Comments on: Let’s be clear: Roman Polanski is a rapist http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/ Blogging Liberally in the Badger State Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:15:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: forgotmyscreenname http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15030 forgotmyscreenname Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:35:23 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15030 "If we fail to prosecute those who commit crimes, we’re sending a message that it’s okay to break the law." I completely agree. This statement should be applied to illegal immigration as well. “If we fail to prosecute those who commit crimes, we’re sending a message that it’s okay to break the law.”
I completely agree. This statement should be applied to illegal immigration as well.

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]]> By: Locke http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15029 Locke Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:06:59 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15029 No more than the same message they should send anyone in a similar situation. If you give an 13 year old alcohol, drugs then repeatedly violate her against her wishes, and you plead guilty to it, you don't get to avoid punishment because you fled the country. One of the red herrings here is this whole claim that they were "going to make an example out of him" bit. Since he fled before the actual sentencing, this is a completely unsubstantiated claim that meant to cull sympathy. It's right up there with, he's been punished enough. Find me someone convicted or who plead guilty to what he did, with the facts of this case who did not serve prison time. There are guys serving 20 years or more for doing less than he did. No more than the same message they should send anyone in a similar situation. If you give an 13 year old alcohol, drugs then repeatedly violate her against her wishes, and you plead guilty to it, you don’t get to avoid punishment because you fled the country.

One of the red herrings here is this whole claim that they were “going to make an example out of him” bit. Since he fled before the actual sentencing, this is a completely unsubstantiated claim that meant to cull sympathy. It’s right up there with, he’s been punished enough. Find me someone convicted or who plead guilty to what he did, with the facts of this case who did not serve prison time. There are guys serving 20 years or more for doing less than he did.

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]]> By: By the way http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15027 By the way Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:46:09 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15027 Btw, his current wifie is also 33 years younger than he. I mean he knows what he likes! Btw, his current wifie is also 33 years younger than he. I mean he knows what he likes!

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]]> By: Ordinary Jill http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15023 Ordinary Jill Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:27:38 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15023 I do not believe that victims should determine either the prosecution or the sentence of criminals. Polanski's victim claims she "just wants it to go away" -- but he also paid her a hefty settlement some years ago, which could be considered hush money. Think about all of the pressure that the Catholic Church has brought to bear on some families of abuse victims not to go to the secular authorities. If the state takes the attitude that they should not get involved if the victims and their families do not want them to, many more children will be abused who could have been protected. I do not believe that victims should determine either the prosecution or the sentence of criminals. Polanski’s victim claims she “just wants it to go away” — but he also paid her a hefty settlement some years ago, which could be considered hush money.

Think about all of the pressure that the Catholic Church has brought to bear on some families of abuse victims not to go to the secular authorities. If the state takes the attitude that they should not get involved if the victims and their families do not want them to, many more children will be abused who could have been protected.

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]]> By: Zach W http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15022 Zach W Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:15:43 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15022 Shouldn't the message be that those who break our laws will be held accountable? If we fail to prosecute those who commit crimes, we're sending a message that it's okay to break the law. Shouldn’t the message be that those who break our laws will be held accountable?

If we fail to prosecute those who commit crimes, we’re sending a message that it’s okay to break the law.

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]]> By: PartiallyBlue http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15021 PartiallyBlue Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:18:24 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15021 Is the State supposed to send a message? Is the State supposed to send a message?

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]]> By: PartiallyBlue http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15020 PartiallyBlue Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:16:38 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15020 'Hollywood' wants to hire Polanski or work for him. Self interest or pedophilia is the most likely root of their support. The jerks. ‘Hollywood’ wants to hire Polanski or work for him. Self interest or pedophilia is the most likely root of their support. The jerks.

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]]> By: Locke http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15018 Locke Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:10:57 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15018 By the way - thank you for posting this & making your position clear on this. I think you would have to look awful hard to find a conservative supporting Polanski, but I didn't suspect it was a left vs. right issue either - and your post & comments here would be in line with that. It's a very small subset of liberals - Hollywood elite who should not be seen to represent an opinion of anything beyond their own little world which. BTW, Salon has what I'd consider the <a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/09/28/polanski_arrest/index.html" rel="nofollow">definitive piece</a> on this case. By the way – thank you for posting this & making your position clear on this. I think you would have to look awful hard to find a conservative supporting Polanski, but I didn’t suspect it was a left vs. right issue either – and your post & comments here would be in line with that. It’s a very small subset of liberals – Hollywood elite who should not be seen to represent an opinion of anything beyond their own little world which.

BTW, Salon has what I’d consider the
definitive piece on this case.

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]]> By: Locke http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15017 Locke Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:01:58 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15017 I've read a postings online arguing this very point - since the victim doesn't want him put in jail (more accurately, she just wants it all to be over) we should just leave him alone. What I wonder - and asked some of these people but never go a response...how about wife & child abusers? That very attitude would certainly be supported by those people since "it's our secret", "nobody will believe you", "it's your fault" etc while being an awful insult to injury, is unfortunately effective at convincing victims to keep quiet. Crimes are "the state vs. ____" or "the people vs. ____" not victim A vs. ___. Certainly is not unusual in many cases for the prosecution to not proceed if they don't feel like they can make their case without the support/testimony of the victim but that's a practical matter. Crimes are prosecuted only in part for the victim, but the major goal is for justice in the larger sense. I’ve read a postings online arguing this very point – since the victim doesn’t want him put in jail (more accurately, she just wants it all to be over) we should just leave him alone. What I wonder – and asked some of these people but never go a response…how about wife & child abusers? That very attitude would certainly be supported by those people since “it’s our secret”, “nobody will believe you”, “it’s your fault” etc while being an awful insult to injury, is unfortunately effective at convincing victims to keep quiet.

Crimes are “the state vs. ____” or “the people vs. ____” not victim A vs. ___. Certainly is not unusual in many cases for the prosecution to not proceed if they don’t feel like they can make their case without the support/testimony of the victim but that’s a practical matter. Crimes are prosecuted only in part for the victim, but the major goal is for justice in the larger sense.

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]]> By: Zach W http://bloggingblue.com/2009/10/02/lets-be-clear-roman-polanski-is-a-rapist/comment-page-1/#comment-15016 Zach W Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:34:41 +0000 http://bloggingblue.com/?p=5997#comment-15016 PB, I'll just chime in with my own two cents: I think the state should seek to prosecute a person for a crime like rape even if the victim doesn't seek it, simply because if the state doesn't, it sends entirely the wrong message. PB, I’ll just chime in with my own two cents:

I think the state should seek to prosecute a person for a crime like rape even if the victim doesn’t seek it, simply because if the state doesn’t, it sends entirely the wrong message.

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