Comments about ‘End the Roman holiday’

Polanski's case is but one of a multitude of instances where celebrities think they can violate laws relating to sexual behavior--God's and man's--with impunity. What is galling about this one is that so many of his "artist" friends have come to his support. That just illustrates that the Hollywood culture itself trivializes sexual misconduct, as the filth it continually produces so vividly demonstrates. Polanski is face of Hollywood.

An adult who has sex with a 13-year old girl is a criminal and should be prosecuted. However, it is equally offensive to prosecute a case that is 30+ years old. The former 13-year old is now 45 and wants to be left alone. Let's move on. We have current issues to worry about an current criminals to prosecute.

Agreed!

Now I'm looking forward to the editorial that demands justice for those who led us into the Iraq War, and those who committed war crimes, and those who are proud to have broken the laws prohibiting torture, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Blackwater, etal.

Roman Polanski's crime was awful, just terribly awful, but he is small potatoes when compared to the Bush crowd.

Polanski is easy pickings. When will the Deseret News editorial board demand justice for war crimes?

Is it a little more difficult when it’s family doing the time?

In principle, I agree. Yet somehow the Republic lives on. The weasel may get away from it, but there are greater injustices that should be dealt with without the the expense of this international, 35 year old case.

The way this story is presented sounds convincing. However, the facts are more complex and should oblige to nuance. The legal deal Polanski had obtained by confessing was probably not going to be honored, partially based on lies and miscommunication by people in the jurisdiction itself. True, P should not have fled, but the way the procedure went was awkward. The victim did not want the case pursued and obtained an undisclosed sum. She has said time and time again that she is being much more tormented by the ongoing legal action and the media attention than by what happened decades ago.

This editorial reeks a little of vengeance against a celebrity.

@Ron. Sorry, you obviously aren't familiar with this case. Polanski was prosecuted, pled guilty, and before his sentencing fled the country to avoid incarceration. He has never done his time for this heinous crime. He needs to be put in prison, where he can find out if "Chinatown" is enough to keep him from being someone else's "dandy."

I found it interesting that the settlement polanski negotiated with his victim has never been paid.

I assume the authorities will need to either honor the plea bargain from 30 years ago (under which Polanski is guilty basically of statutory rape and nothing else) -- and probably agree to sentence him only to time already served way back then -- or else the entire case will probably need to be tried from scratch, which could very possibly result in an acquittal or dropped charges (because it seems unlikely the victim will be willing to testify).

Since when is the rape of a then 13 year-old girl small potatoes. Roman should spend the rest of his life behind bars. However, it won't surprise me if he squirms out of it again. The one thing that does give me some comfort is that Roman will die one day and meet his maker, than their won't be any place for him to hide.

There's nothing to be prosecuted. Polanski already pled guilty, over 30 years ago. He's an admitted felon and child abuser. The only thing that is left is the sentencing -- something that he fled to avoid. It's time to bring him back to justice, and make him do the time for the crime he committed and to which he admitted.

There seems to be two sentences awaiting the film director. First the sentence for the crime he committed in engaging in sex with a minor, and then the crime for skipping the country.

I'm all for making him responsible for both offences.

String him up! He's a sexual predator!

I'm confused with the argument people are making with 30 years being long enough to excuse this case.

Why is time relevant after he has been tried and convicted? Also, the reason it is 30 years is because he fled the country as a coward afraid of his consequences. The only reason it has gone on this long is because of Roman Polanski!!

Stand up society and quit supporting these inexcusable acts! If it were your daughter, niece, wife or anyone you know would you allow this? Furthermore I blame Roman Polanski for even more abuse to this poor lady for extending this ordeal 30 years!!!

Second, I agree with the posts stating that there are other crimes that need to be prosecuted but lets not make that an excuse to acquit this case.

Following the logic of allowing this case to be forgotten because there were more grievous neglected crimes, could only lead to a slightly lesser crime being acquitted because this crime was forgiven. And may I ask to what end would this continue?

Another old dog in the news. He should be ashamed of himself and pay the full price for the rape of a child. DISGUSTING!

We just had church conference meeting where a speaker said:

"mercy cannot replace justice."


HOW TRUE!

we punish them because we love them.

Mercy does replace justice.
When it doesn't, it's because we want to punish the monster that is out there to forget the one that is within.
The crime was awful but the current obstination to pursue it hides something that is more heinous than the lack of moral fiber showed by Roman Polanski 30 years ago.
That being said, I'm really afraid that a very barbarian "justice" will obtain what it craves, this time.

His victim has forgiven him.

It doesn't matter if the victim has forgiven him. He owes a debt to society which he has not paid, and which must be paid. He should be made an example to others who may think they can run from the law, and be put to death. Nothing less will compensate for what he has done. As we saw with Michael Jackson, you may get away with something from man, but God in the end will see that justice is served. No escaping him.

The man suffered plenty in his life. He was in a german concentration camp at about 10 years old. He escaped. Only to find he had lost his mother. And then the Sharon Tate thing. He made a mistake, a big one but I don't think he should be nailed to the cross.

Christian Forgiveness,

Rubbish. That view of mercy is exactly what led the Catholic church to allow sexual predators to remain in contact with children for years and perpetrate their crimes over and over. Rapists and child molestors don't stop until they're made to. There's nothing wrong wanting him behind bars to keep society safer.

And nowhere in the Bible does God or one of his prophets say that forgiveness requires you to forget or trust. Christ is quoted as saying to love, to pray for enemies, to do good to those who hate you. But never to forget and trust. That's ridiculous on the face of it: "You raped my girl, why don't I leave yo alone with her again, since Jesus says I should forget what you did and trust you now." Sorry, that's reading something into the actual word that isn't there.