Letter From Paris: The Sound of American Outrage

Listening to this roaring American furor over Roman Polanski needing to get what he deserves reminds me of the enormous public outcry about Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" on the Super Bowl halftime show a few years ago. Ohmygod, Americans caught a glimpse of a bare breast. The horror...the horror...

There is an entry in Wikipedia to record the public atrocity.

The incident was called Nipplegate--and the outraged public, the press coverage, and the barking of the watchdogs went on and on and on. "As God as my witness," a matronly Scarlett O'Hara might have proclaimed, "America will get its decency back again."

I am rolling my eyes, while another show of Desperate Anything is played on the television.

It is most assuredly true that Roman Polanski should not have raped a 13-year-old girl. (Neither should Jerry Lee Lewis have had sex--and married--a 13-year-old who was also his first cousin once-removed. Was she the one who died and everyone thought he murdered?) It is also true that justice should've been served a long time ago.

But who is seeking justice here--and why--and why now? There is plenty of speculation about this, and I doubt the most accurate reason is any of those being publicly touted. The law is the law is the law. Oh, really? Many people believe O.J. Simpson murdered his wife and Ron Goldman, and he walked out of an American courtroom scot-free.

The person who might possibly like for justice to be served the most is the victim herself, but here was her reaction in January. From the MailOnline:

Samantha Geimer, now 45, lashed out at prosecutors in LA, accusing them of victimising her again with their focus on the lurid details of her ordeal.

Yesterday she filed a legal declaration asking that the charge against Polanski be dismissed in the interest of saving her from further trauma as the case is publicised anew.

'True as they may be, the continued publication of those details causes harm to me, my beloved husband, my three children and my mother,' she said. 'I have become a victim of the actions of the district attorney.'

....Ms Geimer said she believes prosecutors are reciting sexually explicit details of the case to distract from their office's own failure to handle the case properly 31 years ago.

Apparently, Ms. Geimer wants shed of the angry mob that wants Polanski publicly hung. But if there's one thing Americans like, it's the sound of their moral outrage.

October 4th Update: A must read: The Polanski Case--in The New York Times by Ronald Sokol.

Beth Arnold lives and writes in Paris. To see more of her work, go to www.betharnold.com.

Follow Beth Arnold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BethArnold

Comments

[Catherine1234]

You are mistaking the public outrage against Hollywood’s defense of Polanski, as a “mob” against Polanski himself. The public hardly paid attention to Polanski, or knew the detail of his crimes until Weinstein and friends took up his cause. The public outrage is against anyone who dismisses the severity of his crimes, and excuses him based on his “artistic achievemen­ts.” That is why people are so angry. Read this for a great rebuttal of Hollywood’s defense of Polanski.

http://johnshore.com/2009/10/05/hollywood-go-polanski-yourself/

[Jazzcomedian]

Sure when Polanski was 42, he drugged, raped, and sodomized a 13 year old girl, but he's made three great movies. I could see bringing Polanski to justice and stringing him up, if he was a mailman, or janitor, or if his movies were bad, but his movies are good, (especially Chinatown), so I say give him a pass so he can keep skiing, and drinking Crystal champagne in his chalet. Why be successful if you can't get away with things like raping a 13 year old when you feel like it? What's the point?

If a poor person rapes a girl and goes to jail, it's their fault that they weren't successful or artistic enough, and they have to take responsibility. That's only fair. That's what keeps me on the straight and narrow. Everytime I think about committing a robbery, murdering, or raping someone, I do a reality check, and realize I'm not successful, or famous enough to get away with it. But if I ever get famous or rich, all you unsuspecting people better watch out.

Being unsuccessful is a powerful deterrent to crime.

[commentator101]

Beth has obviously bought the myth of European cultural and moral superiority hook, line and sinker. The delights of France are indeed seductive.

