September 30, 2009
Roman Polanski, You Make Me Sick
When I was just a little girl, no older than nine or ten years old, my mom and I watched a television special about Helter Skelter and the Charles Manson story. My mother graduated high school in 1969, and just before her first semester of college, the news stories about the tragic murders of actress Sharon Tate and her three house guests dominated the airwaves and newspapers.
My mother and grandmother were devastated over the loss of such a talented actress, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time of her death. They also felt sad for Tate’s husband, director Roman Polanski, and the grief he felt over losing his wife. My family is of Polish heritage and back in the late 60s, there was a kinship felt for “one of our own.”
Several years later, in 1977, Polanski was convicted of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” and subsequently fled the United States prior to his sentencing. He has said in interviews that he was afraid the judge would give him a harsh sentence.
Polanski raped a 13-year-old girl. Thirteen. He was 44 years old at the time. Forty-four.
Polanski plead guilty to the lesser charge of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” but didn’t stick around to serve his time. He spent 42 days incarcerated while undergoing a psych evaluation, but he never paid for his crime. He fled to France immediately after his release. His victim did receive a settlement from Polanski, and has since stated she has forgiven him for his crime and just wants to move on.
I understand this woman just wants to be left alone, but if Polanski is let off the hook for raping a young girl, what does that say about our American justice system? That sexual assault is okay, as long as you’re famous and can buy your way out of it? That all you need to do to get away with rape is to flee the country in which you committed the crime?
Polanski himself said he didn’t think anyone was truly hurt. He doesn’t believe he raped this young girl. His victim was drugged and pumped with alcohol. He forced himself on her multiple times, despite her pleas to stop. She said no. Last time I checked, NO means NO.
Polanski has been living life as a free man for the last 32 years. He has continued to make films, despite having an arrest warrant out for him since 1978. He’s taken every action imaginable to avoid extradition, by choosing not to travel to countries that may arrest and extradite him. In so many ways, he “got away with it.”
The fact that many Hollywood actors and actresses, journalists and artists are defending Polanski, and asking for his release sickens me. It makes me want to vomit.
Whoopi Goldberg saying “it wasn’t really rape-rape” is infuriating. Rape is rape, Whoopi. If this were any other Joe Schmo, and not a famous director, you would be screaming from the rooftops that the offender be locked away in jail.
Debra Messing saying that Polanski served his time is outrageous. If this was a case against Mel Gibson and his drunken rants and insults to Judaism, you would be outraged. I’m certain some anti-Catholic rhetoric would be thrown in to the mix as well.
And this bullshit that Polanski has lived a difficult life and suffered through the Holocaust makes me angry. Yes, it’s awful that his mother died at Auschwitz. Yes, it’s horrible that his wife and unborn child were murdered. I understand the grief and the trauma he has suffered, but this does not make it acceptable to rape a 13-year-old girl. It does not make it okay to flee the country to avoid jail time.
Should we let every rapist who suffered the loss of a parent or the murder of a family member go free? Of course not. Doing so undermines the rights of the victims to receive justice.
I’m so angry about Polanski, it’s hard for me to express every thought running through my head. But this article says everything I’ve wanted to get out. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Roman Polanski, you deserve to serve your time. You committed a crime and should be punished for it. Thank you, Switzerland for doing the right thing and arresting Polanski. May justice be served.
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October 1st, 2009 at 11:33 AM, Headless Mom Says:
Amen, sister. You’ve said it all!
.-= Headless Mom´s last blog ..When the worry catches up with me =-.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:59 PM, CJ Says:
I couldn’t agree more…you go girl!!
.-= CJ´s last blog ..And The Band Marches On =-.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 AM, WorkingMom Says:
Couldn’t agree more with you! And the Hollywood friggin’ elite speaking up for him? Do they realize they’re condoning his actions by supporting him?
.-= WorkingMom´s last blog ..Kindly Allow 48 Hours for Processing =-.