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Serb language, anyone?
Jan. 16th, 2010 07:52 pmI know a lot of people's eyes pass this LJ - is anyone at all proficient in the Serb language (well, Serbian, I think there's more than one official language in the country) or have good knowledge of the country? I'm good at looking up info on newspapers/publications where I understand the language, but when it's something I can't read, I'm admittedly lost.
The reason I ask is this little item at Oh No They Didn't quoting Johnny Depp as defending Roman Polanski. It links back to an article here. This has aroused my curiosity and I'm wondering a few things:
1. What is the translation of this article? I don't trust Google translation and other online services to do much for me in an official sense, honestly.
2. Are his quotes on ONTD true and if so, in context? (Context is very important, not only for me as an editor, but for you as a reader. There's a big difference, for example, between saying "This is a good man" and "He acted like a douchebag when he did that, yes, but he is a good man now." The remark may not be true either way, but it represents two different thought processes for the speaker.)
3. Is this a reputable publication, or is it the Serb equivalent of the National Enquirer or OK! magazine? Makes a difference.
As I said, this has aroused my curiosity as a journalist. Much as I like Depp, I can live without his movies from this point forward (and yes, if it turns out he does support Polanski being acquitted/left free, I have no problem ignoring his projects in the future. I can separate art from person for almost anything else, but something like this is a real pisser for my enjoyment, sadly).*
*ETA: I was going to strikethrough on the last paragraph, but it'd be easier to explain. As a commenter noted, it seems by this remark I'm mostly concerned with Polanski serving his sentence. Actually, I'm not (and I hope the rest of this post reflects that) - the American justice system is highly flawed (as in, if it were up to me, child molesters would be locked away and never see daylight again - I'm much nastier and less forgiving than the courts on this point). I'm more annoyed by the idea someone might side with his actions in committing a crime and then escaping having to suffer any punishment for it - but mostly with the commission of said crime. I think if you're well over adult age and you fuck a 13-year-old - well, that's a crime for life, sort of like non-defense murder.
The reason I ask is this little item at Oh No They Didn't quoting Johnny Depp as defending Roman Polanski. It links back to an article here. This has aroused my curiosity and I'm wondering a few things:
1. What is the translation of this article? I don't trust Google translation and other online services to do much for me in an official sense, honestly.
2. Are his quotes on ONTD true and if so, in context? (Context is very important, not only for me as an editor, but for you as a reader. There's a big difference, for example, between saying "This is a good man" and "He acted like a douchebag when he did that, yes, but he is a good man now." The remark may not be true either way, but it represents two different thought processes for the speaker.)
3. Is this a reputable publication, or is it the Serb equivalent of the National Enquirer or OK! magazine? Makes a difference.
As I said, this has aroused my curiosity as a journalist. Much as I like Depp, I can live without his movies from this point forward (and yes, if it turns out he does support Polanski being acquitted/left free, I have no problem ignoring his projects in the future. I can separate art from person for almost anything else, but something like this is a real pisser for my enjoyment, sadly).*
*ETA: I was going to strikethrough on the last paragraph, but it'd be easier to explain. As a commenter noted, it seems by this remark I'm mostly concerned with Polanski serving his sentence. Actually, I'm not (and I hope the rest of this post reflects that) - the American justice system is highly flawed (as in, if it were up to me, child molesters would be locked away and never see daylight again - I'm much nastier and less forgiving than the courts on this point). I'm more annoyed by the idea someone might side with his actions in committing a crime and then escaping having to suffer any punishment for it - but mostly with the commission of said crime. I think if you're well over adult age and you fuck a 13-year-old - well, that's a crime for life, sort of like non-defense murder.
