Posted on 10/10/2009 7:08:32 PM PDT by Steelfish
In Polanski Case, ’70s Culture Collides With Today
By MICHAEL CIEPLY October 10, 2009
LOS ANGELES — At the end of “Manhattan,” the celebrated movie romance from 1979, a teenager played by Mariel Hemingway delivers some good news to the 42-year-old television writer, portrayed by Woody Allen, with whom she has had a long-running sexual affair.
“Guess what, I turned 18 the other day,” said Ms. Hemingway, in what was framed as a poignant encounter. “I’m legal, but I’m still a kid.”
That was then.
Roman Polanski’s arrest on Sept. 26 to face a decades-old charge of having sex with a 13-year-old girl stirred global furor over both Mr. Polanski’s original misdeed and the way the authorities have handled it — along with some sharp reminders that, when it comes to adult sex with the under age, things have changed.
Manners, mores and law enforcement have become far less forgiving of sex crimes involving minors in the 31 years since Mr. Polanski was charged with both rape and sodomy involving drugs. He fled rather than face what was to have been a 48-day sentence after he pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor.
But if he is extradited from Switzerland, Mr. Polanski could face a more severe punishment than he did in the 1970s, as a vigorous victims’ rights movement, a family-values revival and revelations of child abuse by clergy members have all helped change the moral and legal framework regarding sex with the young.
Mr. Polanski’s lawyers — including Reid Weingarten, a Washington power player — are likely to argue that Mr. Polanski does not even qualify for extradition from Switzerland, because he was set to be given a jail term of less than one year when he fled to France in 1978.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Perversion is still perversion. IMHO
ROFLMAO!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
They were only going to give him 48 days? Where’s NOW?
What a sick society , No, make that a sick world that turns its back on the children and let’s them fall prey to abuse at the hands of pedophiles.
Mr. Cieply, you ought be careful who you coddle up to and cover for with your writings.
Roman should also get a nobel peace prize for his work with children, hey odumbo lowered the bar for everyone
Let’s face it. To defend the perversion of homosexual marriage the perverted homosexuals say we now must accept the raping kids.
Drugging and raping a 13 year old against her will is RAPE no matter when it happened.
These idiot “journalist” want to say it was simply sex...
Wrong.
Manhattan was one of, if not the worst movie I ever paid to see.
I’m sure this can all be worked out if only O’bama invites the child rapist and the victim over for a beer.
Actually, I don't think it was as understood in the 70's what Polanski had really done. All I ever heard at the time was that "Polanski had sex with a 13 year old @ Jack Nicholson's house". Having heard no particulars, I imagined a 13-year old who looked older than 13, and a wild party going on, and Polanski "not realizing what he was doing". Maybe a lot of people labored under a similar misapprehension.
However, after reading the girl's unsealed Grand Jury testimony, it is clear that Polanski deserves NO benefit of the doubt. 1.) He targeted that girl by implying he could make a model out of her. 2.) He knew she was 13 because he had to get her mom's permission to photograph her. 3.) He took her to Nicholson's pad to have sex with her. 4.) He plied her with champagne and quaaludes. 5.) He forced himself on her in spite of her refusal.
This is really an ugly, blatant case of child rape. I have no respect for anyone who would defend this pedophile.
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Zatso? Drugging and forcibly sodomizing a little girl is now OK?
I guess I’m off the hook? </richter scale irony>
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
If sex with a minor is no big deal today, why all the fuss over mark Foley IMing a teen boy suggestively?
Or is it like Portland Oregon Mayor Sam Adams, it’s only okay when a liberal Democrat does it?
Sorry, wrong is wrong and drugging and plying a 13 year-old for sex is perversion, not just sex.
Despite the parenthetical comment in the headline, the article says that American society is far less willing to accept sex with children than in the 1970’s.
NYT can't even get that part right. That part has been established, what remains is sentencing for it plus the newer charge of fleeing.
13? Somehow I doubt that was cool even in 1977.
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