Conservative media figures jumping to Mel Gibson's defense
SUMMARY: Conservative media figures have jumped to the defense of Mel Gibson after he made a series of anti-Semitic remarks when he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Since news
broke that director, actor, and producer Mel Gibson made a series of anti-Semitic remarks
when he was arrested on July 28 for
driving under the influence in Malibu,
CA, several conservative media
figures have jumped to Gibson's defense. Right-wing activist David Horowitz even
suggested that the anger over Gibson's comments is rooted in a
"hatred of Christians," while other commentators suggested that
criticism of Gibson was an extension of criticism of Gibson's role in
producing and directing the February 2004 film The Passion of the Christ (New Market Films).
Among the defenses mounted on behalf of Gibson:
- On the August 2 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, radio host and regular Fox & Friends guest Erich "Mancow" Muller said, "I can't believe he is anti-Semitic. I can't believe The Passion of the Christ, they thought was anti-Semitic, because our hero was Jewish." Muller -- whose nationally syndicated, Chicago-based radio show was recently dropped from its home station in Chicago, but who has reportedly been hired to offer nightly commentaries on a Chicago TV station -- then stated: "I hope it's not so." Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy noted that Gibson has "apologized twice already."
- In his August 2 column on National Review Online, John Derbyshire excused Gibson's comments because "[t]he guy was drunk, for heaven's sake. We all say and do dumb things when we are drunk." Derbyshire added: "As little as I care for Mel and his splatter-fest Brit-hating oeuvre, though, I care even less for the schoolmarmish, prissy, squealing, skirt-clutching, sissified, feminized, pansified, preening moral vanity of the vile and anti-human Political Correctness cult."
- A press release posted on August 2 by the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND) asked ,"Where's the Compassion for Mel Gibson?" Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND and a sometime-guest on Fox News, was quoted in the release as saying: "I am sorry that Mel Gibson and his family are going through this difficult period. Gibson absolutely did the right thing by offering a heartfelt apology and asking for forgiveness from the Jewish community -- he's even asked to meet with Jewish leaders. To those who will not be satisfied until Gibson is destroyed -- I say 'shame on you. Where's your humanity?' " This press release was posted earlier on freerepublic.com.
- On the August 1 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Horowitz told co-host Sean Hannity that "people deserve compassion when they are in this kind of trouble." Horowitz continued: "As a Jew, I feel much more threatened by people like [former President] Jimmy Carter when Israel is facing genocidal enemies who have sworn to destroy it and kill the Jews, and Carter is out there, wagging his finger at the Israelis." Horowitz added that the anger over Gibson's comments is "all about politics" and that "a lot of the people who are jumping all over Mel Gibson see him as some kind of a conservative or as a Christian. There's a lot of hatred of Christians in this country."
- On the August 1 edition of MSNBC's Scarborough Country, William A. Donohue, president of the conservative Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said, "There's a lot of people who have made comments which are bigoted who are not necessarily bigots," adding that he is "concerned now about piling on." Of those who won't forgive Gibson, Donohue said: "Who gives a damn about those people?" Donohue then asked, "What kind of blood do they want out of this man?
- As Media Matters for America noted, radio host Dennis Prager, discussing Gibson on the August 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, sought to deflect criticism of Gibson's comments by reviving discredited accusations that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) made an anti-Semitic remark more than three decades ago. During a discussion with guest host Mike Barnicle and attorney Raoul Felder, Prager said: "I came out on behalf of a person on the left. She had private remarks that were anti-Semitic and I said then, and I say now, you don't judge people by their private remarks; you judge them by their public remarks and by their actions." Prager summarized his position by saying: "Frankly, I don't care about people's hearts. I care about people's deeds. If you hate me and don't touch me, that doesn't bother me."
- Some conservatives criticized Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman for rejecting Gibson's initial apology as "unremorseful and insufficient." In a July 31 article, NewsMax columnist James Hirsen wrote: "The ADL is apparently trying to use the incident to alter the results of its past failed effort to characterize Gibson's film 'The Passion of the Christ' as bigoted." The Catholic League's Donohue claimed in a July 31 press release that Foxman is among "some who should know better" about accepting apologies, adding: "We have quite a file on [CNN founder] Ted Turner at the Catholic League. Unlike Foxman, I have accepted every apology Turner has ever made for his anti-Catholic outbursts, all of which were made while he was sober." Donohue further claimed that the "real goal" of "Mel's enemies" is "to discredit 'The Passion of the Christ,' and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear." After Gibson issued a second apology on August 1, Foxman accepted it, stating, "This is the apology we had sought and requested."
