Well Known, but Not Above the Law

In 1977, film director Roman Polanski plied a 13-year-old girl with drugs and alcohol and then raped her. Later, Polanski pled guilty to these acts in a California court and then fled the country to avoid sentencing.

Recently, the 76-year-old moviemaker was arrested by Swiss authorities and is being held for extradition in connection with this case. French officials, many celebrities associated with the film industry and a large number of media commentators have expressed their outrage at the Polanski arrest, which took place as he was preparing to receive a prestigious award.

Among those who have spoken out in Polanski's defense are actress-entertainer Whoopi Goldberg, actress Tilda Swinton, writer-director Woody Allen and director Martin Scorsese.

Among those who have taken exception to their defense of Polanski is the very excellent writer Kate Harding, who deconstructed the case and charges against Polanski for Salon.

Harding points out one irrefutable fact in this case: Roman Polanski raped a child. He isn't awaiting trial on the matter, either; Polanski's already admitted he had sex with a little girl who was not only under the age of consent but in fact did not consent to having sex with him. Rather than serve his sentence, the famous director ran off to Europe and hid in France.

Now he is facing extradition in order to be sentenced for this crime — yet many of Hollywood's elite jump to his defense.

Child sexual assaults are, unfortunately, not unusual crimes. Those who believe otherwise need only read the pages of The Daily News on a regular basis for ample, sad evidence that child predators exist in droves. When children are sexually abused, local perpetrators find themselves without apologists. No one steps forward and offers an alternative to arrest, trial and prison terms — and that is how it should be.

So, why is Polanski's case any different? It's true the victim — who successfully recovered civil damages from Polanski — wants to put the matter to rest. Polanski's guilt, however, is not at issue — he has already admitted that he raped the child. He simply doesn't want to go to jail.

Ordinary people are disgusted with Polanski and his admissions. They believe in holding individuals to a standard of decency and requiring those who violate the law to pay the statutory price. They don't care how famous or connected the sinner is — just that he or she pay for the crime, the same as anyone similarly convicted.

Celebrities, like the ones defending Polanski, need to remember that simply because they are well known, they are not above the law.

REPRINTED FROM THE JACKSONVILLE DAILY NEWS.

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