Justice

[poliphilo]

All I ask is consistency. Either the seduction of a child is the most disgusting crime on the book or it's a forgiveable peccadillo; I can live with either. What I find unacceptable is a state of affairs where it's the most disgusting crime on the book when the offender is Creepy Joe Schmo and a forgiveable peccadillo when he's an Oscar-winning film director. Justice should be impartial; that's why its personification is shown wearing a blindfold.  I don't mind excuses being made for Polanski's behaviour- for example that he was traumatised by his childhood experiences- just so long that kind of indulgence is extended to every paedophile. A person's wealth, status, talent, and popularity should have no bearing on their standing in law. 

Comments

[algabal.livejournal.com]

All crimes should be forgiven, especially if the perpetrator is clearly not a threat to anyone anymore.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Has Polanski ceased to be a threat to young women? I wonder.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Forgiven, perhaps. But only if the criminal has shown remorse, and has attempted everything they can to make amends.

Until that point, damn them.

I see little to show that Polanski has done either.

[algabal.livejournal.com]

Damn them? What gives you that right?

How much suffering is caused by any one of your actions in daily life? How many things do you need to be forgiven for?

[jfs.livejournal.com]

How many things do you need to be forgiven for?

Many. Like all of us.

And if I'm made aware of them, I seek to apologise, and to make amends before I ask for forgiveness.

Can you say the same of Polanski before you blithely state that all crimes should be forgiven?

What gives you the right to assert such?

[algabal.livejournal.com]

I never said Polanski had to apologize before I could forgive him (and I do think what he did was wrong). Until you learn to forgive everyone for all crimes, past, present and future, you serve the wrong master.

[(Anonymous)]

Really? Another sweeping assertion.

Seeing as you're so all knowing, which master do I serve, given that I choose not to forgive everyone everything?

[jfs.livejournal.com]

And this time logged in.

Really? Another sweeping assertion.

Seeing as you're so all knowing, which master do I serve, given that I choose not to forgive everyone everything?

[algabal.livejournal.com]

The one who knocked up Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

John Cassavetes?

Matthew 18:6, oh you who think I have not right to damn but are so quick to accuse me of serving the Devil.

Feel free to have the last word - this is not my journal, so I'm going to stop here before this gets too heated.