Child rapist Polanski arrested

My first reaction: a man who raped a child and then fled justice is finally going to be put away. Excellent. After doing a lot of reading, it seems there may be something to his fleeing a "judicial lynching." The judge in question, from 30 years ago, is dead now, so we should bring him back and let the process work, for good or evil.

I've also read the comments by France's cultural minister, and what a twat this guy is. He typifies European weakness, which is misplaced compassion (socialism). Here's what he said, via Variety:

"Seeing (Polanski) alone, imprisoned while he was heading to an event that was due to offer him praise and recognition is awful," he said. "He was trapped. In the same way that there is a generous America that we like, there is also a scary America, and that has just shown its face."

My respect for France just went down a notch, if that's possible. It's "scary" to want a child rapist to face justice in a court of law?

Another interesting aspect of this case is the media coverage. As expected, the media is sensationalizing it, choosing to sell their product rather than tell the truth. For instance, headlines all across the web says Europeans are angry, led by letters written by French and Polish officials. Kudos to the LA times for mentioning "cheers and jeers":

Yet test the mood beyond the entertainment industry and sympathy for Polanski is far less forthcoming. In an online poll in the French daily Le Figaro, more than 70% of nearly 29,500 respondents said Polanski should face justice for his alleged crimes. And in Zurich, where police arrested Polanski at the request of Los Angeles authorities when he arrived to headline a film festival, 40-year-old Maja Tanner applauded the arrest.

So, my respect for France went back to where it was (slightly above zero), because it's only their cultural minister, apparently, who wants Polanski to go free. The French people are right -- Polanski needs to be brought back to face justice, and if there were, or are, bad judges or other characters involved, then we need to find them out and level charges at them, as well. Nobody gets away with anything.

I believe a child rapist should get life in prison, with no parole option, on the first offense. These scumbags should be permanently removed from society, regardless of how many Oscars they have on the mantle. Fuck 'em.