Poland and Polanski: Chemical Castration in the News

In an irony that will not be lost on him, Roman Polanski chose a rather ill-timed moment this week to get arrested for the 1977 incident that closely follows most biographical descriptions of the Oscar-winning director.

Polanski, having avoided the United States for 31 years allegedly because he doesn't want to deal with a 1978 U. S. arrest warrant against him for having sex with a 13 year old girl (he would have been 44 years old at the time of the incident), apparently failed to realize that Switzerland has had an extradition treaty with the United States for around 60 years now.

The Polish-French film director was detained by Swiss authorities before he could participate in a tribute to him at the Zurich Film Festival.

Coincidentally, Poland has been in the news this week for approaching a status as possibly the first European nation to mandate chemical castration for sexual offenses against, amongst other things, children under the age of 15.

Sounds like Polanski might have to add Poland to his list of countries to avoid in the near future. That is, of course, depending on the eventualities of this weekend's Swiss arrest and the Polish legislative system.

Unintentionally, however, Polanski's arrest brings world attention to an issue that the Polish government deems rather straight forward: adults having sexual relations with children is not merely wrong in a way that is rather obvious to most people, but steps should be taken to prevent repeat offenses by known individuals.

If the allegations against Polanski are true, as many people -- including many of those who have awarded and lauded him over the years -- would seem to believe, then it is a sad commentary on the double standards of fame and fortune that an individual who allegedly turned his back on the basic decencies of civilized society has managed not only to evade lawful repercussions but has had apparently reputable institutions uphold him despite this.

Human nature may not be so forgiving, but human institutions have unfailingly demonstrated time and again that they are. So the question is begged: can the person be separated from the talent, and if so, should they be?

This isn't about a personality issue being associated with a revered talent -- Picasso was a well known misogynist according to many accounts, but it would have been just as strange to condemn him and his art as it would have been to condemn Wittgenstein's writings because he was rude.

What this is about is a criminal act that is cruel, inhumane and damaging to a child, because no matter what anyone says or said about the 13-year-old girl who was involved in this incident, she was a child and by definition an innocent victim of what allegedly was done to her by someone who was well into his adulthood.

This is also about evading justice.

Polanski may be a talented film director, but according to his 1978 arrest warrant and his own admission, he did have sex with a 13 year old child when he was in his 40's. Most people would call him a pedophile or a child molester, or both. We don't know if he ever repeated this offense, or if in fact this offense was a repeat of earlier such behavior, but what we do know is that this type of behavior is too often not an isolated incident in the lives of the individuals who engage in it.

What the Polish government is saying -- and what many people worldwide agree with -- is that perpetrators of this crime can no longer be trusted to make the right decision when it comes to their sexual urges.

There is one certain way to prevent recurrences of this type of assault and that is to remove the urge entirely.

Chemical castration disables the urge by suppressing the hormones that drive sexual urges. It is a life-long process of regular administration of the chemicals that suppress these urges and would no doubt carry with it the complications of ensuring that the chemicals are actually administered properly, the long-term costs of administering them, and so forth.

A more cost-effective and certain prevention is old-fashioned castration: the irreversible excision of an offender's testes or ovaries. While centuries of knowledge on the issue of castration (consider stories of the Mughal-era eunuchs who protected harems but had affectionate relationships with each other) would suggest that it does not entirely remove human sexual instincts, it certainly dramatically reduces the sexual urge that in the case of sexual offenders is apparently uncontrollable.

Many people argue that castration of any kind is cruel and unusual punishment, that it is unfair to someone who may never commit this crime again. But it seems likely that the victims, potential victims, and even the perpetrators themselves would be better off with such a solution in place under the law.

While some states in America agree with the Polish government -- California, for instance, also mandates chemical castration for a two-time sexual offender -- not all do. Do states not think it is important enough to warrant prevention of repeat sexual offenses or is it a more deep-rooted problem of forgiving men -- and the vast majority of convicted sexual offenders are men -- their sexual urges?

Thus, a third element is added to the issues of double standards for the famous and ineffective punishment of sexual offenders: that of the gender bias. It's not difficult to imagine how different Polanski's life and career might have been if he were in fact a 44 year old woman who had engaged in sexual relations with a 13 year old child.

Nobody is perfect, no doubt about it, but some imperfections seem more forgivable than others. What the Polish government is saying about the kind of behavior that allegedly took place between Polanski and a 13 year old girl is that, at the end of the day, there simply is no excuse for it, and not only that, but that it is a problem that must be prevented from recurring and that decision cannot be made by someone who has already crossed a line that most people have the physical and mental resources not to.

