can you still be Switzerland?

I generally like to stay neutral when it comes to celebrities and their personal lives. For me it's hard to combine the fucked up way Michael Jackson acted like in private, with the brilliance of what he did musically. In fact, I believe that an artist has to separate the two just to stay sane. And it goes for people I like, and for people that I don't. Take Kanye West. This douche bag can't keep his mouth shut when he has to, but I still like his music. I probably won't go see his show, or buy another album, but I like it. Many Celebrities that have serious talent, are fuckin weirdos in real life. Can you blame them? Nothing is real. The fame, the money, the hookers. And I don't mean the celebrities that are famous, because they're famous for being celebrities. (Cast of the Hills, I'm lookin at you) I heard a quote from Kim Kardashian where she complained that it was hard sometimes when everything you do is being watched...you're on a fucking show called keeping up with the Kardashians and you're surprised. Fuckin narcissist. If you want a real life don't be the producer of the show starring yourself. Idiot.



Some, more than others, have serious difficulty with what comes with celebrity. And nowadays, there are tweets, and blogs (like this!) and TMZ, and Perez Hilton all awaiting you to slip up. Say the wrong thing and some douche that says he's a "reporter" for TMZ and he videotapes you trying to get to your car. Then they compile the vids for a half-hour show with some asshole voice-over that rips you apart. The best is they show them all sitting around a fake news room talking about how much of an asshole you are, while making condescending comments about your career. Do THEY know THEY are also on TV looking like a bunch of DickBags? Why doesn't someone follow their every move then report on...oh yeah. No one would watch. I love a good sex-tape as much as the next creepy stay at home Dad, but half the people these guys criticize aren't newsworthy(then air it anyway) And Perez is the only one getting sucker punched around here? The shit part about him getting hit is that he took some shots at the Toronto police for not reacting quicker. And he's from LA. Nobody anywhere cares about that fight. AND you, an openly gay man, called him a faggot. Maybe he was offended? I was.



It's hard to stay in the middle of these ridiculous stories when we never really hear the truth. We never know the backroom deals, and the settlements that are made. More people know that Michael Jackson settled in 93 over allegations, than the fact that Jordan Chandler recanted. He claimed his father influenced his testimony to get money. Where do we stand as a public? We have to take the skewed views of the pundits, the media, victim and the accused. From there we stand somewhere in the grey and we make an opinion. Facts can be hard to come by when a celebrity scandal is at it's height. Take the Kobe Bryant case. We know they had sex. We know the charges were dropped, because the victim refused to testify. And we know that Kobe settled with her out of court and she now has a shit load of money. He's still an amazing athlete, and last year won another NBA championship. People still buy his jersey's and they still go and see him. I doubt he still picks up random chicks without a four page affidavit, and once it's notarized he'll sleep with you. It was stupid to sleep with that girl. And it cost him reputation, respect and I assume a wheel barrel full of 100's.



This leads me to Switzerland. The land that we've all used in some argument that we don't want to be a part of. "I'm Switzerland" Meaning you abstain from any kind of decision. Its usually childish, and partly humerous. But from now on the phrase will mean a whole new thing for me. On September 26, director Roman Polanski was arrested in Zurich Switzerland for an outstanding warrant in the US dating back 1978. For years I didn't know anything about the case other than he took off after pleading guilty to having sex with a minor. Serious stuff. And sure we all feel bad that he was in Poland during WWII, and that his pregnant wife was slain by the Manson family. If anyone had a fucked up life going into this proceeding, it was him. That does not discount the horror that he bestowed on a 13 yr old girl. There are a lot of opinions about this case. Why did her actress mother allow her 13 yr old daughter to be photographed by Polanski? She'd been to their parties, she new who he was. It wasn't even the first time that a photo session went on. Is Polanksi a pedophile? Drugs, alcohol, fame, fortune and an already noted passion for younger women. Does this play a factor in his behaviour? The girl? I don't know. The one thing that we do know about this case are facts. And that's rare. Similar to the Kobe case, the girl was not going to testify, but evidence pointed out that Polanski and the girl definitely had sex. He plead guilty to a lesser charge and effectively went about fulfilling his sentence. Many of this is in the documentary Roman Polanski:wanted and desired. Fittingly on The Movie Network right now. This doc reveals some serious misuse of power in the judicial system, and all but gives the viewer every reason why Polanski left. The prosecutor of the case actually says that he's not surprised at all that he fled. The judge had orchestrated most of the moves for his own ego and career, but then began to fall back on his original deal. Both Polanki's lawyer and the DA's prosecutor agreed that the judge was acting illegally, and that Polanski had(right or wrong) fulfilled his obligation to the court. His time had been served, he had paid a shit load of money to the victim. End of story.



Yet, 32 yrs later Polanski was picked up for the outstanding warrant. I guess Switzerland decided that if they weren't going to stand up for him in 1939, why should they now. (I'm sorry about that jab) The victim has forgiven him, the old prosecutor is willing to testify on his behalf, his personal image in North America is destroyed. Polanski is 75 yrs old and is one the world's greatest director. I'm not ruling out the fact that the producer of the documentary isn't responsible for his arrest. Movie people are sick, and love Oscars. He had to watch from his home in France as he won the Oscar for best director. He buried his late wife after one of the most publicized murder cases in American history and he had a terrifying childhood in a Holocaust riddled Poland.



Personal feelings about somebody can be hard to let go of. Especially when we don't actually know them. I argued before that Michael Vick should not be shunned by anyone. Animal lover or not. He committed a crime, payed his price, did his time and has made a successful transition back into society. Isn't that what you want when someone is convicted of a crime? Isn't that the idea of punishment? Roman Polanski did what he has was told, and completed his punishment. It cost him everything. The young lady has found peace with ordeal, and truly wants it to be over. Between the money, and the time, she has found a middle ground. She had seen the conflict from the front row and no longer wants to be a part of it. If only we had a new analogy to describe her situation. Cause it sure ain't Switzerland.