From the August 2 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
E.D. HILL (co-host): Hey, Mancow, let me ask you this. You know, he's clearly drunk, but these things come out. Do you think that -- that he really believed the stuff that he said, or was that, you know, some people are saying, "Ah, he's drunk, and, you know, who knows what you say?" But that -- I mean, that is just so horrendous.
MULLER: Well, I mean, I -- look, I think this is of human interest, and I'll going to say it here on TV. Many times, Brian -- kill me, Brian, if I'm talking out of school, I feel bad -- but, you know, they say that drinking is a truth serum. So many times late at night, [co-host] Brian [Kilmeade] will be drinking tequila and call me up and he'll say "I love you, Mancow. I love you."
KILMEADE: I don't say "I love you," I say "I like you a lot." I mean, don't exaggerate.
MULLER: And -- I don't know, "I got the Brokeback [Mountain] DVD, come to New York." I don't know --
KILMEADE: Right. I'm always surprised you're there.
MULLER: Is alcohol -- I can't believe he's anti-Semitic. I can't believe -- The Passion of the Christ, they thought was anti-Semitic because our hero was Jewish. His mother -- you know, all the good people were Jewish in the movie, too. So, I don't know.
HILL: Yeah, well --
MULLER: I hope it's not so.
DOOCY: He's apologized twice already.
HILL: And it's interesting, you know, all the online polls you look at, people still say, you know, they say they're disappointed but they support him, and they're going to go see his movies.
MULLER: Hey, E.D., you know what drives me nuts about this? They keep predicting this guy's failure.
HILL: It's true.
MULLER: How old is he? I mean, he's going to fail. Is it over for him? How long has this guy been a star? He's been a star as long as I can remember. Of course, sometime this guy is going to have a movie that isn't going to be the biggest thing ever, and they're going to say, "You see? You see?"
DOOCY: Good point.
HILL: We'll see. He's got a movie coming out this fall, and we'll be watching. Mancow, thanks a lot.
MULLER: We love you guys. Brian, call me.
From the August 1 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, featuring Horowitz, Hannity, co-host Alan Colmes and University of California-Irvine professor Mark LeVine:
COLMES: Troubled actor Mel Gibson has checked into an alcohol rehabilitation program just days after a drunken driving arrest in Malibu late Friday. The Passion of the Christ director hurled anti-Semitic slurs at arresting officers and said, quote, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," unquote. Gibson has since admitted making the derogatory statements and has asked the Jewish community to forgive him. We now continue with David Horowitz and Mark LeVine. David, is alcohol truth serum?
HOROWITZ: Hardly. You know, I was one of those who defended The Passion of the Christ. And I would still defend it. It is a, you know, powerful religious film. It is not anti-Semitic. Jesus is addressed as "rabbi." His disciples, of course, are Jews. Simon the Cyrenian, who carries the cross for him to Golgotha, is a Jew. And Jesus in the film says no one is responsible for his death; it was foreordained. By which he means in religious terms that we are all responsible, gentile, Jew, and Muslim alike. A man -- I am really against hanging a man for -- this is a man in deep trouble. Obviously, he's put himself in rehab. I think the judgment on Mel Gibson should be passed when he is recovered, and we'll see what he does.
[...]
HANNITY: David, he said there should be no excuse. He said -- David Horowitz. He has said there's no tolerance for anyone who makes any type of anti-Semitic remarks. He said, "I want to apologize to everyone in the Jewish community for my vitriolic and harmful words." And what he said that night when he was driving intoxicated. He said, "I want to go a step further. I want to meet with members of the Jewish community. I want to have discussions." It seems to me, you know, if somebody admits they have a problem and they were, you know, admitting to -- it was in that condition, it seems that people want to believe it because they already had an agenda about The Passion. Isn't that -- probably an obvious conclusion?
