The Class War: Mumia > Polanski
The facts are these:
I begin with a simple equation, a concept so apparent in my mind that I consider it irrefutable:
Mumia Abu-Jamal pled his innocence but was sentenced to prison under the death penalty during a time when COINTELPRO(1) was in operation at what was arguably the height of its powers. He was targeted, he was harassed, he was railroaded and he is slated to be assassinated by the state for the overwhelming crime of politics and racial advocacy. There are people who believe Mumia Abu-Jamal was rightfully and fairly convicted of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Those people are incorrect. People around the world recognize him as a political prisoner, and his continued incarceration is an insult to every person of African descent from "a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me and myself, because they never did," a point inelegantly expressed by the overly passionate Kanye West with Mike Myers(2)
Roman Polanski pled guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor" and then fled the country to escape prosecution.(3) He was not a subject of oppression nor of undue political pressures -- he was rich and well-liked and a member of Hollywood's gliteratti before that became something tawdry and TMZ-ed out. There are people who believe that extenuating circumstances excuse not only a then 44-year-old man sticking himself inside of a 13-year-old girl(4) and then fleeing justice to live, rich and happy, in his multiple chalets in other countries. These people are incorrect. People around the world recognize him as a talented film maker who humped a child, and his continued flight from justice is an insult to every person in the US who has actually had to be arrested and go through the criminal justice system like a normal person without an international community of enablers to advocate on their behalf.
What has Mumia inspired? What has Polanski inspired? Weigh the two, on the long scale, on the overwhelming scope of human history.
I reiterate, Mumia > Polanski. Consider that proven.
Therefore, I say that any discussion of Polanski's case -- its sordid details, its politicians wringing their hands in indignation or outrage or whatever they think their constituents want to see -- be tabled until Mumia Abu-Jamal's case is settled beyond all reasonable doubt, as it has not been as of now. Moreover, before we get to Polanski, we'd have to settle Leonard Peltier, Donovan Jackson, Malice Green and so many other people who have been done wrong by the US "justice" system and the overwhelming dis-service done to them. He'll be fine. He's in jail in Switzerland, they're very nice people.
I've had people -- irresponsible people, I believe -- try to argue the "merits" of the case against Mumia and the case for Polanski. I've also seen stuff like this and people who believe that the earth is 4,000 years old. I lump all of those people together in my mind: evolutionary dead ends, the shallow end of the gene pool, unworthy of being called "human" or "sentient" let alone conversing with normal people. The Crazification Factor.
Let's speak of them no more.
But let's deal with what's important and stop indulging conversations about what's not.
Playing (Music): "Heard 'Em All" remix by Amerie feat. Lil Wayne
I begin with a simple equation, a concept so apparent in my mind that I consider it irrefutable:
Mumia Abu-Jamal > Roman PolanskiIn case you're as bad at math as I once was, let me clarify: the events, circumstances and ramifications of the life of Mumia Abu-Jamal -- noted activist, part-time cab driver, journalist, radio personality, news commentator and broadcaster -- are more important in every possible way than the events, circumstances and ramifications of the life of Roman Polanski -- film director, producer, writer, and actor. Why? Well, that's showing your work on the equation, but I'll try to brush up on my math skills and work it out for you.
Mumia Abu-Jamal pled his innocence but was sentenced to prison under the death penalty during a time when COINTELPRO(1) was in operation at what was arguably the height of its powers. He was targeted, he was harassed, he was railroaded and he is slated to be assassinated by the state for the overwhelming crime of politics and racial advocacy. There are people who believe Mumia Abu-Jamal was rightfully and fairly convicted of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Those people are incorrect. People around the world recognize him as a political prisoner, and his continued incarceration is an insult to every person of African descent from "a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me and myself, because they never did," a point inelegantly expressed by the overly passionate Kanye West with Mike Myers(2)
Roman Polanski pled guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor" and then fled the country to escape prosecution.(3) He was not a subject of oppression nor of undue political pressures -- he was rich and well-liked and a member of Hollywood's gliteratti before that became something tawdry and TMZ-ed out. There are people who believe that extenuating circumstances excuse not only a then 44-year-old man sticking himself inside of a 13-year-old girl(4) and then fleeing justice to live, rich and happy, in his multiple chalets in other countries. These people are incorrect. People around the world recognize him as a talented film maker who humped a child, and his continued flight from justice is an insult to every person in the US who has actually had to be arrested and go through the criminal justice system like a normal person without an international community of enablers to advocate on their behalf.
What has Mumia inspired? What has Polanski inspired? Weigh the two, on the long scale, on the overwhelming scope of human history.
I reiterate, Mumia > Polanski. Consider that proven.
Therefore, I say that any discussion of Polanski's case -- its sordid details, its politicians wringing their hands in indignation or outrage or whatever they think their constituents want to see -- be tabled until Mumia Abu-Jamal's case is settled beyond all reasonable doubt, as it has not been as of now. Moreover, before we get to Polanski, we'd have to settle Leonard Peltier, Donovan Jackson, Malice Green and so many other people who have been done wrong by the US "justice" system and the overwhelming dis-service done to them. He'll be fine. He's in jail in Switzerland, they're very nice people.
I've had people -- irresponsible people, I believe -- try to argue the "merits" of the case against Mumia and the case for Polanski. I've also seen stuff like this and people who believe that the earth is 4,000 years old. I lump all of those people together in my mind: evolutionary dead ends, the shallow end of the gene pool, unworthy of being called "human" or "sentient" let alone conversing with normal people. The Crazification Factor.
Let's speak of them no more.
But let's deal with what's important and stop indulging conversations about what's not.
Playing (Music): "Heard 'Em All" remix by Amerie feat. Lil Wayne
FOOTNOTES:
(1) = COINTELPRO isn't even denied anymore. There's not even a "dude, sorry for oppressing everybody who tried to make things better for your people." Not even a gift basket for the murdered activists. That's cold, joe.
(2) = The one from Austin Powers, not the one from Halloween.
(3) = So he not only admitted guilt to one heinous crime, but he committed a second to dodge being punished for the first. Sweet.
(4) = These facts are in evidence, even through his own admission. Even R. Kelly stopped to deny doing some crazy isht.
posted by Hannibal Tabu, The Operative at
3:55 PM
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