We Can Learn So Much From the French: More About Culture

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Update (December 6, 2009)

Roman Polanski, that award-winning and highly talented child rapist, is facing justice: European style. Looks like he's under house arrest - in a Swiss chalet.

And who says crime doesn't pay - for the right people?

Of course, there's the possibility that the Swiss government will decide to go along with an American request for extradition. Or, not.
(Arnd Wiegmann, via Reuters, used w/o permission)

• "Hey honey, watch me moon these guys!"
  Oddly Enough, Reuters blog (December 6, 2009)
• "Polanski's luxury house arrest"
  Chicago Tribune (December 5, 2009)
• ""
  Arts, Briefly, The New York Times (December 4, 2009)

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I've made the point - often - that Islam isn't a single, huge, monolithic, homogeneous block of people. More recently, I've mentioned that the West is the same way.

Like the French government's shielding a child rapist (alleged, of course) because he's a great filmmaker. That's a very close paraphrase of a French government spokesperson's statement.

Turns out, many people living in France may not be quite so, ah, open-minded:

"France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for "young boys" in Thailand.

The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following his impassioned support for Roman Polanski.

Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland on child sex charges.

Mr Mitterrand, nephew of former President Francois Mitterrand, has come under attack from right and left. ..."
(BBC)

Maybe the French wouldn't have minded so much if their Culture Minister had restricted his hanky-panky to young girls? Or been a great filmmaker?

Or, maybe France has the same disconnect between the 'better sort' who run things, and the 'pool, uneducated and easily led' Janes and Joes who actually make things run.

Related post:

• "Roman Polanski, Queen Boudicca, France and Special Rules for Special People"
  (September 28, 2009)

In the news:

• "French minister in 'boy sex' row"
  BBC (October 8, 2009)