...was illustrated in the Sunday activities of Larry Johnson, a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, who had their a**es handed to them in a narrow 37-7 thumping at the hands of the now 3-3 San Diego Chargers.
Johnson, a malcontent well before this season, has not made it to the end zone thus far this year, and believes he is not at fault for this. In illustrating his coach's inexperience and lack of football cred, Johnson used his Twitter account to state:
"My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches."
That is followed by: "My father played for the coach from "rememeber the titans". Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn."
Now, while Chiefs' head coach Todd Haley is in his first year coaching in Kansas City, it should be noted he has six more games of coaching experience than Larry does, but Larry followed these blasts with some more savory bits.
Later, after some of his 'followers' remarked on his postings, Johnson taunted his followers by tweeting: "Make me regret it. Lmao. U don't stop my checks. Lmao. So 'tweet' away."
When someone then responded by mentioning his previous arrest record, which includes spitting his drink in the face of a woman out at a club, Johnson responded with a rant that included calling the respondent a 'f**'.
Please note the three letters, instead of the four that usually make up a swear word starting with 'f'. This negative euphemism for a homosexual has long been in the undercurrent of non-swear word swear words, but it also reflects badly on the people who are responsible for educating this 'man' (quotes to illustrate that this is not behavior of a real man), and we all know that this schlub didn't actually participate in the education that Penn State University kindly gave him, gratis. Nonetheless, the school is the one on my mind after hearing of this debacle.
If we agree, albeit begrudgingly, that college athletics have very little to do with college education, there is still the matter of what preparation for adult life is taking place in these institutions. If a college player does not take physics, I understand (a bit), as it may not apply to his or her chosen profession. If a college player does not take media relations (and score very well), the institution is failing in its true goal, that of preparing your students for adult life. Joe Paterno would take this little sh*t by the earlobe and make him run until he threw up a kidney if he were on campus still (I suspect), but his stupid stances on contract holdouts (as a rookie), public run-ins at clubs (the girl/drink sequence was his third altercation in his first two years) and his reprehensible interactions with fans noted here suggest that he is too far gone to help. No layers of agents and PR reps can cure stupidity, and Larry Johnson should, to quote a radio show caller, "shut his women-hating a** and leave Kansas City on the first thing smoking."
I hate PC behavior (other than computing on one, as Macs are designed for hipsters and graphic designers...two groups that are not mutually exclusive), and never like to believe that what people say in the heat of the moment reflects on their character in a permanent way, but the idea that he would post an unfiltered response on the Internet with such ill-chosen vernacular shows he is just flat-out dumb. Disconnect from reality is bad enough ("U cant stop my checks"), but adding scornful words in a derogatory tone for the 'cool points' of winning a text argument? Really?
If by the use of these words, Larry meant to call some nameless writer on a Internet page an idiot, moron or loser, all he did was identify himself as one. Go Nittany Lions!
(By the way, why not just 'Lions'? Penn State is almost 150 years old, and could have laid claim to a strong and simple name for its mascot easily. Instead, an agricultural school named itself after a non-farm animal, then made it really specific. The names of mascots in the Big Ten conference: Gophers, Hawkeyes, Badgers, Wolverines, Buckeyes, Wildcats, Fighting Illini, Boilermakers, Hoosiers, Spartans...and Nittany Lions. Warriors, regional animals, parts of a tree (nice work, THE Ohio State idiots)...and an animal that is a mountain lion that used to roam the range of Mount Nittany. Why so specific? Why not the Penn State Mountain Lions? Everyone knows they are dangerous wild animals...a Nittany Lion sounds like a Shetland pony. Cute, smaller and tame version of a proud animal. Just sayin'...)
------------------------------------------------------
There is not much to say about Falcon the Balloon Boy that has not been said. He 'fessed up on Good Morning America (I think) that it was a gimmick for a TV show that Dad was working on. The family has appeared twice (twice!) on Wife Swap, the quality viewing that ABC is passing off as an advertising vehicle. Neither time did the visiting spouse enjoy their stay, it seems.
The problem lies in a similar spot to the plight of Jaycee Dugard. Jaycee, since being freed of her tent city jail in Northern California, has taken to the cover of People magazine and began the 'exclusive interview' circuit. I hope that she is able to eventually return to something of a calm and happy life, but the adults around her in her youth did little to contribute to that (and I refer to the abductors, Phillip Garrido and his wife, not her parents) possibility. Young Falcon was already behind the proverbial 8-ball with his parents' ill-advised naming choice, but now will be vilified by anyone with an Internet connection for perpetrating a hoax that made people care about his existence. Good luck in the future, young man...