HOROWITZ: Exactly. People deserve compassion when they're in this kind of trouble. I think it would be very ungracious for people to deny it to him. As a Jew, I feel much more threatened by people like Jimmy Carter when Israel is facing genocidal enemies who have sworn to destroy it and kill the Jews, and Carter is out there, wagging his finger at the Israelis. And all these people who want a cease-fire, which will leave Hezbollah intact and in place, Hezbollah being a Nazi army in Lebanon whose rockets are aimed at Israel. So, that's how I feel.
HANNITY: Well, David I want to -- earlier, earlier --
LeVINE: If I could just jump in there --
HANNITY: Hang on a second, please, Mark.
LeVINE: Sure, sure absolutely, Sean.
HANNITY: Earlier, the issue of [Rep.] Patrick Kennedy [D-RI] was brought up. Patrick Kennedy didn't -- didn't admit what his fault was. And that was part of the problem. We weren't getting the truth out. What it seems to me, David Horowitz, is that in this day and age, when people really mess up, and if they really take responsibility and they really, honestly, and truly apologize, we seem to be unforgiving in a lot of ways. Don't you agree, David Horowitz?
HOROWITZ: Well, I think this is all about politics. I think that a lot of the people who are jumping all over Mel Gibson see him as some kind of a conservative or as a Christian. There's a lot of hatred of Christians in this country. And one of the reasons I defended the film was that Christians have a right to their gospel.
From the August 1 edition of MSNBC's Scarborough Country, featuring host Joe Scarborough, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington:
SCARBOROUGH: Let me bring in William Donohue and talk about that apology. Bill Donohue, I was somebody who -- last year, when [New York Times columnist] Frank Rich was saying Gibson was an anti-Semite and others were saying Gibson was an anti-Semite -- you and I were attacking them, saying they didn't know Mel Gibson's heart. But now, it's a little bit easier to read Mel Gibson's heart. I mean, the guy seems like he's an anti-Semite, right?
DONOHUE: Oh, I don't know if you can say that. I mean, clearly, what he said was bigoted and anti-Semitic.
SCARBOROUGH: "F-ing Jews"? I mean, how can you not say that? He's going around -- I mean, he gets pulled over for drunk driving, and he starts ranting about Jews being responsible for starting all the wars?
DONOHUE: No, no, no, right. Right, right, right.
SCARBOROUGH: That sounds anti-Semitic to me.
DONOHUE: No, no. Well, there's a difference between -- did he make an anti-Semitic comment? Obviously, he did. It was irresponsible, it was vituperative, and he's apologized for it, as he should apologize for it. There's a lot of people who have made comments which are bigoted who are not necessarily bigots. I myself have said that there's nobody in the U.S. Senate who was a bigot against Catholics. However, I have pointed out numerous bigoted comments made by people, like Senator [Charles] Schumer [D-NY], for example, and I know, for example, that I have accepted the apology of people like [radio hosts] Opie and Anthony for their lousy little sex stunt act in St. Patrick's Cathedral. I welcomed them back, was their first guest on their CBS show because they apologized.
SCARBOROUGH: Let me ask you this, though, Bill Donohue.
DONOHUE: Yes.
SCARBOROUGH: If you had a couple of beers and were pulled over by the police, would you start ranting about "F-ing Jews"?
DONOHUE: No.
SCARBOROUGH: So I mean -- so again, I don't think this is just -- it doesn't seem to just be a reckless mistake by a drunk, it seems to be -- unfortunately, it seems to be a glimpse into this man's soul, does it not?
DONOHUE: Well, you know, you want to make that determination, that's fine. All I'm saying is this --
SCARBOROUGH: Well, I don't think it's hard to make that determination.
DONOHUE: No, no, no. Look -- you know what? You know what I'm concerned about right now? He has been -- this is the most contrite statement I have ever seen in my life. Instead of the type that we normally get at the Catholic League -- if you're offended, that's too bad, you know, we regret it. The fact of the matter is, I am concerned now about piling on.
Hollywood has a real problem of anti-Catholicism. It's in the movie industry, all right? Do we need to go through this one more time? I'm so interested that the sensitivity mavens now are so concerned about anti-Semitism, as they should be. And they should have hammered Mel Gibson. But are we just going to leave this on the table, now that there's another problem in Hollywood? How about if they clean up their act toward Catholics?
