Re: Independent: Townshend U.S. travel ban "likely"

["Schrade, Scott" <sschrade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> One consequence of being placed on the Sex Offenders
> Register is that Townshend is likely to be banned from
> travelling to the United States for the next five
> years.

Wow.  Boy, was this a splash of cold water on the face when I read this.
Fuck.  But let's not freak out too much here.  Perhaps Pete can get around
this "travel ban."  If he feels like travelling, that is.  I don't know.
I'm still trying to digest all of this.

> A spokeswoman at the American Embassy in London said
> that anyone with a criminal record would not be given
> a visa to travel to the United States, but they could
> apply for a waiver, which is decided on case by case.

See?  There's a way.

> But a US source said that it was "highly unlikely"
> anyone on the Sex Offenders Register would be granted
> one, particularly one connected to child abuse.

Oh.  Fuck.  But it's Pete Townshend, damn it!  Pete Townshend!!  Ugh.  I
feel so helpless.  This is all so beyond our control.

> "He gave money to child molesters, which doubtless
> paid for the next child-rape photo session.

Anyone else wince or squirm after reading this statement?  I sure did.  
Makes me totally understand people who are upset about Pete's "lenient"
sentence.  My "But this is Pete Townshend, damn it!" defense doesn't hold
up here.  What can you say to a statement like that?  Listing Pete's 
charitable efforts even rings hollow.

Ugh.  Confusion.  Apprehension.  Confusion.  Apprehension.  This is all
so bittersweet.


- SCHRADE in Akron