The American Justice System
Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland in connection with a warrant issued many years ago. He will be charged with the rape of a thirteen year old girl that occurred more than thirty years ago.
I doubt many in the world expect this to get to trial or even an arraignment. I am not sure I believe that it will, given Mr. Polanski's many influential friends both in this country and abroad. But one of the foundations of American liberty and The Constitution is equal justice for all. As the United States engages in nation building activities across the globe, it is important that we attempt to uphold that principal. Plaxico Buress has begun serving a sentence for stupidity, but it was a mandated one. He broke the law of New York and is now paying his debt to society. Bernie Madoff will likely never leave prison to spend the fortunes he stole from his clients. Why should Mr. Polanski be different?
Of course I don't believe that everyone is treated the same under the law. Texas leads the nation in both executions and freeing persons wrongly convicted of crimes. There is a trial now in the hands of the jury dealing with corruption in Dallas City Hall. Many feel Don Hill will be convicted solely because he is a black man that had achieved political and economic power. Others think he will get off for the same reasons.
But Roman Polanski stands accused of a heinous crime for which he should be tried. Should a jury or judge determine that there is no benefit to his spending time in prison or find him not guilty, then the system will have functioned as envisioned by the founding fathers. Should political pressure be exerted and the entire episode swept away under the guise of his being a good man who has produced a lifetime of attonement through his work, perhaps those who view our actions abroad as imperialism will be right.
That isn't working to make me more secure.
I doubt many in the world expect this to get to trial or even an arraignment. I am not sure I believe that it will, given Mr. Polanski's many influential friends both in this country and abroad. But one of the foundations of American liberty and The Constitution is equal justice for all. As the United States engages in nation building activities across the globe, it is important that we attempt to uphold that principal. Plaxico Buress has begun serving a sentence for stupidity, but it was a mandated one. He broke the law of New York and is now paying his debt to society. Bernie Madoff will likely never leave prison to spend the fortunes he stole from his clients. Why should Mr. Polanski be different?
Of course I don't believe that everyone is treated the same under the law. Texas leads the nation in both executions and freeing persons wrongly convicted of crimes. There is a trial now in the hands of the jury dealing with corruption in Dallas City Hall. Many feel Don Hill will be convicted solely because he is a black man that had achieved political and economic power. Others think he will get off for the same reasons.
But Roman Polanski stands accused of a heinous crime for which he should be tried. Should a jury or judge determine that there is no benefit to his spending time in prison or find him not guilty, then the system will have functioned as envisioned by the founding fathers. Should political pressure be exerted and the entire episode swept away under the guise of his being a good man who has produced a lifetime of attonement through his work, perhaps those who view our actions abroad as imperialism will be right.
That isn't working to make me more secure.
posted by Kurt at 9:37 AM
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