some links dealing with Roman Polanski

[mickeym]

There's a petition now, to show support to bringing Polanski back to face justice: Art Does Not Excuse Rape - please, go add your name to it if you haven't already.

There's also a (small, hopefully growing) list of celebrities who are against all the "free Polanski" supporters, as well as some other information links: http://chrismm.dreamwidth.org/577422.html

I talked with Matthew about this today, because, well, he needs to know about stuff like this. And I said to him, that if EVER he is with a girl (anybody, but it's more likely to be a girl) and that person tells him "No" for ANYTHING... that No means No. Period.

He looked at me and blinked and said, "well, yeah--I know that." I said I know he does, but it needed to be said anyway. He asked me if it's a law, and I said not as such, but it needs to be treated as one. Then he said that if someone tells him no (obviously anyone but ME, sigh) that he respects that, he's not the kind of person to force something.

I really love my kid.

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Kirstie Alley. Oh yes.

And your kid? So much awesome.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

It's really dismaying to see how small the 'good guy' side is -- and I'm deeply, DEEPLY disappointed with Whoopi Goldberg. I'd always admired her, but now... *sigh*

My kid is very awesome, except now in the true form of a teenager, five minutes after posting this I'm ready to kill him. Or at least give him away for a while. Grr.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

SO disappointed in Whoopi. It's ... sad. I wonder how many people are worried about repercussions? Which is also sad, really.

[kitanabychoice.livejournal.com]

You know, I actually watched the video with Whoopi and she wasn't talking about his actions, but the charges brought against him after the plea bargain. If anything, we should be upset with the initial plea bargain -- his charges should have NEVER been lessened, and that is the court's fault.

And according to California law, unlawful sex with a minor is statutory rape, and then is not classified as the same as sexual assault. Therefore, statutory rape ISN'T rape, and Whoopi is technically correct. =/ (see: http://www.teenparents.org/usi.html)

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read something that was speculating that perhaps part of her motivation there was the whole issue of not getting the show into legal trouble - since he was charged with something other than rape (I forget exactly what was - unlawful sex with a minor or something like that) if they say "he raped her" then they could get in trouble - and apparently Polanski HAS sued people before?

Like I said, just speculation, though.

[kitanabychoice.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is strange speculation. I mean, I just went and did a quick wikipedia read through, and it looked like he was offered a plea bargain that would trade in the rape, sodomy, and furnishing controlled substances to a minor for the statutory rape charge.

I can't even imagine why the offer was made, but it smacks of privilege to me.

[gillianinoz.livejournal.com]

Matthew needs to know the other side as well - are kids even taught Starnger Danger these days? Rapists like RP look for small and weak and gender doesn't always matter to them.

I'm not a parent but I am an Aunty - and I know what I would do to a creep like RP if he laid one finger on one of my family.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I don't know if they teach about Stranger Danger specifically, or not. So much in school now is aimed at online predators, though Matthew and I have had extensive conversations about always being alert, not being overly-trusting. He's not a likely target for someone looking for small/weak, though; Matthew stands nearly 6' tall now, and weighs about 190lbs.

But, it occurs to me that I also need to talk to him about the importance of making sure those around him are safe/comfortable -- whether it's his date or not.

[gillianinoz.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the fact that a young man is big and strong can blind him to danger - and he may put himself in a bad situation without realising it. (to bring it back to the original subject, RP's victim was drugged).

You're a good mum!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

No, you're absolutely right -- and funnily (or not), something we have talked about, as well. Because for a long time he was very cautious, very wary (I encouraged it deliberately, because he was -- and still is, to some degree -- very trusting/naive) of people he didn't know. It became a problem in the last year or so, when he shot up and got pretty damned big almost over night, and hit the 13yr mark, because he was sure that he could "take on anybody".

It took a while -- and no small amount of googling and reading to him about news reports of boys his age being preyed upon -- but he's stopped acting as if he's invincible to predation.

Thanks :) It's a tough job, lemme tell you!

[munibunny.livejournal.com]

My daughter is totally creeped out because she's 13.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

And really? I don't blame her one bit. *hugs to the both of you*

[munibunny.livejournal.com]

Kirstie Alley is kind of awesome. Have you been watching her Twitter? And there's this really great article blasting Whoopie for her comments on The View... http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x1991992581/WENDY-MURPHY-An-open-letter-to-Whoopi-Goldberg

[kitanabychoice.livejournal.com]

I've signed this and had all my friends sign it too. This outbreak just breaks my brain, I cannot express enough how much it is infuriating me. Especially since he was originally charged for a slew of crimes and managed to plea bargain his way out of them, then only served 42 out of 90 days of a psychiatric evaluation...

If it were a normal person with no money or artistic value, they'd have been locked up so fast you wouldn't even have seen the door slam.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, totally. If this were just your average person off the street, it wouldn't even be an issue. People would be up in arms and screaming for blood if he wasn't shuffled immediately off to jail, or wherever. It's mind-boggling in a horrifying sort of way.

[miafeliz.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. I'm still astonished that Hollywood has been so "lenient" on him. It's outrageous. I, too am angry about Whoopi.

If I revive my dead post about this, I might mention this post.

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

You're a great mom and Matthew is lucky to have you. &hearts

[hunters-retreat.livejournal.com]

Just gonna say...

You rock. Because so many parents are afraid about talking about sex with their kids, let alone making sure they say something like that. Seriously.. you're an awesome person for caring like that and an awesome parent for making sure your kids do too!

[joans23.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to the petition! And hugs to you and your awesome kid.

[maerhysetc.livejournal.com]

You and your kid are awesomesause. ♥