Polanski, and Why He Shouldn't be Extradited

Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski has been in the press a lot lately—and not in a good way. The director was in arrested in Switzerland over the weekend and will be extradited to the United States, where he will face the charges made against him in 1977 when he pled guilty to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old.

Now, many Hollywood bigwigs are signing an online petition to have the director freed, according to CNN.com. The petition states that "Polanski is a French citizen, a renowned and international artist now facing extradition." It also states that if Polanski is extradited, his freedom will be robbed.

I recently stumbled upon an article stating why Polanski's crime shouldn't be excused. The author believes that part of the reason Polanski has been allowed to get away with his crime—aside from the obvious reason of him fleeing the country—is that crimes against women are viewed as soft issues, "worthy but marginal."

The author believes that despite the fact that the victim forgave Polanski, he should still be charged. Here is the way I see it: if the victim of the crime has forgiven the victimizer, then what business is it of ours to act on their behalf? Isn't that what the law entails? Acting on a victim's behalf because they can't?

Also, Samantha Geimer, Polanski's victim in the '77 charges, filed court papers in January against a Los Angeles judge to dismiss the charges against the director.

It seems obvious that this has impacted Geimer in a negative way, so I say that Polanski, who is a French citizen, should be left alone in France and so should Geimer.