Roman Polanski arrest [warning: some discussion of sex crimes]

Where I'm coming from is that there seems to be a fantastic amount of vitriol in the media based on the fact that Roman Polanski is rich and famous. 

The only shocking thing is that rape doesn't cause that kind of reaction in people ALWAYS. Especially child rape.

"He's being attacked because he's a celebrity" is a red herring. He's being attacked because he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, pled guilty to it and then fled.

But!...but!..but!....Nope! That's pretty much where it begins and ends.

The only shocking thing is that rape doesn't cause that kind of reaction in people ALWAYS. Especially child rape.

True enough, but the fact is, it doesn't.  We shake our heads and we say "How dreadful" and "What a monster" then we go on with our lives. 

"He's being attacked because he's a celebrity" is a red herring. He's being attacked because he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, pled guilty to it and then fled.

But!...but!..but!....Nope! That's pretty much where it begins and ends.

I'd agree that he was prosecuted, sentenced, and has now been arrested because of that, and not because he's a celebrity.  But I still get the impression that the volume of outrage is heightened by the fact that he is a celebrity.  And I am very skeptical that anyone can consider this case without being at all influenced by the fact that it involves a well-known person.  Myself included.  To inisist that his celebrity is irrelevant is disingenuous.  Of course it's relevant.  Whether or not it should be and whether or not we want it to be, it's still a factor in how people think about this.   

Or maybe the volume of outrage is heightened because he used his celebrity and money to evade justice for 30 years and that's pretty outragious. Could be, you think?

Or maybe the volume of outrage is heightened because he used his celebrity and money to evade justice for 30 years and that's pretty outragious. Could be, you think?

He was able to avoid extradition to the United States because he fled to France, where he holds citizenship, and France refused to extradite him. He avoided being in countries that were likely to send him back to the US. People without his wealth and fame do this as well. I'm thinking of international custody disputes/parental kidnapping incidents.

Or maybe the volume of outrage is heightened because he used his celebrity and money to evade justice for 30 years and that's pretty outragious. Could be, you think?

I think that's definitely part of it.

 

I think that's definitely part of it.

 

I agree. A lot of people are similarly  outraged by Ronnie Biggs evading justice for many years and he was not a celebrity of any kind.

Oh, and *Liz*, nice work with the "bizarre" jibe.  But I'm not taking the bait this time. 

*sigh* Am I only allowed to reply to posts I agree with? I didn't understand why you felt it necessary to play devil's advocate for a convicted rapist and I still don't.

I guess maybe one aspect of Polanski's past that people feel outrage about, besides what he actually did, is that supposing Charles Manson had evaded justice all these years after the  murder of Polanski's wife & unborn child. Do you think Polanski would be sitting back and saying "let the guy go, he's an old man, why now?" ... I doubt it.

I'm by no means defending rapists and as a general rule I think they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  I'm just surprised by the frenzy.  Yes, it was a horrible, inexcusable thing that he did, but I can't help feeling that if a non-celebrity did the same thing, we would condemn his actions and pursue justice, but there wouldn't be the same level of fervour against him.  Perhaps I'm wrong.  But that's the impression that I've gotten from reading the columns in various newspapers and the links posted in this thread.  

A non-celebrity wouldn't have continued to work in the public eye and make millions of dollars, seeming to flaunt the fact that 'he got away with it'. If I were a rape victim and continued to see my rapist work and live as if nothing ever happened, I would be pretty angry to say the least. I guess I'm surprised by your surprise at the vitriol. Regardless of the charge, it's another case of a celebrity getting special treatment simply because of their status.

This:

I have never seen any of Roman Polanski's movies, until a few days ago I'd barely heard of him. 

probably explains why you said this:

in this case the offender hasn't reoffended in more than 30 years.   

He did in fact have a relationship with Nastassja Kinski when she was only fifteen years old.

IMO, there really is nothing to defend here.  He drugged and raped a child. He deserves to be arrested and sent to jail.  Sorry.

IMO, there really is nothing to defend here.  He drugged and raped a child. He deserves to be arrested and sent to jail.  Sorry.

That is totally the sum of it!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/roman-polanski-paid-samantha-geimer-601583-in-civil-settlement-of-sexual-assault.html

When Polanski sought to have the rape charge dismissed in 2008, she told The Times [LA] she welcomed an opportunity to finally end the case. "It's been a long time," she said. "I don't wish for him to be held to further punishment or consequences."

Wow! Did he incur any punishment? I mean real punishment as handed down by a court of law. I am sure he thinks he has suffered punishment.

I still think he should have been charged with rape and not unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. She was a child.

That was part of the plea bargain, that he would plead guilty to the lesser charge. No, he has never received any sentence from any court.

I do feel for Samantha Geimer. She would not have to be dealing with the continued publicity about this if he had not skipped the country 30 years ago. Presumably he will be charged in relation to that as well.

Presumably he will be charged in relation to that as well.

One would think that would be the correct path for the authorities to take. But even if they do, the courts would probably slap his wrist and have him sweep some LA streets (preferable south LA).

Here's hoping they do the right thing. It's not like he never got caught and survived a staue of limitations thingy.

I didn't understand why you felt it necessary to play devil's advocate for a convicted rapist and I still don't.

Read carefully.  At no point did I defend him or his actions.  I am not "for" him and never was.  I was simply curious about the high level of anger over a 30 year old case.  Thanks to other posters' helpful comments, I understand it better.   

Read carefully.  At no point did I defend him or his actions.  I am not "for" him and never was.  I was simply curious about the high level of anger over a 30 year old case.  Thanks to other posters' helpful comments, I understand it better.   

In your own words you played "devil's advocate" - I simply questioned this.  I am glad you found the help you needed understanding the situation. Remember, I'm not the baddie here, Roman Polanski is.

Kind of a tricky one especially as Samantha wants it all to go away.  I think her input should be respected, but another part of me still feels he should pay the price.  What I find most disturbing is his former sister in law, http://raggydeeann.blogspot.com/2009/10/hypocrisy-of-media-whore-known-as-debra.html who thinks "sex between Polanski and the then 13 year old was consenual