It does not matter if the victim is 'over it'
Society needs to stand firm
Morality has suffered so many blows
Roman Polanski is the director of one of my very favorite films of all time -- The Pianist. A gripping film that follows the book very closely, it is a living, breathing document of the holocaust. I cannot recommend the film highly enough, both as an example of the finest in cinematic achievement, and as a history lesson that must never be forgotten.
And as much as I love the film and admire the filmmaker who made it, it certainly pains me to think of Roman Polanski the child rapist; Roman Polanski the pedophile; Roman Polanski the fugitive. After three decades he has been arrested in Switzerland, and is fighting extradition to the United States.
I hope he is sent home to be sentenced for his crime. I pray he goes to jail.
After so many years, the victim, now in her 40s, has said that she has moved on. It's not important to her anymore. I understand why she feels this way, and in fact I applaud her for this accomplishment. She has not held onto that grudge for 30 years, and that means her life today has value. She is not living as a victim of rape at the age of 13. She is living life as a woman in her 40s.
She has not held tightly onto anger and hatred, and has probably forgiven Mr. Polanski, though she might not use that word. Forgiveness is not for the perpetrator of the crime, you see. Forgiveness is for the person who has been wronged. God commands us to forgive, not because it would be nice to let the criminal go free, but because it keeps us from becoming bitter and it allows us to live life free of anger and hatred.
And as much as I love the film and admire the filmmaker who made it, it certainly pains me to think of Roman Polanski the child rapist; Roman Polanski the pedophile; Roman Polanski the fugitive. After three decades he has been arrested in Switzerland, and is fighting extradition to the United States.I hope he is sent home to be sentenced for his crime. I pray he goes to jail.
After so many years, the victim, now in her 40s, has said that she has moved on. It's not important to her anymore. I understand why she feels this way, and in fact I applaud her for this accomplishment. She has not held onto that grudge for 30 years, and that means her life today has value. She is not living as a victim of rape at the age of 13. She is living life as a woman in her 40s.
She has not held tightly onto anger and hatred, and has probably forgiven Mr. Polanski, though she might not use that word. Forgiveness is not for the perpetrator of the crime, you see. Forgiveness is for the person who has been wronged. God commands us to forgive, not because it would be nice to let the criminal go free, but because it keeps us from becoming bitter and it allows us to live life free of anger and hatred.
Perhaps now he is even a decent man,
and regrets his horrible deed. But the
fact is that he did do that horrible
deed, and he must be punished for it.
and regrets his horrible deed. But the
fact is that he did do that horrible
deed, and he must be punished for it.
All of that being said, Mr. Polanski still owes the people of California a debt. It is not the victim, then 13, who decides whether or not to prosecute in cases like this. It is THE PEOPLE vs. Roman Polanski. So no matter what the victim has to say, The People still have business to attend to.
Roman Polanski plead guilty to statutory rape of a 13 year old girl, and when he suspected that the judge was going to deliver a larger than hoped for sentence, he skipped the country. Understandable, I suppose, because he was scared. He's been living in France and according to some accounts the US has attempted to have him arrested in some other circumstances, and never quite pulled it off.
Now, Switzerland has arrested him and it remains to be seen if we can get him back to Los Angeles to face sentencing. Whether we can or not, and whether the victim has forgiven him or not, we The People must not let time and distance keep us from finishing the job of punishing a child rapist.
To be clear, I consider Roman Polanski to be a brilliant filmmaker. It is certainly possible that he has changed his ways. Perhaps now he is even a decent man, and regrets his horrible deed. But the fact is that he did do that horrible deed, and he must be punished for it. So far, he has evaded that punishment.
There are many people who have died since the story broke. Their outrage can no longer ring out. Then there are many people, much younger than the crime, who wonder what the big deal is. So much time has gone by, they might say. With the molestations of many children at the hands of so many pedophiles today -- and we read the stories all too often -- why so much time and energy focused on one man who has been out of the United States for so long?
Because this is a crime against The People. The People made a deal, and the criminal plead guilty all those years ago.
Roman Polanski plead guilty to statutory rape of a 13 year old girl, and when he suspected that the judge was going to deliver a larger than hoped for sentence, he skipped the country. Understandable, I suppose, because he was scared. He's been living in France and according to some accounts the US has attempted to have him arrested in some other circumstances, and never quite pulled it off.
Now, Switzerland has arrested him and it remains to be seen if we can get him back to Los Angeles to face sentencing. Whether we can or not, and whether the victim has forgiven him or not, we The People must not let time and distance keep us from finishing the job of punishing a child rapist.
To be clear, I consider Roman Polanski to be a brilliant filmmaker. It is certainly possible that he has changed his ways. Perhaps now he is even a decent man, and regrets his horrible deed. But the fact is that he did do that horrible deed, and he must be punished for it. So far, he has evaded that punishment.
There are many people who have died since the story broke. Their outrage can no longer ring out. Then there are many people, much younger than the crime, who wonder what the big deal is. So much time has gone by, they might say. With the molestations of many children at the hands of so many pedophiles today -- and we read the stories all too often -- why so much time and energy focused on one man who has been out of the United States for so long?
Because this is a crime against The People. The People made a deal, and the criminal plead guilty all those years ago.
It is time, Mr. Polanski, to do your time.
• Times Online UK: Should Roman Polanski have to pay for crimes he committed 30 years ago?
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I had forgotten all about this incident. A co-worker said Polanski was in the news yesterday. My first thoughts were that it had something to do with the death of one of the Manson "family" or the release of "Squeaky" Fromme which were recently reported.
ReplyDeleteHopefully justice will prevail and he will get the punishment he deserves. I know that's alot to ask for these days.
I agree with your comments. A similar thing took place when GW Bush was running for his first term. There was a girl guilty of killing her parents in Texas and Bush as governor had the decision of executing her or not. It was 15 years after the crime and the woman claimed to have been "born again" and wished to stay in the prison system to witness. Her name was Karla Faye Tucker. Bush ridiculed this woman saying that everyone on death row claims to be a christian, but I believed this girl because she was willing to accept the decision no matter what. The problem I had was with the system... that they had waited 15 years. This is a crime in itself. I'm not saying she should have been spared, she did the deed - she should serve out the sentence. I don't agree with the "Times" article that after so long, the crime should not be punished.
I remember that Texas scenario well. While I can see her desire as a Christian to be there and to witness to people behind bars, her sentence was punishment deemed appropriate in court for her deeds here on earth. I'm happy she found her peace with God, but that decision in her life to follow God does not affect the debt to society.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the 'Times' piece went through both sides of the argument, but concludes thus:
"I conclude that it is right that the United States authorities are seeking to extradite him to serve his sentence for rape. Neither fame nor wealth, neither time nor distance, should render anyone immune to laws protecting against serious crimes against other human beings."