[...]
SCARBOROUGH: Rabbi, we're going to talk about that in the next block. But Bill Donohue and Arianna Huffington, I want to give you all the last word, Bill Donohue, will Hollywood forgive Mel Gibson?
DONOHUE: There'll be a small circle of vindictive people who have hated him because of his movie who won't forgive him. And who gives a damn about those people? Most Americans in Hollywood and everyplace else are forgiving people. And the onus is on those people now who say, "I didn't get enough." What kind of blood do they want out of this man?
From the August 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
PRAGER: Well, let me tell you, I wrote a piece in The Wall Street Journal a few years ago entitled "Hillary Clinton is no anti-Semite." I came out on behalf of a person on the left. She had private remarks that were anti-Semitic, and I said then, and I say now, you don't judge people by their private remarks; you judge them by their public remarks and by their actions. If we start judging --
BARNICLE: What sense does that --
FELDER: You know, and I -- and I naively thought private remarks reveal more about the people --
BARNICLE: Yeah.
FELDER: -- than what they say in a scripted public appearance. And this is what happened here. This is what -- this man's heart has hatred towards the Jewish race.
PRAGER: That's right, that's right except -- that's right --
FELDER: He said we caused people -- all the wars -- we're responsible for millions of people getting killed, and I don't know, Dennis, how you could just say, "Well, maybe he converted."
BARNICLE: Dennis, aren't you basically excusing hypocrisy if it is your view that private remarks, you know, they're OK, but public remarks, you can be forgiven?
PRAGER: I don't judge -- Richard Nixon, to take another Jewish example, Richard Nixon --
FELDER: He's Jewish? I didn't know that. We've got enough troubles without him.
PRAGER: No, the example is Jewish, not Nixon, I'm sure you understood that. The example is that Richard Nixon spoke anti-Semitic things in the White House privately, and he saved Israel's life in the 1973 war. That's a lot more important to me than if he had spoken nicely privately and then stabbed Israel in the back when it needed him. That's the way I judge people.
FELDER: But how can you equate a movie star with a politician who has to answer to an electorate -- please, let me finish --
PRAGER: You asked me -- you asked me, I answered your question.
FELDER: -- that has the power to do things. This man doesn't have any power to help Israel.
PRAGER: I answered your question on why it is that I don't take private remarks is the indication of a man. I didn't compare Nixon and his power to Gibson and his power. I answered your question.
[...]
PRAGER: Frankly, I don't care about people's hearts. I care about people's deeds. If you hate me and don't touch me, that doesn't bother me. If you love me and kill me like some spouses do to their spouses, then what's in their heart really isn't important. God judges hearts; men judge actions.
Remember the articles last week implying the left was anti-semitic because we do not like Joe Lieberman's policies and are no longer supporting him? Joe's advisor came out and said there was a growing amount of anti-semitism coming out of the left-wing, and implied that anti-semitism was fueling support for Ned Lamont.
Where are those articles now that the right-wing pundits are supporting/defending blatant anti-semitism from Mel Gibson?
... The hallmark of a coward is to stamp anyone with a dissenting opinion a 'terrorist', 'anti-semite', etc... Completely unfair and the cheapest way to win an argument.
If you disagree with any policy the Bush admin forces down our throat = terrorist. If you disagree with the policies in Israel = anit-semite. If you disagree with pro-life 'views' = murderer. If you disagree with Gibson's blatant anti-semitism (his father is well-known holocaust denier, by the way) = anti-semite... the list is endless.
Following his latest bout with the 'truth serum'... Mel quickly back-tracked, apologized, groveled... Why? I think he is well aware of which prominent denomination may make career-ending (isn't it over anyway?) decisions, writes his paychecks and can continue to help him keep his palatial estate in Malibu. Some humanitarian. I'm just saying...
Republicans are supposed to be Jew-Friendly right now!......at least until they bring about Armageddon in the Middle East. Once that "Mission (is) Accomplished", then Dubya is scheduled to pick up right where Hitler left off.
that Donahue asked "what kind of blood do they want?" I'm sure he is purposely evoking the racist idea that Jews are blood thirsty. Think Shylock's pound of flesh, for instance.
