I Wouldn't Label Gibson Anti-Semitic

Allah references Mel Gibson's Passion Of The Christ in reporting on his recent arrest for driving under the influence.

Remember the fuhrer, er, furor over whether The Passion of the Christ was anti-semitic?

We have our answer.

Certainly we can all agree that his words were hateful and anti-semitic. But I'd stop short of assuming either he, or any of his work is anti-semitic.

The man was raised by a Holocaust denying and, presumably, anti-Semitic Father. That's extreme, but none of us were raised by saints. He also recently experienced a great deal of criticism from the Jewish community because of the previously mentioned film.

I'm not suggesting the man isn't conflicted, or wasn't given a rather vigorous seeding of anti-semiticism as a child and even a young man. But we all have our demons. I grew up in a neighborhood where blacks were niggers and Jews were ... Jews, spoken in a rather disparaging way.

That doesn't make me a racist, or an anti-semite. Point being, were I in my cups, as was Gibson, I have no idea what might spew out from down in there. The ultimate proof of a person's heart lies in their actions and not in the words that they spit out when stupidly drunk.

If there is something in Gibson's life that shows he discriminates against Jewish people, I'd certainy pronounce him anti-semitic. But lacking such evidence, I hesitate to draw that conclusion. As far as I know, he's obviously a troubled individual ... but he may also be one who fought and won a battle against a black spot in his heart - one he had nothing to do with putting there.

Comments

[Maggie45]

I agree with you, Dan. I thank God every day that one day at a time it's been 22 years since I've experienced what Mr Gibson just did. I hope he finds peace.

[jpe]

So, basically, what you're saying is that we need to feel Mel's pain.

Now that's moral clarity.

[Sgt. York]

"Fucking Jews... the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." - Mel Gibson

All the wars? Huh... it's not like Gavrilo Princip, the guy who assasinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand setting off the First World War was jewish. And it's not like Lenin and Trotski were jewish. And jewish spies didn't give USA nuclear bomb secrets to Russia. And jewish people are certainly not connected to the chaos in the middle east. Mel Gibson needs to get his facts straight; he is way off-base on this one.

Just kidding.
=============

[Rabaul]

Mel Gibson is an ass-clown. However, he was smart enough to rip off the gullible Christian community who tend to believe that if you release a movie with the word Jesus, or thus-sayeth-the-lord, or proclaim to be a Christian, everything is a OK. No need to think....God inspired me ...now give me your money. He pimped out the whole right wing Christian community...for real! He should wear a white fur coat, gator shoes, a chalice, and change his name to "Bishop" Mel flim-flam Gibson. He's a better pimp than Willie Dynamite!!!

[Geo]

I am willing to cut Mel some slack. He said some really offensive stuff about Jews while being totally out of his mind on booze and or other substances. His payback will be the utter embarrassment in the worldwide press and news outlets. He made his apology and now he should lie low for a while. Also get some help with the substance abuse.

[Righty-Tighty]

Rabaul- No one's been pimped. You think the Christian community is so ignorant that we think Mel Gibson is above reproach because he made a movie ABOUT Jesus? He's a man! A stinkin', rotten, fallible man- just like the rest of us. We saw the movie, and it was great! That doesn't mean we think he is Jesus in the flesh.

You are the idiot.

[Rick]

"Mel Gibson is an ass-clown. However, he was smart enough to rip off the gullible Christian community who tend to believe that if you release a movie with the word Jesus, or thus-sayeth-the-lord, or proclaim to be a Christian, everything is a OK. No need to think....God inspired me ...now give me your money."

What I question is why it bothers you or anyone else what the mythical "religous right" does with their money? Really, why the hell do you care what anyone spends theior own money on????? Or is it some simple matter of looking for someone to hate for no genuine reason?

[Mike]

I read he blew a 0.12 and the limit was 0.08....thats not stupid drunk...it not even DWI its DUI.

I believe thats a persons true character comes out when there drinking...sometimes thats ugly.

[Chuck the Lucky]

"But I'd stop short of assuming either he, or any of his work is anti-semitic."

I don't know... His works should stand or fall on their own merit but when someone says anti-semitic things it seems a pretty safe bet that they are an anti-semitic person. Being drunk lowers your inhibitions and makes you say things that you generally believe but keep to your self.

If Michael Moore were to get drunk and say how much he thinks that Stalin was misunderstood and that communism is the greatest system in the world would we doubt that he really believed it?