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It has been estimated by those who do these kinds of estimates that it costs health care providers and the U.S. Government approximately $150 billion per year to take care of the obese and the health problems that occur in them. This number, whilst dwarfed by recent sums thrown around in various bailouts and such, is staggering.
Let me write it out: $150,000,000,000.
My paycheck for a week's work recently was, pre-tax, about 1/115,384,615th of that total. So, in about 2.2 million years, I alone could pay this off. For one year. If each of us adopted an obese person, then let the pharmaceutical companies keep us alive with drugs, given gratis of course, we could eliminate obesity once and for all. Or we could eliminate Super Sizing and delivery pizza. Either way...
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
A rare weekend post...from the road!
One tends to pontificate a bit when one writes on a blog at nearly 5 in the morning on a weekend, but I promise that no alcohol was harmed in the making of this column.
7DB took the show on the road, returning to an outpost that served well in a previous incarnation. After spending some time with many people that have spent many, many hours toiling alongside yours truly, I have nothing but good feelings for the experience of touching on, and reconnecting to, a way of life I enjoyed so much.
I also understand that much of what I love about this adventure has changed in dynamic. It does not resonate the same way with me as it did before, although it still remains enjoyable.
The expectations for this trip were limited, as Ms. 7DB had to attend to some work matters several hours away, leaving her husband to tend to his metaphorical flock alone for a few days.
Even in a few short months, the perspective shift is remarkable.
Moving to Estate du 7DB after the wedding, shortly after convincing Ms. 7DB that said wedding to someone of my caliber (.357, if you must know) was a good idea to begin with, pulled at many resources and absorbed days and weeks at a time. Leaving behind just short of two decades of friends and acquaintences, of business contacts and employment experiences, all to start anew up the way is much more time- and energy-consuming than it might have been earlier in life. Finding outlets for energy, both mental and physical, in a place new in location and inhabitants can be daunting. Might actually drive a man to blog...
There was some thought that it was a case of getting older. Growing up. Since Christmas decorations are already in the stores, I can safely say Bah Humbug! to that concept. Another consideration: things change simply by leaving their presence and returning. There may be something to that. But an overriding idea keeps floating about in the mental conversation bubble floating overhead-
Everything keeps moving.
It can be hard to acknowledge, but when circumstances change, the participants in them change as well. It may not be perceptible or overt, but the most overwhelmingly familiar things suddenly are forever different. All involved have moved forward. It is often times important to remember to go forward with them.
Go forth and prosper, loyal readers of this space, and know that those not nearby are still aware of your presence...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Without divulging trade secrets, I can safely suggest viewing the 2009 Spike TV SCREAM awards, airing next Tuesday (check local listings). The award show, in its fourth year, is dedicated to those often overlooked genres in the award circuit. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror films and TV series comprise a rather large contingent of the TV viewing public's time, especially in that revered 18-30 demographic. Spike showed some savvy moving into the fray with a bold, bright evening of celebrating these oft-forgotten souls.
Many celebrity guests turn out to participate or just look on (past presenters include Quentin Tarantino, Jessica Alba and Harrison Ford), and the awards given are not of the garden variety (best slaying, most gruesome dismemberment, etc.) Sneak previews of the most anticipated movies in the field are shown (this year's quick peak at the next installment in the Twilight series is rather intriguing) and a festive audience shows up dressed...to kill. (Ok, melodramatic I know. But they wear masks and fake blood. Can't I wiggle it just a little bit?)
Even if these films and shows are not normally in your viewing mix, give this one-of-a-kind award show a shot. If for no other reason than watching the stuff that the 'others' watch and enjoy the parade of life that is more than a touch different. It's worth it, even for a Tuesday...
***New posts to come on Tuesday, as life returns to the Casa de la Siete Dinero then. Be well...***
7DB took the show on the road, returning to an outpost that served well in a previous incarnation. After spending some time with many people that have spent many, many hours toiling alongside yours truly, I have nothing but good feelings for the experience of touching on, and reconnecting to, a way of life I enjoyed so much.
I also understand that much of what I love about this adventure has changed in dynamic. It does not resonate the same way with me as it did before, although it still remains enjoyable.
The expectations for this trip were limited, as Ms. 7DB had to attend to some work matters several hours away, leaving her husband to tend to his metaphorical flock alone for a few days.
Even in a few short months, the perspective shift is remarkable.
