polanski is at 44, one of the hottest directors in Hollywood. He is the director of the acclaimed movies Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown and is palling around with famous friends like Chinatown star Jack Nicholson. Anyway he is guest editor for a month at French Vogue and he invites a 13 year old girl over to Jack Nicholson’s house for a photo shoot. They had the house to themselves and he asks her to get naked and get into the jacuzzi. The girl is reluctant but he convinces her to get in and gives her both champagne and quaaludes (A sedative drug). He then brings her to a bedroom and despite her telling him no multiple times and asking to leave, he has both vaginal and anal sex with her. Polanski was initially charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, and lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14. These charges were dismissed under the terms of his plea bargain, and he plead guilty to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Before his sentencing hearing Polanski got cold feet and fearing jail decided to flee the United States forever. He has spent the last three decades on the run and as far away from the hands of U.S. law enforcement as he can be. This may sound harsh but consider his lifestyle. Polanski owns multiple European homes and continues to direct big budget movies with famous movie stars. In 2002 his movie, The Pianist, won the Academy Award for best director, but he was unable to accept it because he cannot travel to the United States. (How horribly unfair!!!) Before his arrest earlier this week he was directing a new movie called The Ghost with Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor. The man lives a charmed life and for a long time seemed to have escaped his past mistakes. This facade came crashing down on him when he was arrested while at the Zurich airport earlier this week. The Swiss gave up their famous neutrality and captured a man who has traveled freely in the country for many years. The question of why now, is a valid one but the question of why is in my opinion ludicrous. Yes, the case is 32 years old and for all intents and purposes it appears Polanski is not a threat to society. Yes, he is a 76 year old father who appears to love his children and family. Yes, the victim herself (Samantha Geimer) has said that she would rather the whole thing was forgotten to avoid the publicity that will surely come her way. All these things are true but the simple fact remains: Roman Polanski raped a child. The justice system is not solely there to serve the victim, it is there to serve justice at large. Many successful men have been ripped away from their families to serve the time in jail that they owe to society. Roman Polanski ran from what he did and he deserves to face whatever the avreage man in his shoes would face. Unfortunately my opinion is not shared by many in the media or in famous circles. There are rumours going around that a petition is circling Hollywood in an attempt to get poor Roman released from Swiss jail. Below are links to three well written defences of Mr. Polanski by three talented writers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/opinion/30harris.html?scp=8&sq=polanski&st=cse http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-z-shore/polanskis-arrest-shame-on_b_301134.html http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/09/the_outrageous_arrest_of_roman.html The articles suggest that the mother threw her daughter into this situation and this was not Polanski’s fault. They suggest that the girl was a few weeks short of her 14th birthday and this was the age of consent in California at the time. They argue that Polanski has been demonized by the media and that he should be left to live out his life in peace. What they don’t mention is that Roman Polanski was demonized by the media because he raped a child. Next time some actor, or journalist tells you how great his movies are, or how its been too long since the crime was committed, just remind them of this very simple fact.

Roman Polanski Raped a Child

The above title sums up my feelings in a nutshell on the recent arrest of famous film director, Roman Polanski in Switzerland. Considering the title to this piece is an accepted fact that Polanski plead guilty to, you would be shocked by how many people are now jumping to his defence. For those of you not in the know, here is a brief synopisis of events.

The year is 1977 and Roman Polanski is at 44, one of the hottest directors in Hollywood. He is the director of the acclaimed movies Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown and is palling around with famous friends like Chinatown star Jack Nicholson. Anyway he is guest editor for a month at French Vogue and he invites a 13 year old girl over to Jack Nicholson’s house for a photo shoot. They had the house to themselves and he asks her to get naked and get into the jacuzzi. The girl is reluctant but he convinces her to get in and gives her both champagne and quaaludes (A sedative drug). He then brings her to a bedroom and despite her telling him no multiple times and asking to leave, he has both vaginal and anal sex with her.

Polanski was initially charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, and lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14. These charges were dismissed under the terms of his plea bargain, and he plead guilty to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Before his sentencing hearing Polanski got cold feet and fearing jail decided to flee the United States forever.

He has spent the last three decades on the run and as far away from the hands of U.S. law enforcement as he can be. This may sound harsh but consider his lifestyle. Polanski owns multiple European homes and continues to direct big budget movies with famous movie stars. In 2002 his movie, The Pianist, won the Academy Award for best director, but he was unable to accept it because he cannot travel to the United States. (How horribly unfair!!!) Before his arrest earlier this week he was directing a new movie called The Ghost with Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor. The man lives a charmed life and for a long time seemed to have escaped his past mistakes.

This facade came crashing down on him when he was arrested while at the Zurich airport earlier this week. The Swiss gave up their famous neutrality and captured a man who has traveled freely in the country for many years. The question of why now, is a valid one but the question of why is in my opinion ludicrous.

Yes, the case is 32 years old and for all intents and purposes it appears Polanski is not a threat to society. Yes, he is a 76 year old father who appears to love his children and family. Yes, the victim herself (Samantha Geimer) has said that she would rather the whole thing was forgotten to avoid the publicity that will surely come her way. All these things are true but the simple fact remains: Roman Polanski raped a child.

The justice system is not solely there to serve the victim, it is there to serve justice at large. Many successful men have been ripped away from their families to serve the time in jail that they owe to society. Roman Polanski ran from what he did and he deserves to face whatever the avreage man in his shoes would face.

Unfortunately my opinion is not shared by many in the media or in famous circles. There are rumours going around that a petition is circling Hollywood in an attempt to get poor Roman released from Swiss jail. Below are links to three well written defences of Mr. Polanski by three talented writers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/opinion/30harris.html?scp=8&sq=polanski&st=cse

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-z-shore/polanskis-arrest-shame-on_b_301134.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/09/the_outrageous_arrest_of_roman.html

The articles suggest that the mother threw her daughter into this situation and this was not Polanski’s fault. They suggest that the girl was a few weeks short of her 14th birthday and this was the age of consent in California at the time. They argue that Polanski has been demonized by the media and that he should be left to live out his life in peace.

What they don’t mention is that Roman Polanski was demonized by the media because he raped a child. Next time some actor, or journalist tells you how great his movies are, or how its been too long since the crime was committed, just remind them of this very simple fact.

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