Is it not a conservative complaint that liberals too often blame the parents of wrong doers and make excuses to avoid personal responsibility?

[jpe]

But I'd stop short of assuming either he, or any of his work is anti-semitic.

I know the first thing I think when someone starts screeching crazed conspiracy theories about jews being the cause of all wars is that some slack should be cut.

[Dan Riehl]

I haven't said Gibson might not have anti-semitic views in his heart and mind. As stated, he was raised with them. What I said was as fgar as I can tell he has risen above them in his daily behavior except for this instance when he was admittedly drunk. And if he had been sober for a time and went off the wagon, I wouldn't put much stock into what he blew intyo a machine. Drinking alkies can blow 2 or more and look sober. But even a little alcohol in a recovering drunk can have a disasterous effect.

[Rabaul]

Rabaul- No one's been pimped. You think the Christian community is so ignorant that we think Mel Gibson is above reproach because he made a movie ABOUT Jesus? He's a man! A stinkin', rotten, fallible man- just like the rest of us. We saw the movie, and it was great! That doesn't mean we think he is Jesus in the flesh.

You are the idiot.

Posted by: Righty-Tighty | Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 10:01 PM

I am a Christian and I thought that it was a terrible movie--a bunch of hyped up violence. And you're the real idiot here for not seeing that he deliberately created this controversy prior to the movie's release just for marketing purposes. Mel Gibson's movies does not represent Christianity or the story of Jesus in any way shape of form. Period. And for him to profess that it was the true representation show you what a scam artist he his. Yes...he pimped out Christians who believe that all you have to do is say the name Jesus, go to a church with like-minded people, look the other way when confronted with real issues, and watch his movie. He pimped you all out and he's laughing all the way to the bank...don't you get it???

You're the real idiot.

[Rick]

"a bunch of hyped up violence"

So both the Biblical and historic records of the crucifixion are lies? How did it happen then?

[DC]

Dan,

Excellent post. I think you were very fair.

I cringed when I read about his DUI and comments. I was concerned, frankly, that we'd get some comments like Rabaul's. Some argued that The Passion was anti-Semitic. I think this was a grossly-unfair charge. Now, the issue has been complicated by clearly anti-Semitic comments by Gibson (albeit while he was drunk).

But I think Rick has it right above, and that is, The Passion was based on the Bible. It's not anti-Semitic. To argue that the film is taking advantage of Christians is to display an ignorance of the Bible. The film should stand on its own merits, regardless of Gibson's conduct. Jesus said that He willingly gave up His life. This was reiterated in The Passion.

[Rick]

DC: While I believe what I believe, which apparently very close to the same as you. My main question to Rabaul is why it would bother him for Christians or anyone else to spend their own money on the Passion. For the record, I chose not to having read the story more than once. I don't know many who profess to be Christian who claim that the Jews killed Jesus, nor did the Romans. Most that I know say that we, you, I, them killed Jesus by creating the need to die for the sins of man. Boy, that'll bring the Christian haters out.

[rwilymz]

What I want to know is, was it Kenny and Stan demanding their money back that set him off?

[Jennie]

Mel is a stupid ass and this latest episode confirms it. I'm so sick of so-called Christians being all high and mighty and then doing stupid crap like going out and getting busted for drunk driving and spewing hatred toward others. Gibson is the most over-rated actor in the history of motion pictures, and I hope this puts the final nail in the coffin of his career.

[Rick]

"I'm so sick of so-called Christians being all high and mighty and then doing stupid crap like going out and getting busted for drunk driving and spewing hatred toward others."

Me too Jenn and I even consider myself one of them. Difference between us is.....I know "they" aren't.

[mbrandi]

mel is one very sick dude.
potc was THE most violent sickest movie I have ever seen and had to watch it in pieces it was a torture film and had no other value whatsoever.The romans were tools of the sanhedrin who were dressed in their finery,had big noses and thick lips and were conspiring together.if this isn't anti semitic then what is?does the new testament mention the big noses?thick lips?why would they have them and not the apostles?why not mary etc.?
Jesus and his followers were good looking and pathetically dressed.Total innocents.who was the nice fellow to give jesus a drink?a roman.no big nose or big lips for them either.

