In defense of rape. . .
September 29, 2009
I recall a Texas gubernatorial candidate likened bad weather to rape suggesting, “If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it”. Conservatives didn’t like his joke one bit and he lost the election. Earlier today I wrote about one of Obama’s czars who did nothing to protect a 15 year old from the sexual advances of an older man. I can’t imagine why we would put him in charge of protecting our children. What is going on in America?
This evening I was shocked to read blogs and news stories from the left defending Roman Polanski. For those of you who don’t know the story, at the age of 44 Polanski had sexual intercourse with a thirteen year old girl who he admitted drugging. He plead guilty and fled the country prior to sentencing. Polanski was arrested in Switzerland and is in the process of being deported to serve his sentence for rape. I guess I just don’t understand what is going on anymore. Some of my favorite filmmakers have signed a petition asking for Polanski to be released. Do they support Roman’s actions? How do they separate the man from the act? Is he such a great filmmaker that he deserves to get away with rape? Here are just a few of the 70+ film industry luminaries standing up for rape:
- Woody Allen
- David Lynch
- Martin Scorsese
- Michael Mann
- Harvey Weinstein
- (the full list is here)
We need to remember, as Kate Harding reminds us, “Roman Polanski Raped a Child” – this isn’t some private indiscretion between adults. Woopie Goldberg has suggested that this case is not about “rape rape“. Not rape? Huh? The Smoking Gun has the Grand Jury testimony here and explains the ‘non-rape rape’ as follows,
The thirteen year old’s troubling–and contemporaneous–account of her abuse at Polanski’s hands begins with her posing twice for topless photos that the director said were for French Vogue. The girl then told prosecutors how Polanski directed her to, “Take off your underwear” and enter the Jacuzzi, where he photographed her naked. Soon, the director, who was then 43, joined her in the hot tub. He also wasn’t wearing any clothes and, according to Gailey’s testimony, wrapped his hands around the child’s waist. The girl testified that she left the Jacuzzi and entered a bedroom in Nicholson’s home, where Polanski sat down beside her and kissed the teen, despite her demands that he “keep away.” According to Gailey, Polanski then performed a sex act on her and later “started to have intercourse with me.” At one point, according to Gailey’s testimony, Polanski asked the 13-year-old if she was “on the pill,” and “When did you last have your period?” Polanski then asked her, Gailey recalled, “Would you want me to go in through your back?” before he “put his penis in my butt.” Asked why she did not more forcefully resist Polanski, the teenager told Deputy D.A. Roger Gunson, “Because I was afraid of him.”
Not sure what to say. I can’t imagine how anyone could defend him or his actions. I just don’t understand.
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Wikipedia is incorrect. That particular quote was first uttered by WABC Weatherman Tex Antoine in 1974 on live TV.
Comment by Tony — September 29, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Details, details. Doesn’t everyone rape a 13 year old who was drugged and then get off? Just because it is 30 years later, does it really change the fact that the crime was committed?
Comment by Jay Fraser — September 29, 2009 @ 9:55 pm
I’m all out of anger. The reaction to Polanski’s arrest has simple filled me with despair.
I would like to think that liberals actually care about morality (isn’t it supposed to be moral to implement health care?), but I’m sadly finding more and more who only care about morality when it makes their enemies look bad.
If Mr. Polanski has been the pastor from one of the ever tedious “Christians are hypocrites” films, he would have been shot to death to the nodding approval of the audience. And I would have been one of those nodding.
I despise those who prey upon children and I think they should be thrown in jail indefinately. And, unlike these strange people, I don’t think being an awesome director should excuse you from justice.
Comment by Matthias — September 29, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
I would never condone raping a 13 year old. I wonder what the girl’s parents were thinking and doing? Obviously nothing. What I don’t like about this case is that most everything I read fails to mention judicial misconduct. The judge reneged on a previous agreement that Polanski and the all parties agreed.
The justice system in this country is nowhere near perfect. DA’s are concerned with evidence, not guilt or innocence. That is really sad.
Comment by David Mosby — September 29, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
“The judge reneged on a previous agreement that Polanski and the all parties agreed” – defendants cut deals with the prosecutor, the judge doesn’t have to accept them.
Comment by Steve Brewer — September 30, 2009 @ 12:09 am
@David The only judicial misconduct I saw was that the judge let him finish his movie and leave the country before sentencing. The judge ordered Polanski to report to a state prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation after he completed his current movie. He reported to Chino State Prison and was held for 42 days. The report provided to the judge by the psychiatrist indicated that probation would not be appropriate, instead it recommended a prison sentence. Instead of taking the risk that the judge would follow the recommendation of the Chino folks Roman left the country. Was this misconduct? The plea deal specifically required the 90 day evaluation – i.e. the goal was to produce a sentencing recommendation. Misconduct? I don’t think you get to complain about what is fair or unfair after you rape a child. David, how can you defend him? He admitted in open court that he drugged the child and forced her to have anal and vaginal intercourse. Really, I don’t see how you can suggest that the judge or DA is at fault?
Comment by Alexander Muse — September 30, 2009 @ 8:50 am
@Matthias
I’m rather stunned that you think that this is a liberal v conservative issue. I am what Americans would term a liberal (though I’m not particularly by UK standards), yet I am outraged and disgusted by an defence of Polanski.
As far as I can see, it’s just that some people are complete arseholes when it comes to the cult of celebrity. It isn’t necessarily about where people fall on the political spectrum.
Whatever the case, the fact that *anyone*, regardless of who they are or what politics they subscribe to, are demanding this heinous man’s release makes me filled with abject horror about the state of humanity.
Comment by Serial Insomniac — September 30, 2009 @ 9:45 am
Great post, Alexander. That’s the first time I read the grand jury testimony…chilling.
Comment by Joel Bailey — September 30, 2009 @ 9:00 pm