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Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Originally posted by John Matrix
I agree with Woopi when she says: "I don't like it when we're passionate about something and we don't have all the facts."
Oh, I definitely agree with this, too! We, as regular citizens, though, tend to "think" with our hearts sometimes. Legally, he committed statutory rape. There's no doubt. But I'm still on the fence as regards what should happen now. I see both sides and simply cannot make the decision. In my opinion, the victim's opinion should be taken into account. She's got kids and she's not crazy about being in the news again after 30 or more years. On the other hand, he committed a crime and did not pay for it.
I think I would have to know more about the case to make the decision, but we can't just say, "never mind" to the law... That's not right, in my opinion... It's a tough call for me.
Originally posted by John MatrixThe purpose of punishment is deterrence and rehabilitation. There is no indication Polanski repeated his conduct, and plenty of evidence for his rehabilitation.
Originally posted by Darth Lumina
Actually 13 year olds aren't as naive as you think. I knew of sex at that age, in fact I know of many who were active at that age and even in this day in age. Thirteen year old girls are actually more developed brain wise and hormonally since a girl begins her period between 9-11 years of age. Plus there was also a time where it was common for girls even younger than this one to carry children and in some cultures this remains so. I'm not saying what he did was right, I just wanted to point out the flaw in your argument as far as development of a 13 year old.
Originally posted by John Matrix
Originally posted by Darth LuminaIt was common in the late 60's for 13 year old girls to have sex, never mind the 70's 80's 90's and this last decade. Stats clearly show the numbers of girls having sex at a young age has steadily increased.
It was common for 13 yr old girls to marry 25 and 30 year old men when North America was being settled.
Originally posted by Aeons
When the facts are apparent, and you still can't make a judgement it is because you've either succumbed to the pressure of not wanting to offend or stand out against those whom you are afraid of, OR it is because you WANT to have another outcome. You want to believe that it is okay, even in the face of the evidence.
Originally posted by John Matrix
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Legally, he committed statutory rape. There's no doubt.
If there was solid evidence of any mitigating circumstances, there would have been no plea deal.
Coerced, inebriated, and quite possibly forced sex, yes.
There seems to be no doubt that they engaged in sex.
For all we know, that girl could have been a very precocious 13 year old that used her charms to sexual arrouse and seduce Polanski, without him knowing she was a minor.
Anyone surprised that many men are easily sexually arroused and therefore easily seduced by young women?
The reality is that many women have that sexual seduction power over men and many know how to use that power to get what they want....some even at a young age.
The bottom line is that Polanski's cranium was preempted by his other head. So in the strinct legal sense, he did have sex with a minor. Whether it was forced or not....I don't know yet.
Originally posted by John Matrix
Originally posted by Aeons
When the facts are apparent, and you still can't make a judgement it is because you've either succumbed to the pressure of not wanting to offend or stand out against those whom you are afraid of, OR it is because you WANT to have another outcome. You want to believe that it is okay, even in the face of the evidence.
No, it's because I know the justice system is anything but just.
My position was proven correct when I heard the judge flip flopped on the deal.
And, Polanski was punished by the entire process. Don't think for a minute his actions did not have a negative impact on his life or career. That he overcame all of it, and is successful proves he is rehabilitated, it does not prove he did not receive and experience punishment.
Originally posted by Aeons
Originally posted by John Matrix
Originally posted by Darth LuminaIt was common in the late 60's for 13 year old girls to have sex, never mind the 70's 80's 90's and this last decade. Stats clearly show the numbers of girls having sex at a young age has steadily increased.
It was common for 13 yr old girls to marry 25 and 30 year old men when North America was being settled.
No, it wasn't.
I know that the pedophile crowd says this alot.
But I actually look at these old pieces of paper while doing genealogy.
And it was not common.
The mean marriage age has consistently been in the mid twenties. From the 1500s on.
Then my female highschool history teacher was wrong, as were our history books. I'll do some research and see.
Please don't stereo type me with your comment about pedaphiles.
That's just plain nasty and doesn't really help you look all that rational either.
“This is a man who I love a lot and know a little bit,” Mr. Besson said in a radio interview with RTL Soir. “Our daughters are good friends. But there is one justice, and that should be the same for everyone. I will let justice happen.” He added, , “I don’t have any opinion on this, but I have a daughter, 13 years old. And if she was violated, nothing would be the same, even 30 years later.”
He started to have intercourse with me.
"He asked, he goes, 'Are you on the pill?'”
"And I went 'No'… he goes, 'Would you like me to go in through your back?'
"And I went 'No'. I think he said something like right after I said I was not on the pill, right before he said, 'Oh, I won’t come inside of you then'. Then he lifted my legs up farther and went in through my anus."
I reread an extraordinary interview Polanski gave to the novelist Martin Amis in 1979, the year after Polanski went on the run.
The interview originally appeared in Tatler and is collected in Amis’s excellent book Visiting Mrs Nabokov.
Here’s a section of the first quote it contains from Polanski.
“If I had killed somebody, it wouldn’t have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But… *******, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to **** young girls. Juries want to **** young girls. Everyone wants to **** young girls!”
Originally posted by dizzie56
www.telegraph.co.uk...
Dude was like 30+ years older than her at the time.
Removed censor circumvention
[edit on 30/9/09 by masqua]