Moving to Estate du 7DB after the wedding, shortly after convincing Ms. 7DB that said wedding to someone of my caliber (.357, if you must know) was a good idea to begin with, pulled at many resources and absorbed days and weeks at a time. Leaving behind just short of two decades of friends and acquaintences, of business contacts and employment experiences, all to start anew up the way is much more time- and energy-consuming than it might have been earlier in life. Finding outlets for energy, both mental and physical, in a place new in location and inhabitants can be daunting. Might actually drive a man to blog...
There was some thought that it was a case of getting older. Growing up. Since Christmas decorations are already in the stores, I can safely say Bah Humbug! to that concept. Another consideration: things change simply by leaving their presence and returning. There may be something to that. But an overriding idea keeps floating about in the mental conversation bubble floating overhead-
Everything keeps moving.
It can be hard to acknowledge, but when circumstances change, the participants in them change as well. It may not be perceptible or overt, but the most overwhelmingly familiar things suddenly are forever different. All involved have moved forward. It is often times important to remember to go forward with them.
Go forth and prosper, loyal readers of this space, and know that those not nearby are still aware of your presence...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Without divulging trade secrets, I can safely suggest viewing the 2009 Spike TV SCREAM awards, airing next Tuesday (check local listings). The award show, in its fourth year, is dedicated to those often overlooked genres in the award circuit. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror films and TV series comprise a rather large contingent of the TV viewing public's time, especially in that revered 18-30 demographic. Spike showed some savvy moving into the fray with a bold, bright evening of celebrating these oft-forgotten souls.
Many celebrity guests turn out to participate or just look on (past presenters include Quentin Tarantino, Jessica Alba and Harrison Ford), and the awards given are not of the garden variety (best slaying, most gruesome dismemberment, etc.) Sneak previews of the most anticipated movies in the field are shown (this year's quick peak at the next installment in the Twilight series is rather intriguing) and a festive audience shows up dressed...to kill. (Ok, melodramatic I know. But they wear masks and fake blood. Can't I wiggle it just a little bit?)
Even if these films and shows are not normally in your viewing mix, give this one-of-a-kind award show a shot. If for no other reason than watching the stuff that the 'others' watch and enjoy the parade of life that is more than a touch different. It's worth it, even for a Tuesday...
***New posts to come on Tuesday, as life returns to the Casa de la Siete Dinero then. Be well...***
Friday, October 9, 2009
This will be short, as I have to go pick up my Nobel for sitting here.
The recent addition of another canine to my household has limited my ability (and energy) to post a column, but today's events have given me enough impetus to bribe my pets with treats to give me a few moments to get some thoughts on to (digital) paper. I have revoked Ms. 7DB's Internet privileges for one hour, buying me some time before we have another new animal at the Estate du 7DB. (Love you, Lovey!)
With Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, I believe that something monumental has just taken place: The Nobel has jumped the shark.
Some history on the Nobel: In 1895, the Nobel Foundation was started out of the estate of Alfred Nobel, in response to some guilt ovber inventing something so destructive (dynamite) that his recourse for his guilt was to award money and prizes to those who work towards a better world. Winners of the Nobel range from Max Planck and Albert Einstein in Physics, Kipling, Hemingway, Yeats and Steinbeck in Literature, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Elie Wiesel and Jimmy Carter for the Peace Prize, and far too many other to ennumerate here. The award was declined by the German government for three different winners during the Nazi Occupation, as well as by a Russian writer in the heat of the Cold War. This award has stood as a international acknowledgement of the ideals of Nobel and the ideals of 'the world' for more than a century.
Some would argue that the award has been cheapened by some of its recipients in recent years, including Yassar Arafat winning in 1994 (along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin) for their efforts in the Israeli/Palestine conflict. For those who are unaware, there is still a conflict, and piles of bodies mound on building tensions on a far-too-regular of a basis.
Arafat perpetuated this warring in the opinions of many, yet was given the award for his 'efforts' towards peace. This must be the impetus behind giving it to our President, the first sitting President to win since...Woodrow Wilson? Yes, Woodrow Wilson, the man who ended World War I by sending American troops to Europe and aiding his Allies, by going there himself to assist in establishing the League of Nations (now known as the United Nations), who helped shape the Treaty of Versailles (which pretty much invented the 'nation building' concept), who spent his youth working at his father's abolitionist newspaper...I see the similarities between Wilson and Obama. They list as follows:
-Democratic President
(Um...that is it.)
Wilson did something. Here's my vote for who should have won it: Greg Mortenson.
