Serious Subject

[deelaundry]

I have to admit that I have some sympathy for some people who have consensual sex with teenagers younger than age 18. There can be cases where both the adult and the teenager have the maturity to handle such a relationship. Can be. It's certainly not always the case, and erring on the side of caution is much better. With that said:

ROMAN POLANSKI RAPED HIS VICTIM. He did not have consensual sex; by his own admission and by the testimony of the victim, he ignored her clear statements refusing consent and went ahead and performed multiple sexual acts on her. That is RAPE.

Rape, murder, and treason are the three highest crimes in the US. If Polanski had sold nuclear secrets, would we say, "Oh, that's OK; let him go"? If he had killed a 13-year-old boy as the boy begged him not to, would we say that Polanski had "suffered enough by having to live in exile"?

More here, including details that are horrifying and may be triggering.

Comments

[hry2007.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly. Also, I'm getting tired of the rough life defense. Unless there was an epidemic post-WWII of ghetto survivors becoming rapists, he can fuck right off.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The "rough life" defense is pathetic. If it's not an excuse accepted for people who don't have money/talent, then it can't be an excuse for people do have money. (A friend of mine said that Polanski may have been mentally ill at the time, which... I dunno. That could be a reason for lower culpability in committing a crime, but it doesn't excuse him repeatedly insisting since then that he should be allowed back in the US.)