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Poetic licentiousness
by What do Roman Polanski and Mike Tyson have in common? They were both charged with, and in Tyson's case convicted of, rape.
Unfortunately, they were both celebrities before becoming committing their crimes. I say unfortunately, because after committing their heinous acts, many people still put their fame above their crime labeling them celebrities first, rapists second.
When it most certainly should be the other way around.
In Roman Polanski's case, he fled the country after being charged with raping a 13 year-old girl. Ever since then, the Hollywood community has rallied for his return. After all he's a brilliant director. Shouldn't that count for something? Yeah, right. Didn't his victim's feelings count for anything?
Mike Tyson was arrested, convicted and served time for raping an 18 year-old girl. His lawyers used the age-old defense that the young lady came to his room. So what? Going into a guy's hotel room is not the same thing as saying, "Yes, please, have sex with me even when I say ‘no.'"
Tyson's attorney's even went as far as claiming he was the victim. That the young lady was just trying to get money out of him.
Today, Tyson is getting ready for his one man show in Las Vegas. A show about his life. Are you fucking kidding me? His life?
What about the lives of the young girls who were raped by these men?
It is true, that often young girls become enamored with celebrities. Hey, I know that back in my teens and early twenties, if Rod Stewart or Mick Jagger had made a some kind of pass at me, well, first you would have had to pick me off the floor, and then I would have been flattered. But I know I wouldn't have wanted to sleep with them. To me, sex went with love. And I would have said no.
In today's media-driven world, little girls grow up so much faster than when I was young. It seems to happen overnight.
One day your little girl is wearing baggy sweat pants and the next she wants to wear seductive clothing. And not because she wants to have to sex. She probably doesn't even know what sex is yet. She just wants to dress like that star on TV that sings and dances and acts.
She may want to wear those clothes to the mall. Parade around with her friends. Flirt with the boys. And then come home. Get into her baggy pajamas and play with her dolls.
It's a sad situation that there are so many men/boys who think a girl in a short skirt is one that wants sex.
It's even sadder that the celebrities who feel this way are treated differently than the average citizen. That because they are considered talented individuals with much to offer our culture, they should be given a second chance and allowed to live as if nothing ever happened.
While their victims aren't even given a second thought.
All of our writers have donated their pay to the rape and domestic violence charities mentioned on our blog. To find out more about how Rapecrisis, Refuge, and RAINN can help, click here.
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Comments (25)
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Report Tue Apr 10, 2012 - 11:25 amI am really impressed by your writing style and representation of the information in your article. It's apparent that you've done your research. Thank you.Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Apr 17, 2012 at 8:05 pm
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Report Mon Apr 16, 2012 - 9:01 amGreat piece! I would like to point out, however, that Polanski was convicted of "statutory rape" (even though it was clearly a case of force being used) and fled before sentencing.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Apr 17, 2012 at 8:05 pm
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Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 10:50 pm
I've never understood the polanski thing. LIke genuises can be excused anything.Reply -
5 replies, Last reply by Kim on Mon Apr 16, 2012 at 9:11 am
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Fri Apr 6, 2012 - 11:30 pm
It's utter madness!!! Like everything is theirs for the taking without exception.Reply -
Report Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 8:00 pmWhen I was a young police officer, I worked at West L.A. Division of the LAPD. That area has many stars/celebrities floating around. One day I pulled over some guy for a traffic violation. When I presented him with his citation he was flabbergasted and said, "Don't you know who I am?" I told him no, and to sign his name and press hard...there were three copies of the citation. I truly had no clue who he was, and I still don't. I DO know he must have done some really bone-head thing because I wasn't a big ticket-writer and only wrote citations for those who truly needed/deserved one. Great post!Reply
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2 replies, Last reply by Toni on Thu Apr 5, 2012 at 7:00 am
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Report Thu Apr 5, 2012 - 5:01 amExcellent points. I do believe that anyone who truly feels remorse for a crime deserves a second chance... AFTER the justice system has run its course and the offender has served their sentence. However, that doesn't mean that we should merely "forgive and forget," especially when the crime is rape (or some other horrendous/violent crime). That's my problem. If a celebrity does something awful, even when they are CONVICTED of it, the media has a field day, but days later they are treated as though it never happened. Second chances are one thing, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't carry the burden of their mistake anymore. That is a weight they will (or at least SHOULD) carry for the rest of their lives. A truly remorseful person will accept that, and use it as a reminder to themselves and anyone else they can influence to never do it again. They should never forget what they did, and the media and public should never allow them to.Reply
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2 replies, Last reply by Toni on Thu Apr 5, 2012 at 6:58 am
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Report Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 7:40 pmGood analysis of a terrible situation, Janie. Our society seems so enamored of celebs these days that sometimes even their most heinous misdeeds get forgiven.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Apr 4, 2012 at 8:24 pm
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Report Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 7:19 pmI'm with you. I don't understand that nonsense. It sucks that their "celebrity" gives them a pass as to what kind of person they're represented as in the public eye, even after the fact. It makes me sick. What you all are doing, donating to these causes, is a wonderful thing and I send you lots of cyber {{}}. Those charities do great things for those in need of support. Being a victim of the crime doesn't mean you can't be a survivor, given time.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Apr 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm
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Report Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 6:50 pmGreat post, Janie. Was it Korea or the Phillipines that had made a statement about mini skirts a week or two ago? They suggested banning them because they made "men want to do bad things."Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Apr 4, 2012 at 7:12 pm
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Report Wed Apr 4, 2012 - 5:00 pmNice post! Thanks.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Apr 4, 2012 at 6:47 pm
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