[JerryLove]

Filmmakers demand Polanski's release - CNN.com

I mean... there are people defending him saying "he's suffered enough already", though I'm trying to figure out how a wildly successful artistic career and adulation from around the world is suffering.

There are people wondering "how we can do this to such a talented person". Huh?

He raped a 13-year-old. Whether she's "over it" or not is irrellevent.
He fled justice. He's refused to appear to sort it out.

Finally. The victim even annoys me. She says she wants this over because everytime it comes up it focuses attention on her and her family and she doesn't want that.

For 30 years she's been doing national interviews, showing up in HBO specials, etc to make sure, at every opportunity, that everyone knows she doesn't want attention. And if you missed her saying it, she'll get back on national TV and say it again.

I'm only sad that there are no defenders of whats-his-face to yell at

[JerryLove]

Oh. Also that campaign to keep people dying to protect health-insurance profits makes me sick. Moreso that this... but that's another thread.

[slap_j]

These people are fools.

[bread man]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Filmmakers demand Polanski's release - CNN.com

I mean... there are people defending him saying "he's suffered enough already", though I'm trying to figure out how a wildly successful artistic career and adulation from around the world is suffering.

That's probably not what they're referring to. Polanski has had a difficult life and it's unfair to claim otherwise. It absolutely does not excuse anything he's done, but surely growing up in Poland during WWII and your pregnant wife being murdered by followers of Charles Manson are horrifying experiences by anyone's standards.

I'm a big fan of Polanski's work, and I agree that he deserves this. At the same time, it feels weird that it is finally happening after such a long time.

[DaGeek]

The filmmakers objected to his being arrested en route to the film festival, which held a tribute to him this year.

"It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him," said the petition, backed by France's Societe des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (Society of Dramatic Authors and

When did being honored at a film festival make one above the law? *Shakes head*

I'm glad this finally happened. No one is above the law, no matter how successful.

[Bryan]

Polanwho?

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by Bryan

Polanwho?

Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.

(excellent film, btw)

[rock_show_host]

Originally Posted by Dread Pirate Kanye

When did being honored at a film festival make one above the law? *Shakes head*

I'm glad this finally happened. No one is above the law, no matter how successful.

I'm honestly baffled by that as well, and by the number of people on that list who seem to actually believe it.

[Than]

Well he did serve jail time under a plea bargain. The judge then went against his word, so I feel for Polanski. He paid the debt the justice system agreed to.

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by Than

Well he did serve jail time under a plea bargain. The judge then went against his word, so I feel for Polanski. He paid the debt the justice system agreed to.

I feel bad for him as well, for a number of reasons (the Manson family among them), but he did not pay his debt in full. He fled before the sentencing hearing, which is a crime in itself. And I think the initial plea bargain was a miscarriage of justice anyway but that's irrelevant. The way the whole thing has been handled is a joke.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by Than

Well he did serve jail time under a plea bargain. The judge then went against his word, so I feel for Polanski. He paid the debt the justice system agreed to.

48 days.

He gave drugs and alcholol to a thirteen year old girl. With her asking to "just go home" he performed . Well, let's just say that she actively said "no" to at least one and responded to the rest with requests to go home.

But hey, he spent 48 days in prison.

And no, that was not what was agreed to. He was afraid that the plea-bargan wouldn't stick... which still would oly make him punishable for what he did.

I feel bad for him as well, for a number of reasons (the Manson family among them),

I hear that Stalin had a rough childhood.

Tell me again why that means a child-rapist should be allowed to avoid justice.

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

I hear that Stalin had a rough childhood.

Do you believe that the evil we do precludes us from compassion? Or what is your point?

Tell me again why that means a child-rapist should be allowed to avoid justice.

Me? I think I'm on your side here. What he did was predatory and deserving of punishment. Lady Justice's thirst has not been slaked, etc., etc.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by slap_j

Do you believe that the evil we do precludes us from compassion? Or what is your point?

No, I simply think that there is a clear limit on what behaviors it can justify or even mitigate.

If he got publically intoxicated, or picked a fight in a bar, or was just an ass to people for a while after that, I'd say the trauma would be a good reason.

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

No, I simply think that there is a clear limit on what behaviors it can justify or even mitigate.

Absolutely. I've read some of the transcript. He deserves the full measure of justice.

[metropolis4]

I don't understand on what grounds anyone could defend what he did.

Given that he's already served time for this (even if it was horribly mishandeled) can he be tried again for the same crime? Or are they charging him with fleeing before the plea bargain? What can the outcome of this be?