I made mention of Mortenson in a prior post, as a profile of his story and noble efforts have been chronicled in a best-selling book called Three Cups of Tea. Pick it up at the library if you have some time, and get through the first 60 or so pages before giving up...it pays off, I promise. Here, a Reader's Digest verison:
Mortenson started the Central Asia Institute, an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities in rural Pakistan, Afganistan and other outlying areas in the region. These areas are generally poor and de-emphasize educating young girls (due to tradition and some Islamic practice), yet there have been over 130 schools built in the region, including several dedicated schools for young women that have been approved by local Muslim leaders, after Mortenson had a revelation during a failed bid to climb K2. He came back to America, sold all of his stuff, and dedicated himself to finding the means to build schools for children that may never have seen a schoolhouse without him.
The selflessness of Mortenson's work deserves the acknowledgement. Wilson's policies stood as a template for the globalized world we live in now. The campaign promises of a President with toothless policies (thus far) despite having a filibuster-proof majority in Congress just doesn't add up. Oh, and he is about to start a war in Afganistan, and has sent troops into Somalia. Not very 'peaceful', is it?
Put aside for a moment where you stand on health care or gay marriage or Iraq and look at what this is: an acknowledgement from an esteemed institution for his world impact. Voted on by members of the Norwegian government, the Peace Prize is considered by many to be the most prestigious of the prizes, yet is voted on by members of a socialist government.
I could list a thousand folks who have been passed over for major accomplishments (Reagan/Gorbachev in 1985? Rememeber the Cold War?), but cannot name three things Obama has accomplished, much less three things worthy of mention for this award.
In 7DB's eyes, the award has lost prestige. Obama himself said there are more deserving recipients (Obama also promised the prize of about $1.5 mil to be donated to 'charity'. Hope he picks one or two before people move on to the next news item.) than he. Arafat was a miscarriage of the award, but it's design was to continue the peace process moving forward. Something can be said for that...but what has Obama done? The nominations were due in early February of this year, which means Obama was nominated before he had been in office for a month! Shame on Oslo, shame on Stockholm, shame on those who have defaced Alfred Nobel's will with this decision.
(For more on the Central Asia Institute, visit www.ikat.org)
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Quick hits:
-Brett Favre smoking the Packers like cheap cigars is always fun to watch. Still don't want him QB'ing the Vikings, but it is better than the pupu platter they would have rolled out if Kiln, Mississippi's most famous resident had stayed on his farm. I wonder if the Packer fans who named their children after him are yelling up the stairs, "Traitor! Hurry up and get dressed! The school bus doesn't wait for Traitors!"...
-The University of North Dakota is in a running dispute with some non-local Native Americans in regards to the mascot. The school has used 'The Fighting Sioux' as their nickname for about a century, most of that time with the blessing of the local Sioux community, as the school holds out scholarships for Sioux students who may not be able to afford the education. The main complainers include Russell Means, a non-Sioux Native American who has made his name as an actor in Hollywood, mostly playing stereotypical Indian roles.
In a related story, the Detroit Pistons have received complaints from local automobile owners whose cars are complaining about their parts being used as mascots for teams located in the city of Detroit. The activist parts group Michigan Organization of Various Engines (MOVE) wants the team returned to their original home of Fort Wayne, where they are less likely to be stolen from the cars where they currently reside.
-As predicted, Randy Quaid's arrest for him and his wife accosting a police officer after being stopped on warrants for skipping out on a $10k hotel bill 4 states away has been quietly swept into the tide of new daily news. My theory that the inundation of news outlets and Internet access have made people too passive, as their outrage can be saved for a day when they've had their Satrbucks, and the new items in the news can raise people's hackles. Lazy minds make for easy pickings for the hustlers of the world...be warned. They may have an award to give you.
With Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, I believe that something monumental has just taken place: The Nobel has jumped the shark.
Some history on the Nobel: In 1895, the Nobel Foundation was started out of the estate of Alfred Nobel, in response to some guilt ovber inventing something so destructive (dynamite) that his recourse for his guilt was to award money and prizes to those who work towards a better world. Winners of the Nobel range from Max Planck and Albert Einstein in Physics, Kipling, Hemingway, Yeats and Steinbeck in Literature, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Elie Wiesel and Jimmy Carter for the Peace Prize, and far too many other to ennumerate here. The award was declined by the German government for three different winners during the Nazi Occupation, as well as by a Russian writer in the heat of the Cold War. This award has stood as a international acknowledgement of the ideals of Nobel and the ideals of 'the world' for more than a century.
Some would argue that the award has been cheapened by some of its recipients in recent years, including Yassar Arafat winning in 1994 (along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin) for their efforts in the Israeli/Palestine conflict. For those who are unaware, there is still a conflict, and piles of bodies mound on building tensions on a far-too-regular of a basis.
