quote:Originally posted by Animalman: [qb] [QUOTE]
to most, the act doesnt have to be text book to be referred to as criminal...Some people feel the same way about homosexuality. Regardless, they're happy, and he broke no law.[/b]
I think you're off the mark here on two levels, if I am reading you correctly.
The first is comparing homosexuality to pedophilia. One involves consenting adults. The other involves a consenting adult and a child who is incapable of consent.
Furthermore, too many people seem to have forgoten the actual details of what Polanski did.
Polanski did not have sex with some teenaged "Lolita," who "willingly" gave herself to him. The testimony at Grand Jury from the victim established that Polanski got the girl drunk, doped her up and forcibily raped her, both vaginally and anally. She testified that she did not resist because she was afraid of him.
He then, as noted above, pled guilty and later fled to avoid sentencing.
As such, I think it specious to assume that Polanski has reformed. The man has never shown remorse and, in fact, continues to evade responsibility for his actions.
In addition, I think we need to put aside the idea that you honor the art without honoring the artist. Using that idea, we could give "Mein Kampf" awards for being well-written.
But in the end, the real point is this: Ford did not befriend the work "the Pianist." He befriended a convicted child rapist. He made his statement about the man, not the work.
And, in making that statement, he lost both my respect and my business.
I totally missed his comparsion to child rape to homosexuality!
![[no no no]](graemlins/nono.gif)
