Pro-Polanski camp accuses Thompson of inventing "petition tourism" (JEZ)

By Nancy Tartaglione

Organizers of one of the petitions to release Roman Polanski are a bit miffed at the idea that Emma Thompson is withdrawing her name from the list of supporters.

As reported by the Shakespeare Sister blog last week, Thompson said she would remove her name from the petition. SS said that while Thompson "supported Polanski as a friend," she also felt "a crime is a crime."

Futher reports said Thompson had moved to take her name off the list. Something which has now apparently come to pass.

Following that, French filmmaker Yann Moix, writing on Bernard-Henri Levy's La Regle du Jeu today, took Madame Thompson to task, calling for a new petition...to ensure that she never signs another petition.

A partial translation follows:

"When you sign a petition, you are the owner of your name and your convictions. For her part, Madame Emma Thompson just stops by on petitions. She is not the owner, she's just renting. Worse that that: She's there as a visitor, with a badge that reads 'guest.'

In signing and then unsigning, coming and then leaving as quickly as she first came, Madame Emma Thompson has invented petition tourism.

When on Thursday one no longer thinks what one thought on Monday, it's that one is no longer thinking at all.

In life, one must choose between whims and ideas.

We at the Regle du Jeu would like to now sign a petition so that Madame Emma Thompson never again signs a petition because it wouldn't be her signature, but the cause, that would be made to look ridiculous."