Arafat perpetuated this warring in the opinions of many, yet was given the award for his 'efforts' towards peace. This must be the impetus behind giving it to our President, the first sitting President to win since...Woodrow Wilson? Yes, Woodrow Wilson, the man who ended World War I by sending American troops to Europe and aiding his Allies, by going there himself to assist in establishing the League of Nations (now known as the United Nations), who helped shape the Treaty of Versailles (which pretty much invented the 'nation building' concept), who spent his youth working at his father's abolitionist newspaper...I see the similarities between Wilson and Obama. They list as follows:
-Democratic President
(Um...that is it.)
Wilson did something. Here's my vote for who should have won it: Greg Mortenson.
I made mention of Mortenson in a prior post, as a profile of his story and noble efforts have been chronicled in a best-selling book called Three Cups of Tea. Pick it up at the library if you have some time, and get through the first 60 or so pages before giving up...it pays off, I promise. Here, a Reader's Digest verison:
Mortenson started the Central Asia Institute, an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities in rural Pakistan, Afganistan and other outlying areas in the region. These areas are generally poor and de-emphasize educating young girls (due to tradition and some Islamic practice), yet there have been over 130 schools built in the region, including several dedicated schools for young women that have been approved by local Muslim leaders, after Mortenson had a revelation during a failed bid to climb K2. He came back to America, sold all of his stuff, and dedicated himself to finding the means to build schools for children that may never have seen a schoolhouse without him.
The selflessness of Mortenson's work deserves the acknowledgement. Wilson's policies stood as a template for the globalized world we live in now. The campaign promises of a President with toothless policies (thus far) despite having a filibuster-proof majority in Congress just doesn't add up. Oh, and he is about to start a war in Afganistan, and has sent troops into Somalia. Not very 'peaceful', is it?
Put aside for a moment where you stand on health care or gay marriage or Iraq and look at what this is: an acknowledgement from an esteemed institution for his world impact. Voted on by members of the Norwegian government, the Peace Prize is considered by many to be the most prestigious of the prizes, yet is voted on by members of a socialist government.
I could list a thousand folks who have been passed over for major accomplishments (Reagan/Gorbachev in 1985? Rememeber the Cold War?), but cannot name three things Obama has accomplished, much less three things worthy of mention for this award.
In 7DB's eyes, the award has lost prestige. Obama himself said there are more deserving recipients (Obama also promised the prize of about $1.5 mil to be donated to 'charity'. Hope he picks one or two before people move on to the next news item.) than he. Arafat was a miscarriage of the award, but it's design was to continue the peace process moving forward. Something can be said for that...but what has Obama done? The nominations were due in early February of this year, which means Obama was nominated before he had been in office for a month! Shame on Oslo, shame on Stockholm, shame on those who have defaced Alfred Nobel's will with this decision.
(For more on the Central Asia Institute, visit www.ikat.org)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick hits:
-Brett Favre smoking the Packers like cheap cigars is always fun to watch. Still don't want him QB'ing the Vikings, but it is better than the pupu platter they would have rolled out if Kiln, Mississippi's most famous resident had stayed on his farm. I wonder if the Packer fans who named their children after him are yelling up the stairs, "Traitor! Hurry up and get dressed! The school bus doesn't wait for Traitors!"...
-The University of North Dakota is in a running dispute with some non-local Native Americans in regards to the mascot. The school has used 'The Fighting Sioux' as their nickname for about a century, most of that time with the blessing of the local Sioux community, as the school holds out scholarships for Sioux students who may not be able to afford the education. The main complainers include Russell Means, a non-Sioux Native American who has made his name as an actor in Hollywood, mostly playing stereotypical Indian roles.
In a related story, the Detroit Pistons have received complaints from local automobile owners whose cars are complaining about their parts being used as mascots for teams located in the city of Detroit. The activist parts group Michigan Organization of Various Engines (MOVE) wants the team returned to their original home of Fort Wayne, where they are less likely to be stolen from the cars where they currently reside.
-As predicted, Randy Quaid's arrest for him and his wife accosting a police officer after being stopped on warrants for skipping out on a $10k hotel bill 4 states away has been quietly swept into the tide of new daily news. My theory that the inundation of news outlets and Internet access have made people too passive, as their outrage can be saved for a day when they've had their Satrbucks, and the new items in the news can raise people's hackles. Lazy minds make for easy pickings for the hustlers of the world...be warned. They may have an award to give you.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Serious Topic Alert! Reader Discretion is Advised.
