Roman Polanski is a Sex Offender
The arrest stems from a conviction in 1978. Polanksi pled guilty to having unlawful sex with a 13 year old girl in the United States. He gave her drugs, alcohol and then had sex with her at Jack Nicholson's home. Before Polanski could be sentenced, he fled the country and has avoided the U.S. ever since. He's even avoided traveling to countries with extradition treaties with the United States. Why? Because Polanski knows he's a fugitive and he knows that child sex crimes are taken pretty seriously in this country.
And yes, what Polanski did is a sex crime. A thirteen year old, no matter how seemingly mature or sexual, cannot legally consent. Hell, an adult can't consent to sex in most states if they've been given drugs or alcohol without their knowledge, or even with their knowledge if they're so incapacitated that they can't make a decision.
I simply don't care whether Polanski has had a troubled life. While I'm sympathetic about the deaths of his family in Nazi concentration camps and the murder of his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson family, that doesn't excuse taking advantage of a child. Yes, a child. The girl that Polanski raped undoubtedly had a troubled life as well if she was at a party at Nicholson's home at the age of 13. It doesn't matter if the woman in question now forgives him. It doesn't matter if he didn't know her true age, although as a 44 year old man there's no way he could have mistaken a 13 year old girl for a fully mature woman. Come on. Polanksi was the adult and we as a society do not tolerate the abuse of children.
What I find amazing is the vocal defense of Polanski by so many. The French Cultural Minister of France defended Polanksi, stating, "(Polanski was) thrown to the lions. In the same way that there is a generous America that we like, there is also a scary America that has just shown its face." Really? This is the America that scares you? The America that pursues criminal abusers of children?
I don't care if Polanski has led a pure and redeeming life over the last 30 years. He still has to pay for what he did to a 13 year old girl all those years ago. He doesn't get a free pass because he's a brilliant director or an amazing artist.
The irony of the whole situation is that the world, and the U.S., has changed so much in 30 years. Much more attention is given to child sex crimes and they are punished much more harshly now than they were 30 years ago. If Polanski had stayed and faced the music back in 1978 his sentence probably would have been far lighter than it will in 2009.
But judging from the people falling all over themselves to defend a convicted sex offender, a man who raped a child, the world hasn't changed nearly enough in the last 30 years.
This is an original D.C. Metro Moms post. Stephanie Himel-Nelson also writes at her site Lawyer MamaMOMocrats. and for the political site