[UnePetiteParisienne]

According to a recent poll, 68% of French believe Roman Polanski should face the music and that no one is above the law, talent nonwithstanding.
Among them are even some members of the artistic "elite" such as Luc Besson, who happens to have a 13 year-old daughter (even though this daughter is friend with Polanski's daughter..­)

I would not deny that there are vast differences between US and European sensibilities (yes, we did have a good - and indredulous - laugh over Nipplegate) but I don't think we European take crimes against children especially lightly ...

[CaptainStormfield]

Thank you. My girlfriend is from Belgium, her mother was a Parisenne. :)
I have learned a lot from her about how the world really works.

They have to keep the people here conviced that Europe is decandent, socialist
and irrelevant. Otherwise, we might start demanding good governemt and health care.

[rickyjimmy]

this is why so many americans are greeted with the cold shoulder if they venture out of the country (even though only 2% of americans have ever used their passorts for travel beyond north america). this moral high horse smacks of hypocrisy and naiveté.

anti-abortionist that support the death penalty.

universal healthcare supporters that don't want their taxes to increase.

jailing teenagers with adult sentences but persecuting a 30 year old for having sex with a 13 year old. if one is old enough to serve an adult sentence then surely they are mature enough to make a decision with sexuality.

silly really.

[ubatuba]

don't forget compassionate christian conservatives whose hearts are filled with vengeance and hate for those less fortunate than them...unl­ess they're in Africa, or some other country. But, the rest - uninsured, unemployed, illegal immigrants, under educated - the rest, be damned.

[libertinechick]

I just wish we heard as much moral outrage directed towards other issues that could be considered as crimes against children, including inadequate healthcare and education.

[Ziploc]

Right on.

Where is the outrage for illiteracy? Where is the outrage for lack of sex education in schools?

[coconyc]

Yes, it's a real shame Beth Arnold doesn't write a column about either of those things. Particularly, since France has mastered both exceptionally well.

And for the record, protection from and prevention of sexual abuse is both part of healthcare and education for children.

(Most pediatricians today talk to children about their bodies -and teach them that THEY are private and no one is allowed to touch them without their permission. Even their parents. Most schools - both public and private discuss sexual education. I went to Catholic school in the 70s and we had sexual education films.)

[coconyc]

You are making comments that have nothing to do with what I wrote.

I am against all violence. No where in my post did I condone any violence against anyone, including Polanski. Nowhere did I start "licking your chops, sharpening your knives and tightening your nooses."

He was, in fact, charged with rape and sodomy. Those charges were reduced to unlawful sex with a minor via a plea bargain.

YOU were the one who used the length of time as a reason to dismiss the case. I was simply providing information about what indeed the world was like 30 years ago - a much less equal world for women. So don't get angry and start licking your chops when that same argument is used to present a different picture.

You wrote a series of questions with no answers, no fact, no evidence of anything - so I suggest you follow your own advice.

And if you think legal precedent has nothing to do with the change in how rape and gender inequality impacts the world, well I suggest you enroll in History 101 at your nearest community college. You might learn something.

Siting history is not "going off on a tangent" but I well understand when history is potent why folks would rather ignore it.

[newTheory]

Beth,

The words you have written in this article could easily be mistaken for a native Parisian.

Amazing what just a few years in Paris can do to a Kansas gal.

With love from the USA.

[newTheory]

SYLVIE14 I'm a Fan of SYLVIE14 I'm a fan of this user permalink
Oct 03, 2009 at 16:50:28 by SYLVIE14

"Actually, this article is a reflective of the typical American-e­­xpat-in-P­a­ris trying very hard to pretend to be Parisienne, There are a whole crop of them here - trying to eat like French women, writing books about why French women don't sleep alone (matching lingerie) and writing ridiculous books about their adolescent fantasies to "become French" which somehow always involves doing anything to become the ideal fantasy woman. An ideal, I might add, created by American, not French, filmmakers. It's kind of 1960s/70s model so no wonder they are defending Roman Polanski, a man of their time."