I was expecting Big Bad Billy Donohue to give his .02 worth.
Let me guess, given his past statements, he'll say us Jews hate Gibson because he won't do anal sex on-screen, since Big Bad Billy is convinced all Hollywood Jews want to see anal sex on-screen...
Wife and I saw this clown on CNN against Ariana Huffington...she wasn't surprised to see how rude this jackass is. Here's the kicker...my wife is a lapsed Catholic who won an award from the Catholic League when she was in parochial school.
Wonder what Donohue would be calling her...
"And who gives a damn about those people? " Spoken like a true "Christianist" - what a lovely man.
Let's get the crew at Media Matters plastered and print their comments.
Now that would be interesting.
I don't drink. And even if I did, I wouldn't drive afterwards.
But feel free to experiment on yourself. Just do it someplace where there aren't any other motorists for you to endanger.
Who say's I'm not already?
*hic*
Very witty! I meant it when I said I don't drink, but maybe I should start.
if I were plastered, I'd just be sweeter and goofier. No lie. That's the way likker works in me.
Likker works like truth serum. I once read an interview with an ex-CIA operative. He said that scotch worked as well as sodium pentanol.
What you heard Mel say is what Mel believes. If you hear your buddies say smilar things when they're wasted, you need new buddies. If you hear yourself say such things when you're wasted, you need a heart. If that's so, Leather, just follow the yellow brick road.
can't hold mel accountable. he had a few belts.
It's just his knee jerk reaction to defend anything a conservative does or maybe he thinks what Mel said is no big deal. I once read a Mel Gibson interview and he was ranting about the PC police and he stated he found political correctness a Nazi tactic. Well maybe what Mel said is typical of the type of drunken speech used by the anti-political correctness crowd or as I like to call them pro-rude insensitive morons.
I start talking like I'm a character in "Deadwood", rococo prose laced with robust portions of gregarious expostulation and expletives, meaning I employ the “c-word” with impunity.
Mel built up some favors in conservative circles with The Passion, now they are coming to his aid to soften all the blows he is getting. It's all about favors and clout people.
You see the same thing with Lieberman, he has built up favors with Republicans for his war support and they are coming to his aid, even though he is pro choice, etc...politics is all about favors.
I am amazzed to see how the bloggers have gone into tizzy over comments made by Mel Gibson. They are so ouraged that they have lost any sense of balance or the context. These commens were made by Gibson on the day that Israel bombs were showering on Lebanon killing scores of helpless women and children. I dont know what sensibilities these people have, including Ms. Huffington, but while they beating the drums of hatred towards Mel Gibsen wanting his head on a platter, they fiailed to utter even a single word criticizing Israel whose monstrous bombardment of Lebanon has driven hundreds of thousands homless and into exile and killing hundreds of innocent people, all because supposedly Hezbullah kidnapped two of its soldiers. Huffingtonpost.com support for Israel is so blind and so strong that it has stopped accepting readers' post that criticise Israel. Hypocracy or blogs like huffingtonpost.com is extremely disappointing and demonstrates the power of jewish minority in the is country. I do not remember these people raising their voice when muslims and Islam are denigrated by well placed people in this country. They seem to find their voice when jews are critized for their actions.
Anti-Semitic comments and political commentary about Israel are two different things.
A very disapointing post, Openmind456. You seem to be arguing that Gibson's ugly rant is justified by Isreal's actions. Bullsh*t. If this is indeed your argument, then you are yourself endorsing antisemetism. Do you... like Gibson... accept the ancient lible that Jews are the cause of all wars? I hope not, because... unlike Gibson... you wouldn't be able to envoke the Drunk Defense.
I'm stunned to see so many right wingers rallying to Gibson's defense, making him out to be a martyr, victimized by heartless liberals & Jews... you know, the usual suspects in dulusional right wing paranoia. I guess I shoudn't be. The scape goating & raging bigotry that is so central to the right wing psyche has apparently been repressed for tactical purposes, but is still simmering just below the surface.
