Written By: Hallie MadenskiRoman Polanski, the late John Phillips and the late great Michael Jackson have all been in the spotlight for the same reason. Michael Jackson not as recently, but his death did bring up an interesting question. The question was quickly answered. Will people forgive someone who allegedly molests children? Yes they will.
This is a very sensitive subject and not one I wish to wrongly clarify. When someone with as great a musical talent as Michael Jackson is accused of child molestation people become upset, they don't want to believe it or they acquire an instant hatred. Is it because of their morals or intelligence? What about someone whose opinion rests somewhere in the middle?
What if I said I personally believe Michael Jackson was guilty of those charges and that I in no way condone what he did? Every time I think of him I think of those charges as well as the fact that he was a musical genius. Should someone be able to do something terrible and still be considered a genius? The lines are blurred. Since I never met Michael Jackson I can only say that I enjoy his music but that he led a very crazy life.
Roman Polanski is a talented filmmaker. He wrote the screenplay for the horror classic "Rosemary's Baby" and he directed Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown." He is not, to my understanding a good person. He was quoted as saying this in 1979 in response to allegations that he'd raped a 13 year old girl:
"If I had killed somebody, it wouldn't have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But... fucking you see, and the young girls. Judges want to fuck young girls. Juries want to fuck young girls. Everyone wants to fuck young girls!"
Yuck. The second most disturbing thing about this is that he has actual supporters, famous ones too. Some of them say the media is causing an undeserved frenzy. Why is Hollywood willing to ignore these things? I know Michael Jackson was a very sad twisted individual but that he probably never understood the harm he was causing. I feel like Polanski does understand. He's been hiding out in France for years until recently where he now faces extradition. His current supporters include Penelope Cruz, Tilda Swinton and Monica Belluci. Three women, all defending someone who raped and sodomized a 13 year old girl. Kirstie Alley is one who is not defending the director writing on Twitter "JUST FOR THE RECORD....RAPE IS RAPE...this is one HOLLYWOOD STAR who does not CELEBRATE or DEFEND Roman Polanski..his ART did not RAPE her."
Pete Townshend of 'The Who' is now on the national registry for sex offenders for paying to access a child pornography site in 1999. He has since claimed that he may have been molested as a child and that he hoped the images would help jog his memory of such an incident. Try hypnotherapy Pete. There is no excuse for looking at child porn.
Mackenzie Phillips recently wrote a book about her life that claims her father, musician John Phillips of 'Mamas and the Papas' fame molested her at a very young age. She was also quoted as saying, "I don't hate him. I understand that he was a very tortured man and passed that torture down to me." She went on to urge others to not hate him for what he did. I have a hard time not hating a man who had sex with his own daughter. Hate should be revised though, I hate how society works. I know there are reasons for everything and that people are tortured and miserable. Some people have hedonistic views and simply don't see the wrong in what they are doing. It doesn't make the action any worse, no matter your views. John Phillips ruined his daughter's mind. She became confused and started acting out in any way she could. We've seen this time and time again.
Oprah Winfrey has admitted to being repeatedly sexually abused by members of her family. She is a great exception to this rule. The rule of the inevitable demise of the human soul in response to abuse. Someone who is touched inappropriately or beaten or even emotionally battered for any amount of time could simply never recover. Others go on to live happy lives who draw strength from their negative experiences. Who knows what separates these two types of people. It is not a weakness to not be able to recover from such tragedy. But it certainly is a strength if you do somehow manage.
I just want to convey that just because someone is famous does not mean they should not be treated as if they are your next-door neighbor. If you saw your neighbor on the news you'd be frightened. So be frightened when you turn on your TV and see the next celebrity pleading guilty or not guilty to these crimes. Their indiscretions WILL continue to seep out of the woodwork. Don't be so blinded by talent. Victims of molestation often grow up with so much hatred and confusion they end up molesting others. It is the same with people who are physically abused at a young age. The majority of men who beat their wives were beaten themselves and so on. Do not turn a blind eye to this. On another note, don't accuse people without being certain. Most of society considers pedophiles to be the worst kind of criminals. Pointing a finger at someone without proof can be devastating to their future.
Donations for helping the cause of victims of rape and incest can be made at this website - https://donate.rainn.org
