Every once in a while I take a stab at making a political statement. I don’t always think ‘politically,’ so it’s not something I am well versed in. But I shall attempt to do so once again.
It’s Back to Business as Usual for Roman Polanski. Back in 1977 he was charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl, but pled guilty to "unlawful sex with a minor." Then he sneaked out of the country before his sentence could be pronounced. He has had a United States outstanding warrant for arrest since then, and an international arrest warrant since 2005, but eluded capture for over 30 years. Until last year. In September 2009 he was arrested while in Switzerland, and they actually agreed to hold him when the US requested extradition. Earlier this month, the Swiss decided his fate.
Switzerland will not extradite him to the US for his crime many years ago against a young girl. He is a “free man.”
Why should we be shocked? Hollywood (The Film Industry) has always said it was OK to (figuratively and literally) f**k people over, even children. Yet, we continue to support this industry. I mean, if no one went to the movies or bought DVDs, they wouldn’t be in business. But alas, I don’t foresee this happening. We are addicted to our own entertainment. We are! Me, more than most, I think. I saw over 100 movies last year, (most of them borrowed DVDs) and I’m working on coming close to that this year.
But what if, what if, we had the huevos to boycott the movies!! What if we said, “Behavior of many studio heads, producers (especially), directors (i.e. Polanski) and actors is reprehensible. You do awful things, that if done in the mainstream sector of the population would result in public and media scorn, derision, denunciation, ostracizing, even jail time. We demand behavior change. We demand that M. Polanski be served his just dessert. This would require that actors, directors, producers, et al refuse to work with him until he returns to the US for Sentencing. We demand that Hollywood take to task Mr. Mel Gibson (and others like him) for their abusive behavior in that they (the film industry) will no longer work with said deviants until there is evidence of 1) Sincere Remorse, and 2) Changed Behavior. We demand that individuals curtail their lascivious, immature, and immoral behaviors. This would again require that those in the film industry refuse to work with those committing these types of offensive deeds. And to show you that we really mean it, we – none of us - will go to a movie at a theatre or buy a DVD for the period of three months. If you don’t ‘get’ that we mean it by then, then we will start up a new period of boycotting – say, six months. And so on, for however long it takes.”
Wow - wouldn’t it be truly awesome if we sent that kind of a message? We would see how powerful as a people we are. I know - this is just a silly dream. I think I could do it. There have been years that I don’t go to a movie at all. I just got too busy in my life to think about it. But I feel strongly that 90% of the American population could not, would not do it. We could make a difference if we could. My son Shawn often says, “Vote with your dollars.” Regrettable that this will likely never happen.
It’s Back to Business as Usual for Roman Polanski. Back in 1977 he was charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl, but pled guilty to "unlawful sex with a minor." Then he sneaked out of the country before his sentence could be pronounced. He has had a United States outstanding warrant for arrest since then, and an international arrest warrant since 2005, but eluded capture for over 30 years. Until last year. In September 2009 he was arrested while in Switzerland, and they actually agreed to hold him when the US requested extradition. Earlier this month, the Swiss decided his fate.
Switzerland will not extradite him to the US for his crime many years ago against a young girl. He is a “free man.”
Why should we be shocked? Hollywood (The Film Industry) has always said it was OK to (figuratively and literally) f**k people over, even children. Yet, we continue to support this industry. I mean, if no one went to the movies or bought DVDs, they wouldn’t be in business. But alas, I don’t foresee this happening. We are addicted to our own entertainment. We are! Me, more than most, I think. I saw over 100 movies last year, (most of them borrowed DVDs) and I’m working on coming close to that this year.
But what if, what if, we had the huevos to boycott the movies!! What if we said, “Behavior of many studio heads, producers (especially), directors (i.e. Polanski) and actors is reprehensible. You do awful things, that if done in the mainstream sector of the population would result in public and media scorn, derision, denunciation, ostracizing, even jail time. We demand behavior change. We demand that M. Polanski be served his just dessert. This would require that actors, directors, producers, et al refuse to work with him until he returns to the US for Sentencing. We demand that Hollywood take to task Mr. Mel Gibson (and others like him) for their abusive behavior in that they (the film industry) will no longer work with said deviants until there is evidence of 1) Sincere Remorse, and 2) Changed Behavior. We demand that individuals curtail their lascivious, immature, and immoral behaviors. This would again require that those in the film industry refuse to work with those committing these types of offensive deeds. And to show you that we really mean it, we – none of us - will go to a movie at a theatre or buy a DVD for the period of three months. If you don’t ‘get’ that we mean it by then, then we will start up a new period of boycotting – say, six months. And so on, for however long it takes.”
Wow - wouldn’t it be truly awesome if we sent that kind of a message? We would see how powerful as a people we are. I know - this is just a silly dream. I think I could do it. There have been years that I don’t go to a movie at all. I just got too busy in my life to think about it. But I feel strongly that 90% of the American population could not, would not do it. We could make a difference if we could. My son Shawn often says, “Vote with your dollars.” Regrettable that this will likely never happen.
Victoria J Mecham
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