It's just a different set of rules. I also don't think there's such thing as "sexual harassment" over there. Nice, long gazes and a few "Ooo la la" remarks from les hommes is the ultimate emulation of French's style and coquettishness. Everyone has a fetish.

It could just be the baguettes.

[Avishai]

Brilliant!

[Catherine1234]

Are you kidding? People aren’t upset over Polanski escaping justice for raping a child because they are uptight Americans who get freaked out over a peak of Janet Jackson’s breast. They are upset about it because it was morally reprehensible.

If Parisian sophistication calls for a disregard for the law, morals and the protection of children, I suggest you move back to the US for you own safety.

[World Citizen]

I am an american and I live in Paris. I do not know you, Ms. Arnold but I would have to say that based on what you wrote, I wonder what kind of awards it is you have won.

You should do research before you write. You could have asked any lawyer in the U.S. or France and you would have been told that the victim can constitute herself as a civil party but it's the STATE (in france its the minister public) that prosecutes the case.

Polanski admitted..­. Polanski jumped bail before sentencing

We live in a society made up of laws, and NO ONE is above the law.

There are other victims who are awaiting the outcome of their cases. The way this case is handled can affect all other similar cases. I know this cause I am waiting for the outcome of my case, which is quite similar. This has brought back a lot of hurt. I have heard same familiar phrases such as "She was a LOLITA." "She looked older than 13" "It was not a rape-rape". Only my case concerns a 9 year old girl.

Ms. Arnold, whoever you are, you say "American Outrage". There is no American outrage nor French Outrage. The french in general do no want any special treatment for Polanski. Do you read french? Just read all the comments from French people - they do not support Polanski. If there is one thing the french truly dislike, is INEQUALITY.

[WilliamL]

Thank you.

Nipple gate and Polanski is a huge leap. Throw OJ in it too. That will make a nice little mess.

American outrage? Polanski sd. have been snatched a long time ago.

Award winning?

[Ziploc]

For all of you on this post, expressing your 'moral outrage' , in the heat of your "righteous" indignation, with your eagerness to judge a matter dating back thirty years, when the world was a very different place, and when the victim of this crime, herself, has expressed a desire to let bygones be bygones:

1. Ask yourself who is behind this recent initiative, and why they are behind it.

2. Ask yourself what motivates the Kenneth Stars of this world to take up the flaming sword of the avenger, in their attempt to rise from bureaucratic insignificance, by leaching on to the coattails of a celebrity.

3. Ask yourself why a country like Switzerland would suddenly hand over Polanski to the U.S., when he has traveled there hundreds of times in the past, and when he even established residence there years ago...

4. Ask yourself what other notable international criminals are living out their days peacefully and tranquilly in both the United States and Switzerland.

After all of that soul searching, if you come to the conclusion that the Polanski affair is not politically motivated, you are dreaming, and if you believe justice is being served by this farce, you have an extremely twisted idea of justice.

[coconyc]

30 years ago, a woman's sex life was evidence if she was raped, there were no rape crisis centers, there weren't studies about the impact of sexual abuse on women.

30 years ago law enforcement officials and lawyers and court-appointed doctors and court-appointed psychiatrists (all male by the way) could easily dismiss sex with a minor as "bad judgement.­"

And the 30 years before a sick mana was killing Jews by the millions and the world was silent. Should we stop hunting Nazis?

I am righteously indignant that while 1 in 6 women are sexually abused in their lifetime, this farce of protecting men who make "bad judgements" continues mostly by other old men.

But the good news is men and women of MY GENERATION understand this preferential treatment can no longer so casually dismissed. Here are some facts so you can understand the current political climate.

Obama has created an Office for Women's Issues in his State Department.
His Secretary of State is the 1st government official to speak out against the rape in the Congo.
The UN introduced Resolution 1820 which defines rape as a weapon of war.
The UN has created a new agency to deal with gender inequality.

So yes, the world has changed.