I have spent more time thinking and reading about the topic matter of this column than any I have written thus far in this space. It contains serious matter and is on a sensitive topic. This digression from my normal topic matter will be just that, a digression, and not a change in theme...I just cannot resist. I have been rankled.
There has been a recent uproar in relation to an old case involving a Hollywood director that has led to the director's arrest just outside of Zurich. Some Hollywood folks, including Woody Allen and Martin Scorcese, have started and signed a petition for his release, drawing more media attention to the case. The case dates to 1977...
Roman Polanski is a film director. Roman Polanski also was something of an amateur photographer, and he used this hobby to entice the parents of a 13-year old girl to allow Polanski to bring her to his Hollywood friend's house to take some pictures. Then, in an undisputed recollection of events, Polanski plied the girl with a glass of champagne and a partial quaalude, then proceeded to do some things of a sexual nature to her. It was against her will.
None of the above is in question. All of this happened. The reason for the conflict some feel about this matter, about this arrest, about this entire sequence is what will be explored here.
To do so best, I will explore both sides. My viewpoint is irrelevant to this writing, but the argument is not only irresistible, it is imperative to understanding the different definitions of the word 'justice'. It is a case where the uproar is coming from the directions not anticipated, and the wish for remediation coming from those not expected.
First, the side of those wishing for Polanski's freedom and exoneration on these charges:
-Polanski agreed to a plea deal in 1977 that allowed him to be released after a 90-day mental examination in Los Angeles. His deal allowed him to complete filming a movie outside of the country, then return for the exam. He did return for the exam, and after 43 days, the court-appointed examiners determined that probation was a suitable sentence. When photos surfaced of Polanski attending social events during the time away filming before the examination, the judge, reputed to be a celebrity case-seeking jurist, sensed public embarassment, and revoked his agreement to honor the recommendation of the examiners. When sentencing was to commence after that withdrawl of the agreement, Polanski was nowhere to be found. The judge then issued a warrant, and bench warrants do not have a statute of limitations, effectively making Polanski a fugitive from the law.
-Polanski had no prior record, and has not committed any crimes of the sort (or any crimes at all that can be tracked) since.
-Polanski's wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered a few years before by the Manson family, and their sentences of death were commuted to life in prison, forever making Polanski a victim of the justice system in America.
-After 32 years of being tracked down and dragged through the sequence repeatedly, including participation in a documentary on the event, the victim wishes for no further action to be taken, if only to not re-open her deep psychological wounds. She is married with children, and has moved on with her life as best as she could after this terrible event.
-He is now 77, a pariah, and has spent 32 years in exile.
*Please note that this list does not include the aforementioned petition. The folks who wrote and signed this are, quite simply, out of line for commenting on the matter. So are the media outlets who gave this story legs by rehashing the events surrounding it. This matter should be discussed by those involved, not those rooting for a new movie to be made.
The case for making Polanski go to jail and serve a sentence that was never determined:
-It was rape. The victim was not only not of age, but has repeatedly claimed (with no rebuke by the defense) that she said 'No'. There is no dispute. That part of the case is closed.
Notice how only one point needs to be made for this side of the argument, and this is what I need to explore.
We have all been inundated with statistics of the percentage of women that have been sexually assaulted, in varying degrees, and with the percentage of these that go unreported. We also know the difficulty in coming forward about the offenses by the victims, as the combination of embarassment, victimization and old-school double standards of disbelief all combine to make the process of coming forward difficult. We also know that some lecherous douchebags take advantage of this. We, as individuals, all probably know someone (or multiples) that have been affected by a crime of this nature, and no one wishes for these crimes to go unpunished. One can hope that karma deals with the perpetrators, and one can hope the court system does, as well.
The question this brings is this: What defines 'justice' in this matter?
For the record:
-Polanski pled guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse, acknowlegding he knew the girl to be only 13. He also admitted that champagne and sedatives were involved.
-The victim's family lawyer sent a letter to the court at the time, wishing for the sentence of probation to be agreed to, mostly to spare the child from testifying and being identified to the public.
-The plea agreement is on the record.
By the court's definition of it in 1977, he has more than served his debt to the public. By today's standards, he will be jailed for the rest of his life. With the climate surrounding these heinous crimes having evolved over the last three decades, there is no way Polanski would not see jail time. Any judge that agreed to the deal now that was made in '77 would never be allowed on a bench again by a growingly unforgiving public.
