I am just trying to reconcile this with the multiple times I’ve argued as an advocate for sexual assault survivors that the police should not be brought into the room just cause a woman ask for a rape kit, that when we answer phone lines about rape cases that we never pressure anyone to press charges. That it needs to be her choice– when and how she brings it to trial.

Sure the fact that this is big and public does change the situation. It seems, as PrettyAmiable mentions, there is more than just the survivors well being on the line.

Its complicated for me. This caught some of my feelings: http://sugartheshop.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html?zx=b0e798154935e1dd

http://blog.buzzflash.com/contributors/2081

I am just sick over this whole thing.

I don’t want Samantha to feel victimized again, but it seems to be a choice between her and me and others like me who feel increasingly hopeless with regards to American society.

As an aside, I haven’t seen this mentioned: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20309753,00.html?xid=rss-fullcontentcnn

Schwarzennegger has daughters my age, one of whom is at my alma mater.

Cheers. It feels good to be proud of someone willing to speak out.

I am a survivor of sexual assault. I also am a survival of taking a sexual assault case into a campus trial, at which point it became very public. That public trial was nearly as traumatic and painful as the assault itself. When friends ask me if they should press charges against a man who has raped them, I hesitate… I tell them to think hard about it.

Not because I don’t want to see that man punished. I do. I really, really, do. But because I don’t want to see the rape survivor suffer in order to make it happen. ‘Cause we all know how survivors get treated– in the media, in the courts, etc. Its not nice. Its not fun.

So when I here a rape survivor say she wants the whole thing dropped I have a hard time not wanting to listen to her. I still have my doubts…. Why is she saying this? Where is this sentiment coming from? And my own desire to see a rapist publically punished and shamed for the sake of the larger case of rape.

But even on this large scale I want to see that survivor empowered. How do we do this? How do we support her right now?

I don’t have an answer.

http://thomashawk.com/2009/09/petition-supporting-the-extradition-of-roman-polanski.html

It’s totally ad-hoc, but real. Thomas Hawk is apparently a tech CEO who is aghast at the apologists. No reason not to do this as well as join Facebook groups. I have heard the Obama administration does pay attention to Facebook, e.g. was encouraged by postings supporting a public health care option.

Well I can’t speak for anybody else, but as far as I’m concerned, if:

1.) they bring Polanski back to L.A.,
2.) drag him in front of a judge,
3.) have the judge declare the sentence for the crime to which he confessed and pled guilty thirty years ago,
4.) make him serve the sentence – just like as if he were any ordinary non-millionaire who was convicted of the same crime most certainly would – and finally,
5.) let him out of jail with his sentence served in full,

then at that point I’d say the price he’d have paid was enough. Don’t wanna do the time? then don’t do the crime. Wanna do the crime? then don’t whine.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/art-does-not-excuse-rape-polanski-must-face-justice

“I really disagree with your politics in general, but thank God you guys are getting on the correct side of this one.

Props.”

Well, thank God that we got it right for once. It’s good to know us dumbass feminists are good for something, huh?

Lots of people who molest children have horrible personal histories. If they are not rich and famous, nobody gives a damn about their stories.

He didn’t “just” use his position to have sex with a thirteen year old who was sober and willing. He didn’t “just” give quaaludes to an 18 year old to use her intoxication to lower her inhibitions to sex with him. He didn’t “just” sexually penetrate a sober adult who said “no.” He committed rape ALL THREE WAYS. He forcibly penetrated a child to whom he had deliberately given alcohol and quaaludes and who still said “no.” Do that, go to jail. Even if you flee and are arrested thirty years later; even if you are a famous and talented filmmaker. That’s my position. No buts. It makes me sad that this is controversial.

The victim does not get to turn off the process of criminal justice. It’s not a civil process. It’s not her v. him. It’s the People of the State of California, through the DA, versus the Defendant. Rape is not a civil tort. It’s a criminal offense: a breach of his obligations not just to the victim but to the whole community.

If we as a community say, “hey, sure, it’s not a good thing, but if you’re rich, famous and talented and flee the jurisdiction, we’ll just let it slide forever,” we’re saying we as a community — as an American polity — don’t really think it’s that bad. And as I look around, that clearly is what is being said. It makes me sick.