Iran, Polanski, and Olympics

October 1, 2009 by Marc Lamont Hill

This week, I’m addressing three questions that people have been asking me all week:

Is it possible to avoid a military showdown with Iran?

Absolutely. Although Iranian President Ahmadinejad continues to thumb his nose at the United States and Israel by test-firing missiles and refusing weapons inspections, it is entirely possible to avoid a full-scale war. To do this, the United States and its allies must be willing to fulfill their promise of economic sanctions against Iran, which cannot function without healthy economic relationships with nations and financial institutions around the globe. More importantly, they must successfully enlist the help of Russia or China in order to make the economic pressure appropriately severe. While there’s zero chance of getting Chinese support, it appears that Russia is willing to play ball, especially now that Obama has agreed to scrap plans for building a nuclear shield in Eastern Europe. Contrary to what many have argued, Ahmadinejad is not crazy; he will stop developing nuclear weapons rather than setting himself up to be the next Saddam Hussein.

Isn’t it safe to say that Roman Polanski has only been free all these years because he’s white?

First and foremost, we live in a society that doesn’t take the protection of female bodies seriously. Part of the reason why 60 percent of sexual offenses against women go unreported is because of the indifference that many Americans, both men and women, have to rape. Another issue is class, as poor people rarely have the legal means or financial opportunity to escape in the manner that Polanksi did. Another issue is the power of celebrity, which allows many people to see Polanski as a world-class director rather than a child rapist. Is race a factor as well? Of course. After all, it’s safe to say that, in the exact same circumstances, Spike Lee would have been extradited decades ago. Still, race is not the biggest factor.

Doesn’t Obama have more pressing duties than going to Europe to get the Olympics?

At any other political moment, the idea of our president fighting to get the Olympics in our country would be a source of national pride. In the case of Obama, however, the narrative is being spun to seem as if he’s asleep at the wheel. In a world of high technology and global communication, I’m pretty sure that the president can do his job on the road. Besides, maybe this trip will stop him from making another prime-time speech!

Categories: MLH
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8 Comments

1. MLL wrote:

Dr. Hill’s opening to Pt. 2 just made me stand up a little taller.

Anyway about the Polanski/race issue, I’d say we should just ask Michael Jackson, but unfortunately he was convicted to death, so to speak, without being proven guilty.

So…yeah.

October 2, 2009 @ 3:23 am

2. james wrote:

while i have no sympathy for polanski’s predicament, his ability to escape the law, in his case, obviously, has been purely his celebrity status. not sure that class is really an issue as poor people who commit these kinds of crimes may not always get charged with them and can flee just as easily by disappearing into another time and place. anonymity and poverty are great disguises.

iran does not scare me at all. they have way too much to lose and are amongst the most educated peoples in the middle east.

as for obama and the olympics, i don’t have a problem with him making a personal bid for america and his adopted hometown. now his critics are accusing him of a certain amount of callousness in regards to that bid, asking how come he hasn’t said anything about the latest horrifying crime to hit chicago, as if obama has the ability to stop street crimes. i’m not quite sure why obama’s critics don’t want an american city to host the olympics. anybody know?

October 2, 2009 @ 10:07 am

3. jordan wrote:

I’m surprised by how many people will admit Polanski raped the girl, but don’t think he should go to prison because Prison Is Terrible. People are amazingly vocal about how prison is terrible when the person who might go is white, old and famous or someone they love, and amazingly callous the rest of the time.

October 2, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

4. dan wesson wrote:

america is so fed up with the race card..get over it..put the little card back in your lunchbox…race seems to be a issue about every breathing problem revolving this planet…so what,,,was race a issue on the olympics? you bet…and if george bush would have had tea instead of coffee this am the worlds climate change would only need one mighty al gore g.e. powered windmill instead of two for all global force globanator ceiling fans inwhich would power the all new greeny meany polushinator to paint every new panel white on the reroofanator transforming down to the bullshitinator inwhich all you dedumbinators can purchase , use and enjoy on the island you must buy to actually useanator them….cuz…it aint happening in this united states of america……take that to a bank ( ones that d.c dont already own)

October 2, 2009 @ 5:16 pm

5. Mario wrote:

Even if we wanted to go to war in Iran, what army do we have left to do so? I really think that the right just uses the middle east for fear tactics to be elected. How in the world can Iran threaten America? Strange how the same people who claim America is invincible act like Iran or the Taliban just need one weapon or control of Afghanistan to wipe America off the planet.

It’s a shame that Obama can’t do anything without the right complaining. I guess they’re happy that Rio de Janeiro was judged as a better city than Chicago.

October 2, 2009 @ 9:29 pm

6. Corve DaCosta wrote:

Obama going to Denmark was not only critical but others heads of states were there and it would certainly look odd not to have seen him there.

The rhetoric that was going around that Obama going to Denmark was a waste of time was a popular one because he isn’t involved in the issues. I know he is behind the scenes working hard but come on the Afghanistan issue – where the commander is saying he only spoke to Obama once; I want to see Obama work harder on health care reform – play a role in the legislative process if he really cares that much about it.

All of the issues that he is facing made the public saw the trip as a waste of time. The Chicago team in Denmark also placed a huge role in how Obama was seen. He was seen as a savior coming to put a win in the bag for the state of Chicago even though if you look at the video presentations Chicago was way off – they could never have won. This made Obama look stupid and people laughed at him.

The Obamas Michelle and Barack speeches were also inadequate. Michelle talking about sitting on her dad’s lap at 20 years old, come on. Barack making his speech all about him and America – that isn’t what the Olympics is about.

Bad for Chicago, Bad for Obama, Good for Rio

October 4, 2009 @ 7:04 pm

7. Nila wrote:

About Iran –

I think ideally, people wouldn’t want a war.

On the other hand, Marc, I’d love to know where you get your information on Iran. Because I actually just spent the summer there (about 3 months) and I kind of have a decent understanding on the economic situation there as well as what is on people’s minds.

I’d like to mention firstly that while I was in Iran, the number one issue that concerned Iranians (and I guess it’s more accurate if I say Tehrani people) were concerned about the economy and jobs.

From my experience, uranium enrichment was not talked about a lot – and I think that people in rural areas as well as urban areas would appreciate the power not going out at least a couple times a week for hours at times if they had nuclear energy.

I also want to mention that sanctions work if only we assume that a leader is compassionate to his people, which in this case it isn’t, and we would be punishing the PEOPLE of Iran. I love how people are like “yeah! let’s put sanctions on Iran” without even thinking it through fully. Do we want to isolate and further penalize and weaken the Iranian people? Or do we want to help the Iranian people, and equip them in a way so that they actually have the power to fight back.

Your view on sanctioning Iran is neither progressive, tactful nor right for this situation. These are exactly the short-sighted views that get the U.S in trouble with other countries year after year. Maybe you can check out Reza Aslan – he’s really critical and usually pretty balanced on the issue of Iran. He has a blog on the dailybeast and this short clip might give you better insight into Iran. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXlvQ0NTakI

By the way, going on Fox news only legitimizes their bullshit. You can’t argue in that realm – it just doesn’t make any sense. In addition to that, they put a spin on everything.

October 4, 2009 @ 9:56 pm

8. Sean Christo (15) wrote:

“Isn’t it safe to say that Roman Polanski has only been free all these years because he’s white?” Get over yourself. I would be willing to bet that the only person who actually thinks about the color of a person’s skin in a situation like this is you.

October 8, 2009 @ 4:44 pm

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