The funny thing is that I actually LIKED the Passion of the Christ. I think it was masterful filmaking, & I've long respected Gibson's talent. I retain hope that he still might be turned by this despicable incident from being a vile, souless, hatefilled, antisemitic d*ckhead into a fully realized artist & human being. I know one thing for sure, though... if he accepts & endorses the support of these cretinous right wing apologists then he will be forever relegated to that corner of hell that is reserved for rich, arrogant nazis.
... amazzed (amazed) ... into tizzy (into a tizzy) ... ouraged (outraged) ... balance or the context (balance or context) ... commens (comments) ... Israel bombs (Israeli bombs) ... dont (don't) ... they beating (they are beating) ... Gibsen (Gibson) ... fiailed (failed) ... homless (homeless) ... Hezbullah (Hezbollah) ... Huffingtonpost.com support (Huffingtonpost.com's support) ... readers' post (readers' posts) ... criticise (criticize) ... Hypocracy (Hypocrisy) ... or blogs (and blogs) ... is (are) ... demonstrates (demonstrate) ... in the is country (in this country) ... critized (criticized)
Whew! I have to wonder if anyone else has such a poor grasp of the English language, with the notable exception of the president (whose sobriety is also in question).
MMFA is all over Pundit/Celebrity Isms of many types:
[link to mediamatters.org]
It's rare that Democrats or Progressives are heard being so vehemently racist though. Wish I could say the same for the Republicans.
Jewish people are one thing, the State of Israel is another. Old Mel was railing against the "JEWS" not Israel and didn't even mention Israel's war crimes in Lebanon. Get it right - Read a newspaper, read MMFA more often.
Derbyshire added: "As little as I care for Mel and his splatter-fest Brit-hating oeuvre, though, I care even less for the schoolmarmish, prissy, squealing, skirt-clutching, sissified, feminized, pansified, preening moral vanity of the vile and anti-human Political Correctness cult."
If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who wave the anti-PC banner to justify hate speech. Glad to hear Gibson gets a free pass because you hate other people less, Derbyshire.
like you, I found the Derbyshire quote to be especially vile. After reading several univeristy studies about homophobia and homo-eroticism, anymore, when I hear virulent homophobia, I assume the person is queer and loathing, rather than self-loathing or self-accepting.
HOROWITZ: Exactly. People deserve compassion when they're in this kind of trouble.
Blessed are the cheesemakers!
what's so special about the cheesemakers?
"Brit-hating oeuvre"?
Isn't that French?
The Scottish have more vitriol and contempt for the British than the French, at least the ones I've met.
Fixating on labels only accentuates differences. The one common unifying theme is our humanity. Fundamentally, we all desire peace and deserve to live without suffering. Mel is another well placed diversion from the reality that people all around the globe are living under the heel of penury and militant lunacy. Forgiveness is the most difficult of paths because it challenges us to surmount our own hatred.
Roundhouse.
Thank you for that post.
It is nice to finaly see a little refreshing breeze here. I think many more people could do with some anthropological perspective of humanity.
Once again, thank you. Human first, everything else comes second.
Sapere Aude, Paul
Religion, the one force in the Universe strong enough to keep people at each other's throats for centuries over illusory, manmade differences that are neither here nor there in observable, tangible reality.
Tolerating other cultures would be effortless and natural if people weren't raised to think they are superior for no other reason than what mystical force in the Universe they worship.
Don't believe me? Then ask yourself: how many atheists suicide bombers are there? How many atheists attack countries because they aren't also atheists? How many atheists wage war with other atheists because their atheism isn't EXACTLY the same? How many atheists missionaries are there actively “proselytizing” foreign cultures into being atheists?
On all accounts, ZERO.
I am not asking anyone to “convert”. Just look and the evidence and think about what religion has to offer us today, in modern times. Besides offering explanations of the last two unknowns to humankind—the precise beginnings of the Universe and after death—what other positive role does religion fill? Values? Nonsense. Religious people are just as likely as atheists to act moral or immoral, perhaps more so than atheists. See my list above. Seems to me that religion is more than just a superfluous institution, it’s a destructive one whose kingdom has come.
