Roman Polanski and WTF
If my subject heading doesn't make it clear, this post and its link are potentially triggery.So, I'm in Vail, and the Sirens conference is about to start, and I know I'm supposed to be writing a post about how beautiful it is here, but there's only one thing I find myself able to blog about today, because of how deeply it pisses me off. It pisses me off so deeply that... *speechlessness* ...I can barely type.
Since the news broke on Sunday of Roman Polanski's arrest for a rape he committed 32 years ago, I have grown more and more stupefied by the public's response. Yes, I agree it was a while ago. Yes, I agree it's strange that they apprehended him now, after all this time. But it's not strange because they shouldn't have apprehended him. It's strange because they should have apprehended him a long time ago.
The man made some fantastic movies and clearly he's loved by many people. Newsflash: lots of people who do criminal, awful things also happen to be talented, charming, likable, lovable. In what galaxy does anything about Roman Polanski's personal qualities remove his liability for raping someone? In what galaxy does the passage of time change what happened? The reason so much time has passed is because 32 years ago, after he pleaded guilty to rape, HE RAN AWAY, and no one followed. And to those who insist that he's served his time because he's suffered... the mind boggles. First, find me someone who hasn't suffered, and after that, I invite you to notice that he hasn't served any time. That's the whole point.
Thank you to Kate Harding for this reminder that Roman Polanski raped a girl. She was 13 years old, below the age of consent, and by the way, SHE DIDN'T CONSENT. She repeatedly asked him to stop. He didn't stop. And nothing changes that.
******
ETA 10/2 11:32am: I have been informed that Roman Polanski did serve some small time before he fled. I apologize for the misinformation. My point still holds. He did not serve hard time, and at the heart of my anger is how lightly everyone seems to be treating rape.
Comments
--candelion
mlc
A BIG thanks, Kristin.
I switch on the tv and everyone seems to agree with a looovely and free-man Polansky.
How they dare? He commited a crime, he must PAY.
That's all.
Now i see with new eyes many stars (actors, directors...)i used to like.
Cause they excuse the rapist, they even say it was nothing.
OMG.
Poor child.
And, yes, WTF.
Here's the way a friend of mine put it yesterday, and I don't think I could say it any better:
Dear everyone who thinks that a lifetime of Parisian luxury, wealth and critical acclaim has been punishment enough for Roman Polanski, after he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in 1977 and then fled prosecution:
Please do the world a favor. When you wake up tomorrow, just be the exact opposite of what you have been so far in your life. Because everything about you is incorrect.
Thanks,
H---
Cheers!
If that's not an outrage, nothing is.
And frankly, if he wasn't a fugitive from justice, he wouldn't have stayed away from countries with good extradition treaties with the US for the past 32 years.
I do feel very badly for the victim - how much she & her family has to go through every time this story makes the news. But I don't think she's doing rape victims any favors by speaking out that Polanski should not be punished. That's all we need -- rapists thinking that just maybe, it CAN be all right to commit a crime. And if you can stay hidden long enough, you don't need to go to jail!
What a horrid mess!
That said, I've read several press releases in the past couple days where the victim has requested - nay, nearly begged - to have all of this dropped. She's even gone so far as to write a letter to the D.A. (I believe - I'm going off memory), asking that the case be dropped. Her argument is two-fold: 1) she feels that the media is exploiting her, recalling in detail what happened to her for their own purposes, and 2) the drudging up of this case has affected her husband, her children, and herself...they've moved on but we have not.
So I do feel like there is a conundrum here. Doesn't this bring into question the victim's rights? Does she have a right to release him? Should we, if she has?
I just bring this up. I think he is a criminal of the worst sort and how this has all played out sickens me.
"First, find me someone who hasn't suffered, and after that, I invite you to notice that he hasn't served any time. That's the whole point."
The interview and movie I menioned previously talks about that sentence and the case.
What he did is subhuman at best. And there's really no "best" in this scenario.
Regarding the petition signed by Woody Allen, Scorsese, etc., my friend brought up this quote from actress Alison Arngrim, as reported by the NYTimes: "If Roman Polanski were a Catholic priest or a Republican senator, would these people feel the same way?" Thought that was interesting.
http://tinyurl.com/showyourselves
My name doesn't matter, but here I am:
http://tinyurl.com/showyoume
Second of all, why shouldn't Roman Polansky suffer for what he did? That girl has probably suffered everyday since that awful incident. What is the world coming to if power and prestige and celebrity status exempt a person from paying for his crimes? Does that give anyone on OK Magazine's A-list the right to commit whatever atrocity they wish without fear of retribution? *shudder* Indeed, I hope not.
I won't add anything except to say, what if it had been a 13 year old boy? Would that bring into perspective that a 13 year old can't consent?
on Monday regarding the wishes of the victim. The gist of it being that, as much as we empathize the victim: "for good or ill, the justice system doesn't work on behalf of victims; it works on behalf of justice." And this whole business is now about a felon evading the justice system.
I said that exact thing: WTF to my dad when I saw that on the news.
I have a serious problem with how easy rapists get away with little more than a slap on the hand. This is just another example. I had a friend who volunteered for a local rape crisis center in the town I am living in and the stories are UNREAL. Argh! Get's me so mad. Ok. I wont keep going, but I really really could...
And the victim wants him not to be prosecuted because of the attention directed at her family. Which of course wouldn't be happening if Roman Polanski hadn't raped her. It's just another way he has abused her and scarred her for life. And now her children as well.
before I came over to your blog Kristin.
WTF indeed.
I wonder if those who are championing Polanski would agree to a global pardon for all rapists. No? Then shut up.
Karalee
So not only is he a rapist and a coward, but he is a cheap bastard as well. I was reading this article just before seeing your post about how he has not even paid his *agreed* settlement to the victim.
I mean, seriously, he couldn't cough up the 500K he agreed to pay?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8288340.stm
I felt the same way after the ridiculous amount of coverage and homage to Michael Jackson when he died, as well. Though MJ was never "officially" convicted of molestation in SEVERAL cases, I think the public conveniently forgot that the man was repeatedly accused of harming children.
Polanski, however, admitted it, was convicted of it, and then ran. He should face the punishment for it. Period.
http://www.polanskiunauthorized.com
Sometimes I think that those who would dismiss or forgive him are less influenced by his artistic status and more by the murder of his wife and him being a Jewish child in WWII (I can't tell you how angry it makes me that his explanation for fleeing the country was that he couldn't face being in prison again, because of memories of the Krakow Ghetto and Auschwitz. So, RP, you have bad memories of being brutally victimized? How about not visiting it on other people?).
Laura's question is a very interesting one (Hi, Laura! *waves*). I have to agree with Geraldine Ferraro on this one: "...victims cannot “forgive” the rapist. The criminal justice system is meant to protect all of us."
"He's a great artist."
"It was so long ago."
"She forgave him."
"He's suffered since."
"He suffered before."
http://leasticoulddo.com/comics/20090803.gif
I totally agree with you...I just don't see how rapists should get away withouyt a lifetime sentance or how murders can get away without a death penalty! Some of them only serve two-friggin'-years!!!
also, the being able to sue for spilling coffee n yourself...that's got to go...
Really awesome book, btw; I'm not even to the 150th page and I'm totally immersed in it! I'll try to get Fire when it comes out, but the nearest B.A.M. is pretty far away...
-Rennar (for this and the above posts)
Pero desde aqui, agradecerte el maravilloso libro que has escrito "Graceling" que me ha encantado.
Espero que sigas escribiendo y traigan a España tus libros porque a partir de ahora seré fan tuya.
Un saludo.
Anchama.