Hollywood and Richmond: The Common Link
posted by: Liz ODonnell 50 days ago
Liz O'Donnell
As police in Richmond, California continue to round-up suspects in the brutal attack and rape of a 15 year-old girl, the Interent is abuzz with comments and opinions on the situation. While the victim-blamers have weighed in with irrelevant references to the girl drinking alcohol, most of the comments (that I have read) are calling for retribution. The suggestions range from life in prison to castration, and not just for the rapists, but for the many bystanders who failed to help the girl, cheered and took pictures of the attack. Indeed, it is the presence of onlookers that seems to have rattled the nation, more so than the gang rape itself.
Rape is hate. It is cruel, violent and terrifying. But it is also, sadly, too common. According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, someone is raped every two minutes in the United States. One in six women, and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. But most rapes do not make the news, and especially not the national news. Perhaps we are desensitized to rape. After all, television shows, films, video games and popular music are full of imagery of violence against women. Perhaps a male-dominated media does not see the value in publishing these stories. Or perhaps it's because 60 percent of rapes go unreported.
The young girl in Richmond didn't have to report her attack. Someone eventually called the police. But up to 20 people did not. They stood by and let it happen. Their silence and inaction horrifies us. We want to see them brought to justice. We shake our heads and ask, "How could they? Is there no humanity?" We have no tolerance for the people who condoned and applauded the attack.
And so I ask, will we as a nation continue to tolerate and applaud the Hollywood celebrities that are calling for Roman Polanski's release? Certainly, there is a significant difference in Polanski's rape sympathizers and the mob in Richmond. The celebrities were not present when Polanski raped a young girl. They had no opportunity to stop the attack. But there is a strong similarity between the two groups as well.
By dismissing the director's crime, by referencing his artistic genius, or the time that has elapsed since the rape, or his young boyish transgressions (he was in his 40s), or arguing this was not "rape-rape" only rape, Polanski's supporters are sending a message. That message: that rape is sometimes okay, that violence against women will be tolerated, that we should look the other way. And that is the exact same message those onlookers sent last Saturday night.
Read more: womens rights, gang rape, roman polanski, richomnd rape, holllywood
comments
Wow David Harmon!! First, Woody Allen is a disgusting perv, and adopted or not, that is his daughter. And Polansky belongs in prison.
But you do make good points about kids. People want to give their little sweethearts everything, not punish them, not raise them. Its scary whats going on here today. And it is the parents and I have also always said if a kid gets a slap on the wrist for a violent crime, the parent should pick up the slack and be punished as well. People just think its everyone elses responsibility to raise and teach their children. No it is NOT. Don't have them. Just look around. Watch one of those daytime talk shows like Maury, where half the woman in this country have no clue who the father of their 10 children are. Where one guy has 6 woman claiming he is their father. And he is only 19!!!!! They are the ones repopulating this country. Is no one else scared out there??? I sure am. These people will make what Roman Polansky did seem like nothing.
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Sara G.,
Ok! Personally...I can agree to disagree.
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Lukntwohvn R.
Ok i realise now...what i realised before is realy impossible make comments with persons like you.
you are more than fundamentalist.
Enough i don't spend more my precious time with people like you.
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sara d.....
you are realy a sad girl, but worst than that, you have all the things i don't like in a little girl, stupidity....
grow and wake up to live...
i have not pacience for little girls like you
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Sara G.,
I understand [this time] what you are saying and I can appreciate your thoughts. I was/am not trying to pretend to know what your life is like. That is why I used the word "maybe".
As for being 'welcome' in Portugal or 'unwelcome' in the U.S. My question would be; is rape an acceptable crime in Portugal or, at the very least, one in which the rights of the perpetrator outweigh the rights of the victim?
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David Harmon,
Biological or NOT....Woody Allan had a RESPONSIBILITY when he ADOPTED that CHILD (I notice that you like that word and, rightly so as it does apply in many instances...like it or not) or, took her 'in'/ decided to be her PARENT! His responsibility was to GUIDE her, PROTECT her, NUTURE her, MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR AND MORALS for her, etc. NOT become intimate WITH her!!! He is/was a grown man for crying out loud. Let's not pretend that he just couldn't control himself and was like a teenager and just so maaadly iin love....pa-leeeease!