Should a man be penalized now on standards that have developed dramatically from when the crime was perpetrated? If so, why has Manson not been executed? By a fluke of federal law, Manson is alive and gets parole hearings regularly, as do his flunkies. This man has a very personal relationship with how the wind changes moods on crimes. Also because of the high-profile nature of Manson's crimes, he was allowed to make money that went to a trust that pays for his legal defense by telling his story. (The laws have since changed on a criminal's ability to cash in on his crime from jail...coincidence?) Some of the same people that helped commute all of those death sentences are pushing for child rapists to be eligible for the death penalty. Is that hypocrisy or evolution?
No justice is served by making the victim relive these events, and that is about the only thing anyone agrees on, yet some are willing to make her suffer more to get their own personal sense of 'justice' out of this 'outrage'.
The confilct arises when you speak with someone that has been victimized by some cretin in this matter. 7DB has some personal experiences with matters of this sort, having been around many survivors of these terrible happenings over the course of life, and there is no telling a victim of a crime like this that any sentence short of death by castration and infection is a proper dose of justice. The problem lies in anecdotal evidence making judgement calls in daily life. This is why society has laws and elects lawmakers, to prevent the lynch mob mentality taking over in situations such as these.
7DB guesses that the only answer is that there is no right answer. Although 7DB is an amateur, one could make a good case for a claim on Polanski's behalf that justice did not serve him, either in the loss of his wife or in the plea agreement 32 years ago. One should also say he raped a teenage girl, changing the course of her life forever, and that he has not paid any price of consequence for it. Both are true. If American Justice chooses to prosecute him on today's standards, however, we are doing a grander injustice to many more for a much bigger scope of time, and anyone with a knee-jerk reaction to this particular case is participating in a bastardization of the justice system we depend on as a society.
7DB personally endorses the idea of letting Polanski try to assimilate back into Hollywood. If he starts a foundation to assist victims of these crimes, maybe directs a movie with an empowering message to victims of this sort, finds ways to pay penance, that kind of thing...maybe he is allowed to die in America in five or ten years. If he does nothing, he can be tormented by the folks inclined to carry picket signs in front of theaters that show his work, and he can continue to be ostracized from society. There is no way, ever, that his name is said other than as:
Director Roman Polanski, convicted rapist.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From the personal exposure mentioned above, it is never too late to get help if you or a loved one has been a victim of crimes of this nature. The horrible nature of the crime is exacerbated by the healing process that is a continual process.
One organization I am familiar with is RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Seek them out at http://www.rainn.org or at 1.800.656.HOPE
There has been a recent uproar in relation to an old case involving a Hollywood director that has led to the director's arrest just outside of Zurich. Some Hollywood folks, including Woody Allen and Martin Scorcese, have started and signed a petition for his release, drawing more media attention to the case. The case dates to 1977...
Roman Polanski is a film director. Roman Polanski also was something of an amateur photographer, and he used this hobby to entice the parents of a 13-year old girl to allow Polanski to bring her to his Hollywood friend's house to take some pictures. Then, in an undisputed recollection of events, Polanski plied the girl with a glass of champagne and a partial quaalude, then proceeded to do some things of a sexual nature to her. It was against her will.
None of the above is in question. All of this happened. The reason for the conflict some feel about this matter, about this arrest, about this entire sequence is what will be explored here.
To do so best, I will explore both sides. My viewpoint is irrelevant to this writing, but the argument is not only irresistible, it is imperative to understanding the different definitions of the word 'justice'. It is a case where the uproar is coming from the directions not anticipated, and the wish for remediation coming from those not expected.
First, the side of those wishing for Polanski's freedom and exoneration on these charges:
-Polanski agreed to a plea deal in 1977 that allowed him to be released after a 90-day mental examination in Los Angeles. His deal allowed him to complete filming a movie outside of the country, then return for the exam. He did return for the exam, and after 43 days, the court-appointed examiners determined that probation was a suitable sentence. When photos surfaced of Polanski attending social events during the time away filming before the examination, the judge, reputed to be a celebrity case-seeking jurist, sensed public embarassment, and revoked his agreement to honor the recommendation of the examiners. When sentencing was to commence after that withdrawl of the agreement, Polanski was nowhere to be found. The judge then issued a warrant, and bench warrants do not have a statute of limitations, effectively making Polanski a fugitive from the law.
-Polanski had no prior record, and has not committed any crimes of the sort (or any crimes at all that can be tracked) since.
-Polanski's wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered a few years before by the Manson family, and their sentences of death were commuted to life in prison, forever making Polanski a victim of the justice system in America.
