Switzerland is abuzz with the news of Roman Polanski's arrest in Zurich last week. It seems to me that the Swiss are torn between pride and anger.
They are proud that their country was the one to arrest this fugitive from justice but also peeved that they had to be the ones to do so. Not to mention their confusion as to why now when Polanski has been holidaying in Gstaad for some years now.
I am insensed that so many famous artists are raising their hands in support of Polanski. The sight of three young German actors, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht, his brother Wilson Gonzales and a female colleage made me wonder if the world had gone mad. Hollywood stars such as Harrison Ford, Monica Belluci stand hand in hand with German directors such as Wim Wenders and Tim Tykwer. Not to mention Whoopi Goldberg's catastrophic "rape-rape" comments.
He should be pitied, I have read, as he has never been able to return to the US. Never mind that he has lived and worked in Europe, lived in luxury, feted by his colleagues and critics. Never mind that he has won an Oscar during his self-imposed exile. Poor darling did not even get to return to US to accept his Oscar in person.
Here is the crux of the matter. Forget about whether the girl in question consented or not. Disregard the possibility of the judge being corrupt. At the end of the day a 44 year old man had sex with a 13 year old girl. That is not sex, whether she consented or not. That is rape.
It is illegal to give a 13 year old drugs and alcohol.
It is illegal to have sex with a 13 year old child. To rape and sodomise her.
It is illegal to break bail conditions.
He could have returned to the US at any time in the past 30 years, accepted a fair punishment for his crime then lived the rest of his life as he pleased.
He did not.
I commend Switzerland for arresting him and hope that he is soon out of the country, back to US to face the courts.
The Hollywood Stars should be ashamed of themselves.
If you agree with me, please visit this website and sign the petition, "Art does not excuse rape, Polanski must be punished".
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/art-does-not-excuse-rape-polanski-must-face-justice
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