I couldn't resist the urge to make a posting about the long overdue arrest of Roman Polanski. I felt particularly compelled after hearing about Whoopi Goldberg's explanation of how giving a 13 year old drugs and alcohol and then having sexual intercourse with her did not constitute "Rape-Rape," but apparently some other less serious form of well, "rape." I didn't realize there were so many different types of rape. I am just trying to get it right - I can't remember if the facts described above are rape or rape-rape but I will work on it.
This case and rush to Polanski's defense by Hollywood types like Woody Allen (that's right, the guy who had sexual relationships with his de facto step-daughter) and others is the perfect example of just how wacky this segment of society has gone. As if the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Woody Allen aren't enough, I just heard an interview Sigourney Weaver who really doesn't blame Polanski but really the mother who created the situation. Polanski, her line of thought goes, was more of a victim of circumstance. To boot, implicit in much of this discussion (although most are smart enough not to say it) is that the victim herself was partially to blame since she really wanted the attention. You know, when children want sex you just give it to them. Moreover, when they ask for it, it is cool to get them drunk and high and then victimize them because you know, she probably had a short skirt on or something. Swiss Otto Weiser called this "rape" or "rape-rape" (I still cant' get this straight) nothing more than a "little mistake."
Wow. For decades now, advocates have effectively helped change public opinion and attitudes about sexual abuse of all kinds and the victimization of children. After 10 years of dealing with sexual abuse in the Catholic church and the important public discourse on the effects of such victimization on children (whether they "wanted it" or not), and then to come full circle like this is nothing short of an astonishment. This case really shows everything that is wrong with Hollywood and the likes of people who think similarly.
5 comments:
Thanks for posting this Scooby - I don't watch the view, but I heard about Whoopi's comment. Yes, this is real sexual assault. Even worse, he ran. He should be brought back ASAP.
Velma - I agree. But for the record, I don't watch the View either!?!?!?! I heard about it on the news!
I am SO glad you posted about this, Scoob. It's been on my list of posts to write, but I haven't had the time to do it. Thanks.
I'll cop to being somewhat shocked at the outpouring of support for Polanski. While it's true that it seems to have been an isolated incident (i.e., he has not sexually assaulted anyone else in the decades since this incident -- at least not that we know of), it's still a pretty horrific thing to have done. Seems accountability means less when you're rich, famous, and respected, eh?
What also shocks me is that the feminist community largely seems absent from this discussion. I have seen some folks from NOW show obvious distain for Hollywood's support for the child-rapist. Can you imagine if this was a Priest....the level of (justifiable) public outrage and the parade of feminists on the news? I briefly (my stomach can take it only so long) looked on Feministing...as far as I can tell, nothing. It might have been mentioned in the early days but there appears to be little about this and Hollywood's response. It really reminds me when Bernhardt joked that Sarah Palin would be "gang raped by her black brothers in New York" if she dared step in foot in the city (or something like that...). That was largely "explained away" as humor. Where was the outrage then and where is it now?
Good post Scooby--I saw a replay of Goldberg's talk on one of the news shows and just could not believe her "argument."
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