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You're probably well aware about the case of Roman Polanski. The visionary filmmaker is currently under fire for his 1977 conviction of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old. That was 32 years ago, shortly before he fled to Europe to avoid jail time. Now, under arrest in Switzerland, everyone has their own opinion on whether Polanski should go free or do the time.

Polanski was born in 1933 as a Polish Jew. As a young boy he escaped and hid from the Nazis, even as his own mother died in a concentration camp. But after the war, Polanski went into filmmaking, and eventually struck gold with his 1968 masterpiece "Rosemary's Baby." He went on to create great films such as "Chinatown" (1973), "The Pianist" (2002), and "Oliver Twist" (2005).

Except for those in and around the filmmaking business, those achievements seem to pale for that one mistake he made over three decades ago. Since he fled to France in 1977, there's been a pending US arrest warrant for him (and an international one since 2005). He was only arrested in Switzerland, at the request of US authorities, when he stepped onto Zurich to pick up the Zurich Film Festival's "Golden Icon Award," a lifetime achievement award.

I think child molestation is wrong however way you look at it, and sexual predators do belong to some of the lowest tiers of humanity. To some people, this one mistake is enough to negate all his achievements and contributions to world culture and send him to the pits of Hades. It seems these people believe that if you make one slip, you're through.

Naturally, Hollywood is much more forgiving (which I think is one of its very agreeable cultures). Michael Vick got into trouble by being involved in a dog fighting gambling ring, but he's back in the NFL playing football. Mel Gibson has had more than a few scandals in his time, but he's still out there making great films. Mike Tyson. Robert Downey, Jr. Kanye West. Should Polanski's case be any different?

Besides, I believe that ultimately, if you want justice, you deal with the victim. The 13-year-old girl, now 45-year old Samantha Geimer, had already forgiven him six years ago. On no less than CNN's Larry King Live, she wished that the whole thing would be buried, and that she never wanted Polanski to go to jail.

I think it's time to bury the hatchet and send the man back home to his family.