My husband is the step-father to my twin daughters. It would be a cold day in he## when I would EVER accept any excuse for a relationship outside of that of the caring, respectful father figure that he has been their entire lives. Simply put....there are boundaries you just don't cross!!
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"I don't have a daughter but a son, the concerns are the same, or you go tell me have a son is different that a daughter??????"
Would you tell your son it's okay to rape children?
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As for the comment about woddy allen, his so called DAUGHTER your referring to is NOT BIOLOGICAL. Therefore differant DNA. NOT MORALLY THE SAME. 2 differant people, who fell in love. I think it's simply the AGE thing with some of you people. Your own HATE. Samething you critisize others for. LOOK AT YOURSELFS. PROTECTION of children has become completely a WITCH HUNT. CHILDREN are INNOCENT of EVERYTHING. Who has the MENTAL PROBLEM IN REALITY really? Children are manipulative, deceptive, IGNORANT and self drivin. All they know untill taught differantly. Which DOES NOT HAPPEN BY THIS YOUNGER GENERATION of parents. They think it's CUTE.They want EVERYONE ELSE in the world to CHANGE for the kids, help raise them, care for them. YOU MADE IT, YOU DEAL WITH IT. STOP INFRENGING ON MY RIGHTS AS AN ADULT. KID DONT LIKE IT? TOO BAD. ADULTS DO. YOU DON'T LIKE IT? STAY AWAY or DONT WATCH or READ. SIMPLE. I as do ALL ADULTS HAVE RIGHTS. MORE THAN YOUR LITTLE HEATHENS. THATS THE WAY IT IS. Untill a 3 year old can work, support people and become president, GET OVER IT. Its your decision to have them so its your RESPONCIBILITY NOT EVERYONE in the worlds. I know its tough for you cry babies to see REALITY. RESPONCIBILITY is a dirty word for so many of you YUPPIES and later GENERATIONS. It means you cannot BLAME others as you did in those SAND BOX YEARS OF YOURS when a over protectant MOMMY sheltered you from REALITY and everyone else was WRONG. WELCOME to the REAL WORLD KEN and BARBIE.
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LOOK, I think, I KNOW that many of you feminists complaints about any form of SEX is based on your own HATEFUL IDEAS. Lets not be so self-Righjteous. Many females are just as evil as men who do such things. As for the rape of the girl, YES. PUNISHMENT is DUE. As for the BY-STANDERS well, unfortunatly intervention in todays world can get you killed, get you sued (touching minors in a forceful way) or prison where you would be raped. Calling 911 ABSOLUTELY should have been done. The same eople crying for INTERVENTION are the same ones pushing were to tough on the minors who murder. Going on now with the supreame court. Want to keep them from getting life sentances for KILLING PEOPLE at 17. Thats why they do it now. They have a less sentance. Why they are recruited by bangers to do their killing deeds.LESS SENTANCE as a CHILD. Soon, they will do as they please including more rapes amd murders with a out of jail free card. I think parents should have to be responcible then. YOU LEGALLY are your CHILDS GAURDIAN untill they are of age. Too much freedom for these out of control heathens. They need DISIPLINE. SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE CHILD..... Referrance: BIBLE..
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Lukntwohvn R,
Ok, but i never told you that you have a easy life, or i never try to guess what kind of life you have, because i don't know. And you talk about lifes that you don't know
i just comment your words and the way you think , not your life or the things you do.
we have freedom to talk and comment it's what i did here, like you make. But i never use words like '' don't come to Portugal because you and people that think like you are not welcome in these country'' or maybe '' you have a good life without traumas''
Portugal is a free country everybody is welcome here independent the way of think, races, religions etc etc.
do you understand my point?
Lukntwohvn be in peace and have a nice day
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