March 23, 2003
NIGHT OF THE LOCUSTS:
In a moment nearly surreal, the BBC just had a report from the Academy Awards where Michael Moore asked what lesson we taught the children of Columbine this week: "That violence is a legitimate way to solve problems". Then they announced that child rapist Roman Polanski had just won the Best Director award. What lesson did Mr. Moore and his friends teach the children of Columbine tonight?
Posted by Orrin Judd at March 23, 2003 11:59 PMI suppose you meant that rhetorically, but I
have always felt that violence was a way to
solve problems.
I agree, but child rape rarely seems a thing worth honoring. If Polanski were a priest you'd be screaming, right?
Posted by: oj at March 24, 2003 7:36 AMFrom what I know of the case both Polanski and the girl in question (who doesn't hold any grudges) were incredibly drunk at the time and it didn't seem like a case of sexual assault.
And in any case shouldn't the work in question be judged on its' merits and not the moral failings of its' creator?
Moore's bluster was predictably moronic but the speech by O'Toole was well worth watching.
Ali:
Consent is no defense to statutory rape. And, no, it's not appropriate for an industry to honor people who are despicable, no matter how good their art.
I was speaking of violence generally, not any
particular event. Although when people
mention violence I always think first of the
most humane act of World War II, the nuclear
destruction of a Japanese army base, thus
trading some 140,000 guilty Japanese lives
for some unknown but larger number of
innocent Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Burmese,
American etc. lives.
Coming soon, no doubt, to a theater near you:
"Polanski" -- produced, written and directed by Olive Stone. The story of a horse and the boy who loved him. Oh, wait a minute. That was "Fury". Never mind.
Olive Pitt, I think
Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 24, 2003 3:34 PMWasn't that Equus?
Posted by: oj at March 24, 2003 5:05 PM