Is he really a criminal?

We, in India, respect women. Indian will not disrespect any woman of the world. Our basic culture teaches that girl within the age of 7 considered to be Goddess. In so many houses, every year, on a particular day, on particular time, they hold functions where girls within 7 years invited and treated as Goddess and presented with lot of gifts. Now a day, due to invasion of foreign culture through TV, elite socity follows certain foreign culture but most of the Indian follows the same culture they have been taught in the house. Of course, Richard Greer is a foreigner. He does not the rule of our country. I do not think people of India will consider a serious crime committed by him. What happend has happend due to ignorance of the law of our land. He will be excused by the Court of Law. However, this is a lesson to all foreigners that you cannot go againt the culture, law of our country. Thank you for bringing the subject for discussion.

Maybe he should be fined that is all because he did commit a crime and it was probably unknowingly because kissing is a way of life over here in the united states. It is hard to visit other places and do things when you don't have all the rules. You cannot tell me that she really didn't enjoy that can you? I know I would heck I'd be the one kissing him..lol It is great that he is trying to spread the aids awareness around that you can't get it from kissing or just being friends so many people are scared out there of aids because the unknown so I think it is great that a actor of his high rating and all could take the time out of his busy shedule and do this kindness for all. So yeah a fine and maybe a slap on the wrist but nothing major.

I can only think of this saying “ When in Rome do what the Romans do” and we must understand that “ignorance is no excuse” in the eye of the law. Whether, he did it intentionally or otherwise, he should take the responsibility and attempt to show and explain that the intention was not to belittle the culture and law of the land. Further, to say that he was not aware of the Indian law can be very misleading; he must have been reading papers and articles, which he might come across writing on such issues. (Or he never reads newspapers.)

I think that he should have found out the laws before he decided to do something like that in public. I am not saying though that I think he should get in trouble. I don't think laws like this and laws like women not being allowed to show their face should be madated for people who are only visiting a country. This is just my opinon though!

I dont think he meant any harm to anyone. Richard is such a wonderful actor, and i cant see him breaking their law on purpose. I dont think he new of there laws. Also he has publicly appologised for it, and i think he probably feels bad for doing it. Your point is right, he was showing that aids cant be caught by kissing. And in his country and mine for that matter, kissing is a sign of love and affection, not something to be hidden from the world.

No matter if he knows the laws of India or not, if Richard Gere committed a crime, he should be held accountable. It's been noted that he is a regular visitor to India, so I would assume that he is aware of some laws. If I was speeding, but was not aware that I was speeding and the police caught me speeding, I would be accountable. These celebrities get to me! They think that just because they're famous, they can get away with alot. It sickens me!

i think its a small issue made big worst by the media .. here i dont think kissing is any sort of crime

Awww i know..poor guy..he was just trying to prove a great point..and then bam!!! But im surprised he didnt so his homework,,woman are treated soo much different in other countries..especially ones like India etc..And hes a well educated man..soo sad..i hope he gets off easy..he wasnt trying to break any laws..:(

charlene see the best thing that the all thing done in ?India and we the Indian respect womens and don't like that kind of silly things in public still as the other side of coin geer is out side india and don't know the real thing and he done that by mistake so he's not criminal for me but he need to respect contry values

No

I think Richard Gere had the this problem...too much voice from his ID " the I should kiss this girl no matter what" By the way the ID is the pleasure part...It commands us to gratify ourselves immediately,but if his old enough..Consudering his age.His Super Ego could have thaught him to hold his horses and not kiss that girl...Laws are hard but thats the law...Plus his Ego could have told him that girl is not from America..Ayt?

Honestly India needs to make an except and not just because he is a movie star but because he is human and didn't know better... He is getting more publicity than the cause they were marching for

hi iam an indian according to me Richard is not criminal its just due to ignorance of law as he was not aware of all that thing which might put him in trouble. because its the cultural diffrence only so it should be taken lightly i don't know what happens in india no one should have right to interfere in others life style one side we say india is a democratic country and on the other side we always interfare in others life this is not the first kind of incident i have ambrassed by indian culture many a times

We really can't blame anybody here. Most asian countries tend to adhere to strict norms and proper conduct in public. And what happened to the case of Mr. Gere, its one of those arguments as to why Religion and Law should never mix. Since asian countries tend to adhere to centuries-old traditions and norms, it can't be helped that some laws are promulgated by local officials in order to preserve the status quo. It is way different with the western countries who are more liberated when it comes to public display of affection and are more concerned with the freedom of individuals to do as they please. He's even lucky he's in India. If he's in an Islamic Country it could have been much worse since these countries tend to be more strict. No offense to Islamic countries, just to make things clear - I do respect their way of thinking and the way they adhere to their norms. if he indeed broke the law, then he must be held accountable for it. it's now up to the leniency that the Indian government will extend to Mr. Gere on whether or not he'll be punished or not. We must be aware that if we are in a different country, me must be aware of their norms and of their culture to be able to think and act in such a way that we will not offen the local populace.

Its so sad about what have happened, but i have seen it in the news and i my self felt it too much i guess but not to the extent of filing a case against him, i was stunned how Gere kiss silpa, it was done in a teasing way, im conservative too ..

I don't think he should be put in jailed by doing that act. But we must respect others' culture too. I think he should make a public apology for all Indians and let's hope they accept it.

No he is not a criminal. He was not aware of the fact that he was not allowed to kiss her. It is simply a case of not knowing the cultural laws about things. I don't know what the news is making a big deal about it. The only thing he can be accused of is not learning some of the customs before he did something like this. I think he does owe her as well as the India government a apology. Just to show that this was just done as a friendly gesture and there was no insult intended.

I only have one thing to say. If kissing is banned in america... ever? I will leave. I am a guy and I love kissing. Nothing gets to me more than a woman who can kiss. As you said, get out and never look back. That is just retarded. Then again, you go to another country learn the laws. You come to america and steal some gum you are going to jail. I know there is huge difference between stealing and kissing. But that is just us. or America for those who are not from america. I wouldn't go to germany and rape a woman on the streets, eh??? lol.

i think thats matter is over when he say sorry to the indian public. I think there is no need for dicissuing that topic again. For indian culture what he had done is wrong i think its just for showing the people as because of HIV will not spread through mouth. i think for him its nothing we people wont like that because our culture is like that we will do only without seeing anybody

kissing is not at all a crime,he just followed the culture of his country,because it seems that he is not aware of Indian laws.Intentionally doing anything & unknowingly doing the same are two different things,so it can't be counted as a crime.