-After 32 years of being tracked down and dragged through the sequence repeatedly, including participation in a documentary on the event, the victim wishes for no further action to be taken, if only to not re-open her deep psychological wounds. She is married with children, and has moved on with her life as best as she could after this terrible event.
-He is now 77, a pariah, and has spent 32 years in exile.
*Please note that this list does not include the aforementioned petition. The folks who wrote and signed this are, quite simply, out of line for commenting on the matter. So are the media outlets who gave this story legs by rehashing the events surrounding it. This matter should be discussed by those involved, not those rooting for a new movie to be made.
The case for making Polanski go to jail and serve a sentence that was never determined:
-It was rape. The victim was not only not of age, but has repeatedly claimed (with no rebuke by the defense) that she said 'No'. There is no dispute. That part of the case is closed.
Notice how only one point needs to be made for this side of the argument, and this is what I need to explore.
We have all been inundated with statistics of the percentage of women that have been sexually assaulted, in varying degrees, and with the percentage of these that go unreported. We also know the difficulty in coming forward about the offenses by the victims, as the combination of embarassment, victimization and old-school double standards of disbelief all combine to make the process of coming forward difficult. We also know that some lecherous douchebags take advantage of this. We, as individuals, all probably know someone (or multiples) that have been affected by a crime of this nature, and no one wishes for these crimes to go unpunished. One can hope that karma deals with the perpetrators, and one can hope the court system does, as well.
The question this brings is this: What defines 'justice' in this matter?
For the record:
-Polanski pled guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse, acknowlegding he knew the girl to be only 13. He also admitted that champagne and sedatives were involved.
-The victim's family lawyer sent a letter to the court at the time, wishing for the sentence of probation to be agreed to, mostly to spare the child from testifying and being identified to the public.
-The plea agreement is on the record.
By the court's definition of it in 1977, he has more than served his debt to the public. By today's standards, he will be jailed for the rest of his life. With the climate surrounding these heinous crimes having evolved over the last three decades, there is no way Polanski would not see jail time. Any judge that agreed to the deal now that was made in '77 would never be allowed on a bench again by a growingly unforgiving public.
Should a man be penalized now on standards that have developed dramatically from when the crime was perpetrated? If so, why has Manson not been executed? By a fluke of federal law, Manson is alive and gets parole hearings regularly, as do his flunkies. This man has a very personal relationship with how the wind changes moods on crimes. Also because of the high-profile nature of Manson's crimes, he was allowed to make money that went to a trust that pays for his legal defense by telling his story. (The laws have since changed on a criminal's ability to cash in on his crime from jail...coincidence?) Some of the same people that helped commute all of those death sentences are pushing for child rapists to be eligible for the death penalty. Is that hypocrisy or evolution?
No justice is served by making the victim relive these events, and that is about the only thing anyone agrees on, yet some are willing to make her suffer more to get their own personal sense of 'justice' out of this 'outrage'.
The confilct arises when you speak with someone that has been victimized by some cretin in this matter. 7DB has some personal experiences with matters of this sort, having been around many survivors of these terrible happenings over the course of life, and there is no telling a victim of a crime like this that any sentence short of death by castration and infection is a proper dose of justice. The problem lies in anecdotal evidence making judgement calls in daily life. This is why society has laws and elects lawmakers, to prevent the lynch mob mentality taking over in situations such as these.
7DB guesses that the only answer is that there is no right answer. Although 7DB is an amateur, one could make a good case for a claim on Polanski's behalf that justice did not serve him, either in the loss of his wife or in the plea agreement 32 years ago. One should also say he raped a teenage girl, changing the course of her life forever, and that he has not paid any price of consequence for it. Both are true. If American Justice chooses to prosecute him on today's standards, however, we are doing a grander injustice to many more for a much bigger scope of time, and anyone with a knee-jerk reaction to this particular case is participating in a bastardization of the justice system we depend on as a society.
7DB personally endorses the idea of letting Polanski try to assimilate back into Hollywood. If he starts a foundation to assist victims of these crimes, maybe directs a movie with an empowering message to victims of this sort, finds ways to pay penance, that kind of thing...maybe he is allowed to die in America in five or ten years. If he does nothing, he can be tormented by the folks inclined to carry picket signs in front of theaters that show his work, and he can continue to be ostracized from society. There is no way, ever, that his name is said other than as:
Director Roman Polanski, convicted rapist.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From the personal exposure mentioned above, it is never too late to get help if you or a loved one has been a victim of crimes of this nature. The horrible nature of the crime is exacerbated by the healing process that is a continual process.
One organization I am familiar with is RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Seek them out at http://www.rainn.org or at 1.800.656.HOPE
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