Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Something very simple made complex

There's a lot of debate over the arrest of Roman Polanski in Switzerland, but you know, it's startlingly simple. The man committed and admitted statutory rape 30 years ago then did a bunk, and has been avoiding answering for his crime ever since. A full-grown man plied a 13 year old child with alcohol & tranquillisers and raped her.

It's a no-brainer.

I find it disgusting that some in the film industry support him and are arguing he shouldn't be extradited. How confusing it must seem to them for someone in that industry to be held to account for the crime he has committed. My goodness, why don't the films he's made make it all ok? What's the rape of a child compared to 90 minutes of glorious inspiring celluloid? Surely if one's evaded the law for thirty years one should just be allowed to get away with it for pure persistence.

Perhaps it's living in those shiny gold cages of privilege that makes it difficult for them to see what's so blindingly obvious to me.

3 comments:

ellie said...

Totally agree.

But I do think there's something to be said for respecting his victims wishes - she doesn't want him charged after this time because it's bringing back painful memories for her. It seems like she is the loser in all of this - she was abused by him and let down by the law as a child and now as an adult she's having everything raked up again.

He's an A grade toe-rag though, Oscars or no Oscars.

Anonymous said...

I agree. He committed a crime, he ran away. Who cares why or how he got arrested in Switzerland. Well done to the Swiss police, I say. Abster x

Mephitis said...

Yes, she's definitely the loser in all this. Since he accepted a plea bargain & admitted guilt originally, I would hope that it wouldn't be necessary to drag her into court or anything now. But
I think it's out of her hands, although none of it was ever in her control sadly...

We jailed Ronnie Biggs again (eventually) so I daresay the US justice system will want to demonstrate its doggedness similarly.

Well done, the Swiss. :)