It is important to remember the adherence of Martin Luther King and Ghandi to passive, non-violent resistence and its effectiveness with regard to their struggle. One can argue that, perhaps even without their faith, they were men of such immense moral and ethical composition they were destined to succeed. History can recall more incidents of ideologically driven atrocities than acts of religious compassion. Maybe it is human nature to focus on morbidity. Maybe it is too overwhelming to record the small acts of kindness that people perform in the name of their God. But the end of the mythical would be dire for some people, who for whatever reason, are sustained by their faith. It is time for people to practice empathy no matter to what their beliefs attain. love ya, man.
Religion has caused plenty of strife, but crimes committed in its name pale in comparison to those committed out of simple greed since the dawn of the species.
And before anyone points out "atheists" such as Stalin, Pol Pot or other totalitarian ideologues, I have to point out that ideologies can be just as fervently believed in as any religeon - they are still trying to comprehend (by way of systemzing) the universe, after all. Those that do not fit in, beware.
The person behind the "Passion" is clearly a very sick spirit - this is instantly recognizeable to any atheist, and to many others. The "Jesus Chainsaw Massacre" is truly a morbid, death-obscessed spectacle, perfect food for world denying, self hating Xtians.
At the root of Xtianity is a deep hatred of the world. Mel Gibson brings this into clear relief.
I am a Christian and I love movies with biblical themes. I have probably seen every movie made about the passion and the life of Jesus including a silent film. My favorite version is the Greatest Story Ever Told. I watched Mel's ‘Passion of the Christ’ almost the whole time with my hands over my eyes; it was gratuitous gore almost from the beginning to the end. He could have made a much better movie. The scenery was astonishing and he had great talent at his disposal, but he was obsessed with the depicting the physical torture Jesus endured. I would have much rather had the focus of the film be on Jesus' teachings and the resurrection, but that's just me.
I don't care what the topic is, the right wing will politicize it. An entertainer gets drunk and runs his mouth off, revealing some deep-seated antipathy towards Jews, and he's correctly denounced for this. Now every right winger is coming out of the woodwork to denounce the denouncers. Why? It's those damn sissy liberals again trying to impose a liberal agenda of political correctness. Give me a break... Get a life... There are more important things to discuss than Mel Gibson and his drinking problem.
The unhinged righties/faux nitwits would be busting a collective nut if Mr. Clooney went on some drunken anti-semitic rant. The unhinged righties are supporting gibson because he speaks their language. Deep down the right hate Jews, minorities, and anyone who isn't white, male, and republiCON. gibby had a few belts, and is now the RNC spokesperson!
If some leftie--say, a Clooney or a Jackson or a Marx--were to make Anti-Semitic remarks, most of the left would studiously ignore the incident. Only a few real lefties would stick by their principles by denouncing hatred and ostracizing the hater.
And you can't tell me that the most extremist anti-Irsael rants over at dailykos don't have some frightening psychological motivation behind them.
Maybe they are defending because of his upcoming movie.
Watch the preview for Apocalypto, I'm sure you'll have a good laugh considering what's going on in the news with all this "end of the world" stuff.
Well I laughed...
Sapere Aude
Here is something I have yet to hear reported by the media or discussed around Mel Gibson's condition. Please correct me if I'm wrong (and I know the rest of you will!).
The report I heard what that when Gibson was tested he BAL was .12. Certainly that is over the .08 legal limit in CA to be on the roads, but is that REALLY drunk? Most states up until a few years ago had a .10 limit and .12 isn't really that far past that.
It seems to me that if people are trying to play the "drunk beligerance" card you'd need someone upwards of .18/.20. I would contend that .12 is probably more "buzzed" than "drunk."
I'm sure we've all said and done stupid things when were drunk, but usually when people are just buzzed one of the symptoms is just looser lips, which is my take on Gibson's antics. As pathetic as this sounds, I'd be much more willing to give his comments a pass if he were really drunk as opposed to just a bit loopy...
Lay off the pseudo-science neuboy...
before it goes to your head.
Nativeofsf, did you read what I wrote? I wasn't making any argument about his getting a DUI. Clearly he deserved that. My entire point was that Gibson claimed in his apology that part of the reason he spoke the way he did was that he was drunk, and I was simply stating that .12 proabably isn't a level of drunkedness where you start randomly blurting out racial statements.
In case it wasn't clear, I'm not trying to make any excuses for him...
After all if the Jews had not killed Jesus would there be Christianity ?
