Liam Neeson

[PatricksRum]

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/liam-neeson-rape-black-man-attack-cosh-cold-pursuit-sexual-assault-interview-a8760866.html

Why is The Independent acting so casual towards this blatant act of racism?

He was racist in that he homogenised all black men into being responsible for one black mans actions. He was racist in thinking he had to take a black mans life to make himself feel better (not justice for his friend). He was racist to pull this story out of the bag to promote his film and throw black people under the bus by doing so. And in light of his comments on metoo and child abuse he’s also a twat.

Great post Faulty.

@SinisterBumFacedCat

I suggest you should listen to John Barnes on today's 'This Morning' programme.
He refers to the blaming a whole group of people for one man's actions.
This was over thirty years ago and Neeson had grown up in a society in the two decades before that. It was a totally different society than the one we live in today.
Ignorance was much more widespread.
It seems people are really not listening to the whole thing and thinking. They hear bits they actually want to be enraged about and are incapable of looking at the wider picture.
It's awful,....everyone thinks it's awful even Neeson himself!
The attitudes that create the situation Neeson was in are still happening today. The media still feed us sensational headlines labelling all members of a race or culture when ONE or a FEW of its people commit crime. This is what should enrage everybody, not a man talking about what he did over thirty years ago ffs!
Many people who are pillars of society now and senior politicians were overtly racist thirty years ago.
Times change, people change. Neeson had an intention all that time ago which HE admits was abhorrent and wrong!
Everyone can ignore all that though and stay self righteous and ignorant.

He’s also a bit of an idiot who might have put himself in danger. He’s probably hopiing he doesn’t bump into a black guy whose sister’s just been raped by a white guy and who has the same kind of warped logic as he does.

I wonder how Doreen Lawrence feels about his words.

He was obviously wrong in how he acted at the time. I can't imagine ever feeling how he did but people react differently when faced with awful situations where loved ones are hurt. He has admitted he was wrong though so I don't know what else people want him to do.

And can I just point out. The one thing that bothers me about this is not the racism (although people thinking he's justified is unsettling), but rather the idea it's okay for a woman to be raped and for the man to make it all about himself. How he feels.

Is it because deep down they still think we're their possessions and because it's like someone took something from him? Albeit 40 years ago, but all those people defending his behaviour as if it's okay for men to behave this way.

My assault does not belong to anyone else but me.

Absolutely spot on @Faultymain5

And can I just point out. The one thing that bothers me about this is not the racism (although people thinking he's justified is unsettling), but rather the idea it's okay for a woman to be raped and for the man to make it all about himself. How he feels.

I think it's a massive jump to assume that he made it all about himself. He could have been a really good friend to this woman throughout but still felt very angry about what happened. When something awful happens to someone you care about, inevitably you have feelings about it. What he did at the time is very wrong, I don't know why he's talking about it, but he has admitted that he was wrong.

A relative of mine was killed by a drunk driver in a stolen car. I felt really angry and sad and did and said things that I now wouldn't as time has passed and that initial anger is gone. I wasn't "making it all about me", but I'm only human and had feelings about the situation even though it didn't happen to me, it still affected me.

He is one of my favourite actors but his career is now over. I can’t believe he has done this. I feel his life could be in danger

I wish he had kept this story to himself. This is due to people’s lack of grace towards such honesty, vulnerability and also the dark truth that he is trying to illuminate which people would rather reject than admit.
I see that he was trying to explain that we all have ‘the beast within’. It takes a certain maturity to recognise the veneer of civility that we hold on to is very fragile. A different set of circumstances and we all have the ability to behave from a carnal and not logical place. Most people would rather hold that at arms length and say.....not me. He was reflective and remorseful but due to the race-bias - which was not the point of the story - but clearly part of the story - was ultimately very unwise to share.

@CatsPawsAndWhiskers
I don't think it is a big jump.

You know that person who always has a bigger and better story? His friend's story was about her rape, and he took that story and is now selling his rage (whilst using questionable language).
That story didn't need to be told. Not because we're uncomfortable talking about race, but because he is not the hero to this story, because it wasn't his. I'm forever saying everyone's a hero in their story, he just made himself the flawed hero in hers.

@user1457017537
I think he'll be alright.

He's white and a man. No-one is going to trouble him for his thoughts (and actions) from 40+ years ago, he lives in a democracy. US has that whole first amendment thing, I'm sure he'll be fine. We're quite civilised over here and their civilised in Ireland and N.Ireland.

His career might take a hit and this movie might tank (which is probably why he made his comments, it is probably rubbish), but he can always make Taken 4 - I'd even watch that.

Let’s face it, we are all racist to some extent, and we all want to see quick justice, no matter how horrible. Look at the James Bulger threads.

The interview was a reflection on his past behaviour and he reflects how wrong he was.

Stand with Liam.

As for his films, they are all kind of samey revenge thrillers now. Was he not the voice of Aslan too? Anyway, I’m not a big fan of his films but he has done well to recreate himself as an action star in in his later career.

I wish he had kept this story to himself. This is due to people’s lack of grace towards such honesty, vulnerability and also the dark truth that he is trying to illuminate which people would rather reject than admit.

But it’s not really a dark truth that most people are too scared to admit to. I mean come on, loads of us on here have been raped. But I doubt any of us have gone round with a weapon hoping to find a random man to kill.

We self-flagellate when we feel a mistrust of men, worrying about how unfair to men we’re being (see recent thread in FWR) but no one here ever goes as far as contemplating knifing a random man.

Look at the James Bulger threads.

Oh come on. No one thinks anyone should pay for that heinous crime other than the boys that did it.

Going after a black man is a way of disassociating the rape from men in general. It’s men who do this, not black men. It’s very hard for men to admit that the group of people who do this includes them.

@messy - there are plenty of people telling others they have spotted the killers thereby pointing blame on innocent lookalikes.

That's appalling zippey but at least they are trying to target the actual perpetrators which is not comparable to what LN did. The equivalent to his actions would be going out armed into Liverpool hoping any 10 year old boy gave you attitude so you could hurt them.

So all black men are interchangeable are they?

This article is really good on this point.

www.vice.com/amp/en_uk/article/j57pn8/black-people-die-every-year-from-a-liam-neeson-impulse?__twitter_impression=true

but no one here ever goes as far as contemplating knifing a random man

You have no way of knowing whether they do or not.
People probably don't share their darkest thoughts because they are terrified of being judged. They think everyone else is 'normal' and its only them that harbour dark thoughts.

Oh come on. No one thinks anyone should pay for that heinous crime other than the boys that did it

I don't think that's what zippey meant.
She was referring to wanting quick justice and letting your outrage cloud your logic....I think.