Braveheart had only a very prolonged disgusting scene of torture.Patriot was historically inaccurate.
South Park got it right.mel is an obvious masochist who is projecting himself as the misunderstood hero.

to suggest he is not an arrogant little napoleon because he was nice to someone once at a breakfast is foolish.

he has been afforded special treatment by the sheriff (no evading arrest charge,being let go 2 times in the past 3years for dui,for threatening the officer).the officer had no choice but to leak the arrest report when it was covered up because mel DOES have a lot of power and could have ruined this officer as he threatened to do.

also,having been married to an alcoholic for 35 years i have NEVER seen or heard ANYTHING that was not what was beleived in the first place.EVER.

all you people that defend poor mel should pray you are not in the oncoming lane of his speeding car as you are from his taste for violence.

[MESSIA]

mel is the best person ever.eveyone says things they dont mean when there pissed or stoned.u live in a democracy dont u u can say wat u want TO WHO U WANT

[Rick]

"Patriot was historically inaccurate."
It is obvious to anyone who knows anything that Patriot was, and was intended to be, a montage of real characters and events. It was never advertised as a documentary film about anyone one person, place or thing. William Wallace, Braveheart, has not been proven to have actually lived and the movie was about the legend. I did not see Passion, but would have had no trouble physically watching a depiction of the torture that Jesus went through. You obviously have more of a problem with Gibson and gore than with what he is supposed to have said to a cop. We do not say what we don't mean, even drunk, though sometimes we say what we would keep to ourselves in normal situations. SO big deal, he's a Jew hater. As long as he limits it to running his mouth, who cares. You've seen so many of his movies. If you're so against him then stop giving him your money.

[dnichols]

It is sad for me to say Mel Gibson is obviously an alcoholic...anyone who has ever dealt personally with an alcoholic recognizes the drunken jargon. It is unfortunate that his illness has become public in such a way, and I hope he gets himself some help.

It is also unfortunate that the media will devour him alive for this. This is a no win situation. If he had drunkenly bashed blacks, gays or women there would have been outrage also, but I do not believe it would have drawn so much analysis and criticism.

I am a Jewish Christian...I believe in Jesus Christ. I am not insulted by Mel Gibson, I feel badly for him. Every one today has problems, and no one is immune from making major life mistakes. But in light of the Passion
of the Christ and the endorsment he recieved from the Church, I am sure there are many who will use this to further degrade Christianity, the Church and Mel Gibson will be devoured in the process, and he may never publicly recover from the rabid public. Where as the church will embrace and pray for the fallen, rembering of course JESUS IS A JEW!

My former husband was an alcoholic, and you would never in your wildest imagination believe the names he called me when he was drunk...Jew Bitch was his favorite. When he was sober, he never remembered.

Mel Gibson does not look like a happy man. I feel sorry for his wife and children who have to endure the pain and confusion of dealing with this.

[Rick]

dnichols; I truly wish there were more people with your attitude in the world.....especially those of us who claim to be Christian. Of course Jesus was a Jew, a semite, not even the first "Christian". Strangely, a lot of "Christians" and many others don't realize those facts.

[Pearly]

Maybe "Jew" to Mel is just a concept. After all, most of the studios were or are run by Jews, and he's enjoyed a long career thanks to them. I would bet a "Jew" never did anything to Mel and that's where he's conflicted, since his father reared him to believe they are evil.

I find it hard to believe he meant that on any real level when some of the people he's worked with all these years are Jews. Could he look Goldie Hawn in the eye and say that, and mean it?

I think he made those comments to the police because he's friendly with the police and that's probably how the majority talk about ethnic groups. He just got a rookie.

[Lana]

personally i think that he is a total anitsemitic ass. yes, he was drunk, but being drunk doesnt put those ideas in ur head it just makes u stupid enough to say them. Besides its proves that his fathers anti semitic too

[Tammy McCormick]

People should get their facts straight before making public comments by doing a little research or reviewing their history - "William Wallace, Braveheart, has not been proven to have actually lived and the movie was about the legend." ????? This will be news to the Scots, the English, and the rest of us. William Wallace is a national hero in Scotland. While "Braveheart" was based mostly on the epic poem by Blind Harry narrating the exploits of William Wallace and mythologizing him to a large extent, there has never been any doubt that Wallace "actually lived." There is a plaque in London at the site of his execution, and there were major memorial observances in Scotland in 1997 and 2005, the 700th. anniversary of the battle of Stirling and Wallace's execution. OUCH!

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