Sunday, October 4, 2009

Raping A 13-Year Old Doesn't Count Because Whoopi Says So?

Some people take their protectionism of exploitation, abuse and rape committed against women and children to a new low. It's not just Whoopi Goldberg I'm referring to. If you've watched any episodes of To Catch A Predator then you know what I'm talking about. The men (and increasingly women though they're not featured on that show) who do actually get caught, arrested, charged and prosecuted all have similar stories. The child "told" them they were older. Or the perps "thought" they were older. It's their first time doing "something" like this. They just wanted to talk. The child "knows what they're doing". They have daddy issues or were victims of abuse themselves. Or worse - that it was consensual. In the case of Goldberg's statement on the View last week how she didn't believe what Polanski did was "rape rape". Meaning what exactly? It didn't occur in an alley or was enacted by a stranger? I understand she's tried to clarify her statements but I think we got it the first time. I wonder how a grandmother would diminish the actions of a then 43 year-old child predator (who moved on to a 15 year old afterwards) and has publicly stated he doesn't find normal sex interesting and if she's ever read the court transcript? No, his wife's murder doesn't excuse him as one has NOTHING to do with the other.

WHAT PART OF DRUGGING AND RAPING A CHILD BEING WRONG IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

Of course when I think of the ongoing brouhaha surrounding Roman Polanski's arrest I think of R. Kelly's acquittal. Much in the same way many whites felt that OJ got away with a crime I burn up over Kelly walking around freely. Like OJ it's just a matter of time as that arrogance only grows and eventually he'll cross a line even his current crop of foolish supporters won't be able to stop. I realize there's so many more people are out there free to wreck havoc on others, some famous and some not. Just for the record being found legally innocent (or guilty) doesn't always correspond to actual innocence (or guilt) of a crime.

I also think about Letterman's admission of his "dating" women who work for him. Some DBR (damaged beyond repair) idiot had the nerve to tell me that they "work in that field" and I was legally off-base for stating a subordinate could be exploited sexually in a work environment even if they've "consented" to it. I think about the public revelation of Mackenzie Phillips being raped by her father and her "consenting" to continuing a sexual relationship with him for the latter part of a decade. I wonder if we're in the Last Days and whether it's going to be over sooner than we think.

Despite the current denial by seriously confused people Polanski was found guilty. He took off but has lived a life of comfort in France ever since. I wrote about his arrest in Switzerland last week. Any discomfort he's experienced at being "inconvenienced" by the consequences for raping Samantha Geimer is a blip in comparison to her ability at moving on from he did to her. Kelly SHOULD have been convicted as well but the deniers and excusers put male privilege and race in particular above justice. With a little "oh but he's so talented" sprinkled on top for effect. Kinda like how Polanski is still being supported by many especially when films like The Pianist win awards (Oscars) and get international distribution.

There was a petition signed by numerous excusers and deniers in support of Polanski, some of whom happen to be a few of my favorite actors/directors. Thank goodness there's backlash for this support as I'm hugely disappointed at some of the names on the list. It makes me wonder what type of misconduct has occurred with them that wasn't reported or given any attention because reading the actual court transcripts of what Polanski did should make any normal person sick. Since I no longer financially contribute to those that denigrate me I will now be able to use my funds more wisely - and cut them off! How can anyone blindly support them now that these people have publicly declared WAR against the innocent.

Here Are A Few Names You May Recognize
Woody Allen (Not a surprise!!)
Pedro Almodovar
Wes Anderson
Asia Argento
Darren Aronofsky
Monica Bellucci (She portrayed a rape survivor in the film Irreversible)
Alfonso Cuaron
Ethan Cohen
Jonathan Demme
Stephen Frears (The female lead in Dirty Pretty Things is sexually exploited for a green card)
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Harmony Korinne
John Landis
David Lynch
Michael Mann
Jeanne Moreau
Julian Schnabel
Barbet Schroeder
Martin Scorsese
Tilda Swinton
Tom Tykwer
Wim Wenders
Isabelle Adjani
Taylor Hackford
Isabelle Huppert
Neil Jordan
Sam Mendes
Mike Nichols
Salman Rushdie
Steven Soderbergh
Diane von Furstenberg
Harvey Weinstein

As with the case of Whoopi who didn't sign the petition but has come out in support of Polanski we can add Penelope Cruz to the denier and excuser list as well. Debra Winger kicked off this party to begin with. There is growing interest in staging some sort of protest at the View being that its audience comprises mostly of women. Do you think you would have liked being given alcohol and drugs to be sodomized? Or filmed on tape being used, abused, peed on and handed a few bills after the fact? Are you aware the average age of a prostitute is 14 thanks to child trafficking? How do you feel knowing millions of children are kidnapped and forced to do sex work? I see ALL of these situations as the SAME - they're just manifested differently.

When a society makes light of and fails to protect children it is on its way to extinction.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen Faith, Amen! SMH, I don't know what to make of people these days, so I keep to myself, and don't engage in conversations with the DBRs, as there are many. It seems pandemic, and that's scary.

Unknown said...

I still can't believe this stuff. So what do they define rape as?

About the letterman thing, I never thought about it like that. That is straight up exploitation in the workplace and Letterman should not be forgiven for it. He should be fired. There should also be an ongoing investigation since people are saying that this is "normal" for the workplace.

Tracy said...

Excellent post, tho I don't believe in the Last Days scenario - too right wing for me!

And, what, Jack Nicholson didn't sign the petition? He has been very vocal about "Free Willy"ing of Polanski....

Or could it be that he is being quiet because the rape happened in his (Nicholson's) home?

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Qshukura: I didn't really engage but I can't block messages outright from people whose email addresses/Twitter accounts I don't have,

Brother OMi: I'm still preplexed as to how Letterman has avoided sexual harassment charges for all of these years.

Tracy: Oh I guess the right-winger loons would think having a (half)black president is the End, lol. Nicholson was never above trolling for (of legal age as far as know) young women either but I suppose that's the case with many men given the opportunity.

Vera B. said...

News reports have said that the victim of this man wants the whole thing to go away and she don't want him to be convicted, but she was young when it happened and is older now so i could say if she wants it to be over it should be over but then i think about the r kelly thing and this girl is and was young when it happened and i do believe that he has gotten away with it. They were both children when these things happened. I don't know how people do these things to children but many are doing it. R kelly definaetly got away and we all know it.

Nia said...

I read that Penelope Cruz signed it too.

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

The Misses: Yes Ms. Geimer sued Polanski in civil court though and she also wanted to keep a relationship with her mother who set her up to be raped in the first place (in my opinion) so I can understand why she'd want not have further public scrutiny. He was convicted though and never served his full sentence which is out of her hands now. He also went on to "date" a 15 year-old afterwards so he gets NO SYMPATHY and this is bigger than her now. It sets a precedence for ALL KIDS.

Nia: Whether she signed it or not she came out in public support of him and I will be certain to not support any project she does from here on out.