Polanski's reputation was well-known throughout the community, as was his propensity for um, "little" girls. Aspiring actress, Mum, had already introduced yummy bait-daughter to Polanski as well as other influential personages, and knew full-well what was going on. They were, shall we say, "known" around town... Polanski was acting within his defined (and well-known) propensities. He did not go looking for her...she came to him. Delivered by mum.

Classic blame the victim and in this case the mother, too. Frankly, I don't care if this "yummy" girl has slept with her high school football team and "Mum" was the biggest hooker in Hollywood. This girl was 13, Polanski was a grown man, and he knowingly broke the law. Unless this woman forced Polanski to rape her daughter, he is the one responsible for his actions

In reading this collection of indignant commentary, I am struck by how utterly squeamish Americans are about their sexuality. You live in a different era, and a different social milieu than these people did. At the time, and in those circles, it was not a particularly shocking incident.

What he did was still illegal at the time hence the charges. Also, as someone who is married to a European and lived in Europe, I can honestly say that this has nothing to do with American "squeamishness". However, if it makes me a prude because I don't believe that anyone should be raped-much less a 13 year old CHILD-then so be it.

Young human beings are sexually active--even(!) with older powerful males--all over the planet, and it is accepted within the ranks of those societies as the norm.

Oh, I love this argument. In case you missed the point, Polanski was charged with raping this girl. Yeah, rape is a sad fact in all cultures all over the planet but that does not mean it can or should be condoned.

Also, for argument's sake, even if the sex was consentual this did not take place in the jungles of the Amazon or within a tribe setting in Africa. It took place in U.S. where such actions are illegal. I would think that if you were someone like Polanski and chose live in a country that is not your own you would know that you are expected to abide by the rules. Also, unless I am mistaken, allegations of rape would not have been dismissed in his native France either.

I wonder how these apologists would feel if it was their daughter, niece or even friend's child who had been anally raped. Would they launch into a lecture about American "prudism" or some psuedo-anthropological lecture about underaged sex in different cultures. Or would they proceed to argue that the guy should be let go because, hey, it was the first time he did it and made some good movies?

Few things shock me anymore but this does.

I do not think that by showing that photo "it announces that female celebrities should avoid pressing charges in cases of domestic violence -- maybe even rape -- lest they want to share their bloodied face with the world."

Rihanna is seen as a role model by thousands of young women. The fact that this happened to her proves that it can happen to anyone. Brown was widely seen before this as a "nice guy" and many think that "nice guys" aren't the ones who beat up their girlfriends and wives.

I don't know about everyone else but personally, I will never buy anything Chris Brown ever puts out or endorses again. That photo will forever be in my head as a graphic reminder not to do so.

I thought that this was the lamest Oscarcast I have ever watched in the 21 years I have been watching.

I wish they just would have shown clips and called the winners. Seriously, having past winners give kiss-ass speeches about each of the nominees was too much even for me, and I expect cheese at the Oscars.

Last but not least, I was disappointed Mickey Rourke did not win. Not only did I think he gave the best performance out of the bunch, but at least his speech would have been 1 of the few that had not been edited and looked over by 20 PR people beforehand. Towards the end, I was praying the man would rush the stage and drop the f-bomb if only to keep me from nodding off.

It's scary to think that there are people out there in positions of power who think that a 9 year old rape victim should be forced to bear her rapists' babies.

Where was this "liberal" media during the 8 years of hell that was the Bush Administration?

Gee, Camille, for a self-proclaimed Democrat who mentions her political affliation in every other column you write for salon.com why do you come across as a mouthpiece for the far-right?

a divorce attorney is crying over this lost opportunity.

Seriously, the decision to end this and not be forced into a marriage that neither is prepared for is probably the smartest thing these two ignorant teenagers have ever done.

BTW, did anyone else notice that Levi Johnston stated that they had been broken up for awhile? Gee, and just last month Bristol Palin was telling Faux News they planned to get married in the future.

Just to clarify: The Gosselins did not conceive any of their kids throught IVF. Rather, they used fertility drugs to simulate ovulation, and Kate Gosselin was inseminated with her husband's sperm.

IVF would mean the embryos were created in a petri dish and then transferred to the womb. Did not happen.