Comments on: On Roman Polanski

By: Pedro see

Pedro see — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:09:26 +0000

He didn’t pay her the money. He should have done more than 42 days for this reprehensible act. No matter his profession. This is far different from Oscar Wilde being gay and being punished for it. Girls deserve protection.

By: sheree

sheree — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:04:36 +0000

People seem to forget about his sexual relationship with Natassia Kinski who was under 18 years of age. His temporary insanity must have prolonged its visit.

By: erikarae

erikarae — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:27:16 +0000

Interesting questions you raise, Sean. Welcome to Face Stories.

By: nickbelardes

nickbelardes — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:48:26 +0000

I'm with Jenny. I also think that calling his mother a monster doesn't answer the question of Polanski being a monster. And that's just speculation isn't it? We don't actually know if the mother was knowingly throwing her daughter into a lion's den. And if it were a lion's den, why were there other people hanging out with Polanski earlier that day? Are they guilty then too? So many questions… Hard to know what to do in this case. As in, what's the justifiable punishment? And, if Polanski has suffered, has it been enough?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:44:38 +0000

I agree that there are all kinds of extenuating circumstances in this case and that everything from the judge reneging on the sentence to Polanski fleeing the country and to his deeds since then. Even if one were to argue that Polanski's tough childhood and the tragic events around the time of his crime should grant him leniency – that still would have made it, maybe, temporary insanity.

When we strip away everything else, what we are left with is this: he raped a young woman. She said no but, he continued to force himself on her.

After 42 days in prison, Polanski then went on to live his life – leaving the young woman to face a media circus, court cases and 30 years of questions. So much attention, that his victim would rather that everything was dropped and that everyone would just shut up about it so that she can live her life in peace.

I'm not advocating for Polanski to be thrown in jail for the rest of his life or for him to be castrated but, he needs to face up to what he did (42 days in prison and not paying what he owes on the civil judgement against him doesn't cut it).

By: nickbelardes

nickbelardes — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:39:59 +0000

Not sure I agree with some of the questions raised in this article, but it was still an interesting read…

By: barry dank

barry dank — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:44:33 +0000

This is one of the best articles I have read on the Polanski matter and I have probably too many articles. But one has to read a lot before one comes up with a gem. For my take on Polanski which is siliar to Beaudoin's, click http://dankprofessor.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/on-...

By: sheree

sheree — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:18:54 +0000

pedophilia /pe·do·phil·ia/ (-fil´e-ah) a paraphilia in which an adult has recurrent, intense sexual urges or sexually arousing fantasies of engaging or repeatedly engages in sexual activity with a prepubertal child.pedophil´ic [End]

The girl was 13 at the time of the rape and past the prepubertal phase of development due to menses cycling. When the media calls a child rapist a pedophile they are confusing two different types of sexual aggression and opening doors that cause great harm to those fighting against sexual abuse of all types.

Medical treatment and sentencing of rapist and pedophiles are not the same nor should they be according to those with degrees in the field of sexual studies.

Reporters really should spend time researching the difference between these two acts of sexual misconduct with professionals in the field before writing and publishing their articles.

Just my uneducated two cents worth do with it what you will.