Congratulations, Polanski-Defenders -- Now the Child-Rapist Walks Free!

Polanski has defended his behavior, saying that it is only in puritanical America where such things are condemned and that it is quite acceptable in France.



"In our society you have to be a 17 year old before it is not considered under age."

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Not that it matters what other countries do, but since you brought it up, up until very recently arranged marriages in France with "children" were legal.



In other cultures inside the US, it's was and is legal to marry what you're calling "children".



In New Hampshire, girls can get married at 13 years old.



In Kansas and Mississippi, you can get married at 15.



In Georgia, you can get married at 16. In 1977, it was 13.



http://books.google.com/books?id=JR4X1DQqCBQC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=%22marriage+age%22+%222005%22+%22france%22&source=bl&ots=_s-RJbWC5g&sig=TZlYFvOgEeuhV7g7QSr-Ljel9zw&hl=en&ei=0-XGSvqLDJOEswPc3tChBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=%22marriage%20age%22%20%222005%22%20%22france%22&f=false



http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-133755169/sidelights-france-senate-raises.html



http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/04/historical-variation-in-age-at-first-marriage.php



http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/datasets?tag=marriage&sort=rating
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