parresia

I don't know anything about Santa Barbara County in particular, but in some police departments have a rule that all suspects who get arrested and put in the car is handcuffed -- in back -- first. And Roman Polanski skipped bail when he was up on child molestation charges, and I think he (unlike Jaques Brel) is alive and well and living in Paris.

How Michael Jackson has been treated by the police is no different than how anyone else suspected of these crimes would have been treated. Oh, there are a few differences, all of which are in favor of Mr. Jackson. Your average citizen would not have been allowed to determine the time and place that they would deliver themselves to the police. Your average citizen would have spent at least one night in jail, and certainly would not have been allowed to leave the state after being booked. Your average citizen would immediately lost custody of his children upon being booked on charges of child molestation. Your average citizen would not be lauded on the media as a 'victim' of public opinion, he would be characterized as a predator.

No - if this had happened to your average citizen treatment in the arena of public opinion would be very, very different. This case does not shows a judicial system that is 'out to get' Mr. Jackson. It shows how the very wealthy are treated with kid gloves when they commit - oh, excuse me, - are suspected of committing one of the most heinous crimes one could commit.

BTW, I don't need to wait for judge and jury to decide innocence or guilt before I can come to the conclusion that Michael Jackson is, at the very least, a seriously disturbed individual who should be allowed nowhere near children. I don't come to this conclusion because Jackson is "strange, disfigured, and recluse". I come to this conclusion because he is an adult man who has announced that he likes to share his bed with children who are not related to him.

Jerry,

My understanding is that virtually all officers are given the discretion to use handcuffs when they believe it to be appropriate. Maybe there is a "rule" somewhere on the books, but I'd be willing to bet that, with MJ, they were told to enforce that rule. Unfortunately, we're all just speculating here.

As for Polanski, I believe the situation is different because of his citizenship and that relationship to extradition, not to mention the nature of his case being quite different. If MJ, an American citizen, were to "flee" to Europe, we'd have him extradited within two months. Again, this is all in the world of speculation.

Interesting points, Jerry.

****************************

Daniel,

You seem to equate (at least logically) being "booked" and being "convicted." You believe the public sentiment is justified because MJ has been "booked." I simply disagree.

The very-wealthy being treated with "kid-gloves" is nothing new. Due process does not necessarily mean equal treatment-- often it means special treatment in order to be fair.

So you have come to the conclusion that MJ is disturbed; perhaps you're right about that, perhaps you're not. Regardless, being disturbed does not automatically make one guilty of a crime, nor necessarily a danger to children.

I think that it is very very clear that Michael Jackson is a disturbed individual. Have you listened to his interviews? How can you say "perhaps you're right about that, perhaps your not" ???

Jeremy,

Perhaps my previous comment was not clear enough. Very likely given that I'm not always as erudite as I'd like to think I am.

I believe, and I have MJ's own comments to back me up on this, that MJ has engaged in some very disturbing behavior that is certainly immoral and puts his immortal soul in peril. The man admitted in a public interview that he likes to share his bed with children not related to him, and that it is a beautiful thing for him to 'share' his 'love' with them. Do I have to wait until a court of law decides whether or not a his behavior is illegal before I can comment on whether or not that behavior is immoral?

MJ deserves to be condemned in the 'court' of public opinion. Now whether he spends time in jail for this is a seperate question. I will grant you that at this point in time, I tend toward believing in his guilt, especially given what he, himself, has admitted. BTW, defaming the reputation of the child and his mother and father does not constitute evidence of MJ's innocence. It does strike me that some adults were 'pimping' their children to MJ for their own reasons. Disgusting!!

Just ask yourself this, if you had children would you be sending them to MJ's Neverland ranch for sleep-overs? I know if I had children, they would not be allowed near the man because I think he is a dangerous pedaphile.

mark my words -- jacko will be fleeing to paris -- he has a farewell meeting with friends and family planned this weekend and he will be off -- his main market is europe and thats where he wants to secure his new record deal -- also, europeans are far more liberated than americans so he'll be less judged (as long as he chooses Paris or Zurich and not London) -- and if Polanski is any measure -- his career will be based on its merit -- not this case.