Stand back! I feel a Folk Song comin' on.

[evile]

How Rapey Rape-Rape does a Rape have to be/Before you can call it a Rape?

Apparently drugging a 13 year old and getting her drunk, then sticking your disgusting old man cock in every hole she has, isn't really all that Rape-y. Good to know.

Comments

[longshot14.livejournal.com]

I try (repeat, *try*) to find at least a little honest good to acknowledge in just about everybody. And really? It's been extremely rare that I find just *nothing* in or about a person to respect, or admire, or at least acknowledge as a strength. Even my dad, a thoroughly despicable specimen, taught me about the Texian Navy. It's rare that I encounter anyone else, even here in Texas, that knew we ever even *had* a navy. He was also a smooth, charismatic talker. The tragedy of that is that he could have done *so much more* with that strength than bullshit and snooker people. My hatred of the man is so intense it's sometimes a source of shame to me, and I hope when he dies they bury him in an unmarked grave so I don't have to worry about succumbing to the temptation to commit an act of desecration. But I can give even *that* devil his due.

I think, I suppose I *believe* if that's the word, that when we despise someone so much that we can't acknowledge even obviously good things about them, then we blind ourselves to their potential and become an obstacle to their eventual redemption. We affirm their belief that they are irredeemable, so they come to the conclusion that there's no point in trying to redeem themselves. In doing so, we *help* them damn themselves forever.

I'm trying to think of a piece of classical literature that illustrates the point but I'm currently coming up blank. In lieu of that, might I recommend a fine novel called God's Demon, by Wayne Barlowe (the artist of _Barlowe's Illustrated Guide to Extraterrestrials_ and _Darwin IV_ fame), a story of how redemption is possible even in Hell. It's a good read even if one rejects the premise :)

[bramblekite.livejournal.com]

You are a far better person than I am.

I think it's important for people to work on themselves and find redemption...thru their art, thru suffering and repentance, thru being forgiven, thru being allowed to change and grow and not having people say 'you did a bad thing, therefore you are unforgiveable and unredeemable'....

but with this Polanski guy...he doesn't seem to feel he did anything wrong, either in drugging and raping a young girl("hey, everyone wants to fuck young girls" was basically his explanation of the situation) or in evading law enforcement and avoiding sentencing/incarceration. So...I guess that's whats missing, for me to be able to empathize or forgive this man.

We all make mistakes, we all have bad judgement, we all do stupid things that hurt other people. But very few of us rape (or commit other crimes), avoid the law, and have no visible remorse for it. for me I guess that's a crucial difference.

I'm not a literary historian, but I'm pretty sure there have been authors who wrote about rape, and did not actually commit rape in RL. There are movies about any number of gruesome horrific acts, and the screenwriters, actors and directors didn't actually do any of that in RL. Polanski had (and continues to HAVE) access to any number of artistic outlets for working thru his life's traumas, and his criminal desires...so there's no excuse or justification for taking it out on a child in RL. Not for him or anyone else.

[longshot14.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I totally agree with all of this (well, except that bit about being a better person than you ;) ). I'm not suggesting empathy or forgiveness at all. Like I said, I think the man should come home and own his heinous crime.

[longshot14.livejournal.com]

Shit - just when you think the case couldn't get any weirder, there's now an admission of prosecutorial misconduct in the original case. If Polanski gets extradited, this case may have to go to trial all over again. *facepalm*