If Polanski hadn't flown the coop and served his sentence back then when women were treated even worse than today, he wouldn't have to face his sentence in an environment that is much less tolerant.

Tant pis pour lui.

[Gonzaloo]

coconyc,

Magnifique!

[Ziploc]

Nobody is condoning rape. You are going off on a tangent which is completely inappropriate to this discussion.

Polanski was never charged with rape.

Get your facts straight, before you start licking your chops, sharpening your knives and tightening your nooses.

[kymlosang]

Who is seeking justice for the rape of a child? I am, Ms. Arnold. Do i have moral outrage as you put it against Mr. Polanski? No, but I am sadden by the whole mess. Yes, this should have been dealt with decades ago, but it wasn't because Polanski fled. But it's really quite simple, Ms. Arnold. He drugged and raped a child. Many years have passed. But so what. He raped a child. It's sad that he has gotten away with it for so long.

[lungfish]

Its called the Sate of California vs Roman Polanski not The Victim vs Roman Polanski..­..

as for outrage, I find it disgusting that the idea that being held accountable for drugging and raping a 13year old girl is debatable. That because he got away with it for 30 years by running and dodging the law we should allow him to go free.

If it were Ms. Arnold or her daughter I am certain that we would hear a bit of moral outrage...

[lindasha]

I went to a few french papers and read the comments there...se­ems that there is a bit of outrage amongst the posters there too.

[sexyrexy]

the outrage.. the outrage.. so where w as it when these same crowd all watched TESS.? his first film after he fled to Paris.
you're right Beth-- all a pack of hounds after sniffing the fox's tail.. he was arrested.. so.. they sniffed.. all led to the chase.

[Jimboy17]

Funny how everyone ignores the Lee Lewis angle...

[Avishai]

No, they don't and didn't. His career abruptly tanked after he married his 13 year old cousin.

[coconyc]

And finally, here is a different perspective of the French public (and some politician's) reactions taken from an NYT article:

"Marie-Louise Fort, a French lawmaker in the Assembly who has sponsored anti-incest legislation, said in an interview that she was shocked that Mr. Polanski was attracting support from the political and artistic elite. “I don’t believe that public opinion is spontaneously supporting Mr. Polanski at all,” she said. “I believe that there is a distinction between the mediagenic class of artists and ordinary citizens that have a vision that is more simple.”

The mood was even more hostile in blogs and e-mails to newspapers and news magazines. Of the 30,000 participants in an online poll by the French daily Le Figaro, more than 70 percent said Mr. Polanski, 76, should face justice. And in the magazine Le Point, more than 400 letter writers were almost universal in their disdain for Mr. Polanski."

[coconyc]

As an extremely liberal American living in Paris, I can tell you the French public is reacting the same with disgust. Disgust that anyone should be protecting someone who raped a child.

The French elite are reacting in the same way as the American elite. Protecting their own. And the French politicians are not so loyal- they dropped their support of Polanski when they saw the French public's reaction.

I guess Ms. Arnold hasn't read about French Muslims expressing outrage at the sudden lack of outrage of elite male politicians who frequently express outrage at Muslim treatment of women.

The outrage is not an "American" thing - it is a human rights thing based on a growing momentum to change the way sexual violence against women continues to grow unabated around the globe. For any woman, of any nationality to defend Polanski by some faux-intellectual posturing is repulsive but reflective of self-hatred.

Beth Arnold - you don't speak for me as an American, as an American expat, or as a woman. Nor do you speak for the French public. But this tired old cliche ..American puritanism versus French libertines certainly makes headlines, doesn't it? (Same stereotype as all French women are femme fatales. The French woman I know abhor this ridiculous one-dimensional perspectiv­e.) Nice way to score one for the sisterhood.

But remember, Bush is no longer President and Obama created an Office for Women's Issues in his State Department.

[Wozzeck]

You shan't be invited to another soirée des artistes with an attitude like that, darling.

[coconyc]

Trust me the artistes I hang with - French or otherwise - don't defend pedophiles.