Changing people's attitudes about the rich and famous, or their ingrained gender biases, is a slow process, but that's where laws come in handy: some problems do have solutions.

Roman Polanski has admitted to a sexual crime against a child and spent three decades evading justice for it -- this is not admirable or laudable. This week, the Swiss Ministry of Justice has again brought attention to this fact. It's just a shame that it has taken 31 years and an extradition treaty for Polanski to head down the road toward responsibility and decency.

Comments

[bootooyoo]

Well written and insightful. I find it truly amazing that anyone would defend this man. Many of the defenders are stating that he has never reoffended. Of course, they have no way of knowing that is true.

[semorg]

You should have listened to NPR. They brought this "hollywood" guy whom might as well been his lawyer. Basically, since the judge is dead, his defense team plans is to discredit the judge. Remember, he admitted to his guilt. They only issue has been if the judge was going to be hard on him at the time or not.

[fbr79]

Good grief, I don't even believe in god, but I have to thank god for someone finally speaking out against Roman Polanski at HP. I counted 3 posts defending him, one way or another, because his movies are, you know, good or something. I would not have a better opinon of the man if Mr. Polanski had invented chocolate and created the concept of federal holidays. He is a true pervert; there is absolutely no excuse for someone who drugs, has sexual intercourse and sodomizes a 13 year old gril. I'll even oversee you having worked for Al Jazeera and shower you with praises. Thank you Ms. Sadeghi.

[Ergon]

It's great you're exploring this theme: what is it about us that we excuse people for their genius, or celebrity?
Is this an atavistic response bred within us when the gods of Olympus could come down amongst us mortals and commit all sorts of sins, and they could because they were gods?
I hope we've evolved past that, but seeing the emotional defense of Roman Polanski, apparently not.

[Mercedes1981]

I was thinking of M. Jackson as I read this. His creative genius did not excuse his inappropriate behavior with young men.

[Jimboy17]

None of which was really ever proved. The allegations in the first case were settled out of court, and the "victim" has since recanted, and he was acquitted in the second case.

[DrunkenTypist]

We had apparently evolved past this in 1944 when George Orwell wrote (in connection with Salvador Dali):-

"If Shakespeare returned to the earth to-morrow, and if it were found that his favourite recreation was raping little girls in railway carriages, we should not tell him to go ahead with it on the ground that he might write another King Lear."

[Ergon]

I knew the secretary for one of the UK High Court Judges. She said if one knew the extent of pedophilia and incest in the UK (I suppose by extension the EU) we would be shocked. This was in the 70's. I can only imagine it's gotten worse.

[LMPE]

First he saw his parents murdered by the Nazis, next his wife got murdered by a cult, then he had to flee after a peccadillo, now he gets arrested. Roman Polanski's whole life has been doomed.

[Ergon]

Peccadillo, n: a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.
AND the orphan defense! Cool.

[jefered]

Doomed? Funny, I would have called avoiding jail for 31 years, getting paid and recognized for pursuing his true artistic love nothing short of amazing blessings, but that's just me.

[fbr79]

Yes, I would give him a pass for most things after all he has been through, but not rapping a 13 year old, sorry.

[petegrif]

There is a rather important distinction to be made.
I don't what world you live in but most of us don't consider raping a 13 year old child to be a 'ppcadillo­.'
And whilst we are on distinctions. The Nazis murdered his parents. Mason's lunatics murdered his wife. HE raped the little girl.

[kejia]

Ironically, Poland is asking Switzerland to release him.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/09/28/DI2009092801782.html

[Kalfardaa]

Thanks Shirin for this elaborate article on a very delicate issue. I cannot begin to understand how people can talk about forgiveness for a crime such as rape. If Polinski gets away with this offense, it will be a mockery of the justice system and proof of the age old adage 'the rich and the famous are above the law'

This man has enjoyed freedom for 32 years while his victim has suffered for each of those days. I simply am horrified by the support this man has received and the twisted logic of 'let bygones be bygones'

I hope more people write about the story in the manner you have.

[Jimboy17]

There is forgiveness for all crimes, no matter how horrible. It doesn't justify them, but to hold on to anger and anguish all one's life is to victimize oneself. In this case, even the victim has forgiven Polanski and wants to move on. This case is not about rape, it is about the bloated ego of American law and its demagogues and the "we always get out man" mentality of a Hollywoodized far West mentality. They got Polanski, but Bin Laden is still at large. Bravo.