I mean, dying of old age for your sins does not have the same ring.
Yes the early Christian sect grew in numbers by the ferocity of their courage in the Roman arenas. Martyrs did sway minds to their cause when certain members of Roman society and others saw how the faithful would cling to their beliefs, preferring to face death and torture rather than renouncing their new religion. The Romans were astounded that the Christians would suffer so violently over their faith. In the early days, the Romans would often offer to give them absolution if the accused would simply pledge allegiance to the Roman pagan deities. The Jewish religious members felt threatened by this rogue sect and opposed the new religion's effects of disunity to the Jewish tribe. The early Christians demonized their foes, Romans and Jews alike. When the early Christian church became Romanized, the Jews were left as the targets of their demonization.
I highly recommend Elaine Pagel's trilogy, "The Gnostic Gospels", "Adam, Eve, and the Serpent", and "The Origin of Satan" for an academic insight into the creation of early Christianity. It interests me to find the divergence from Christ's message of love and forgiveness, and that God dwells within us, to a religion of political power.
Glad to see the cons jumping to Mel's defense. Now maybe he can give them a ride to Bill Bennett's house for a game of Texas Hold 'em or maybe to Clarence Thomas's house for some skin flicks or over to Ann Coulter's house (which voting district, I don't know) for some dominatrix shows....
This whole thing is just silly as a Jew I feel free to speak up on this . While Mel Gibson has serious issues with his beliefs , he was only echoing what many people feel about what is going on In The Middle East. What I am about to say may offend my fellow Jews and Liberal Friends .I am very liberal, left and what ever else you want to call me. But the facts are simple religion itself in all forms is under attack world wide. Yes the Jews are responsible for wars . All Mel had to do was drop the word all from his rant and he could of easily followed up with . Muslims , Christians and Hindu are all the cause of war in the world today.I must amend a previous comment . I was born a Jew raised as Jew until 13 when my parents gave me the option to choose my faith. Well I must say I found no relgion without blood all over its hands. And I shunned god of any form. God has been the cause of so much death and suffering over the centuries I just can not understand why we still subscribe to this nonsense of god ? Maybe Mel really hates Jews but he needs to hate the real enemy of man..God in any form. Sorry people its time to put god where he/she whatever belongs. Somewhere god cant hurt us anymore. If god does exisit he must feel very let down .
The concept of God will not likely disappear anytime soon. Like art, the subject is infinitely subjective. The idea that the human soul is part and parcel of a higher power is as old as life itself. Belief systems can be difficult to overcome in a person's search for objective reality, especially when artificial constructs define "reality". Would that we all express intolerance for intolerance, perhaps peace would define our humanity.
Sure it is very easy to use God {religion} as the root of all the problems of the world. Let's review the real cause of all this problems {mankind}. It usually ends up beign a power play by some ridiculus, manipulating individual(s) who end up cuasing wars, in the name of God and do NOT represent his true will. Let's not say anymore God/Religion is the reason for the wars, Let's pin these problems out directly on the pinheads that create all these issues.
to differentiate the pinheads from their religion.
Instead of crying about some actor's stupid drunken comments, lets really conentrate on a real anti-semitic tragedy here in the US [link to seattletimes.nwsource.com]
As far as I'm concerned, you can accept or reject Mel's apology (if offended) but keep things in it's proper perspective this is not important A.Ochoa
That is a disturbing crime perpetrated by a disturbed individual who blamed his confusion on innocents. Persons who lack empathy and resort to extreme violence are sociopaths. It is sad indeed.
While I am disgusted with Gibson's rantings, I feel much more threatened by those who commit violence such as Haq's attack in Seattle. Another hate crime attributable to Islamic fundamentalism (and quite possibly mental illness in this case).
My earlier post has been deleted by the editors of this site. No point in posting any opinion that blames the Jews for pointing out their hatred for the gentiles (their very own term for us is Goys, and as we all know, the Jews use that term in a derogatory manner). This is what was the main point I mentioned in my post. I had specifically mentioned that the crime of anti-semetism is only applicable to the non-Jews while the Jews are ALLOWED to hate us as anti-gentilism is not declafred a crime. Is this not partiality in favour of the Jews?
As the two university professors who wrote a damning report about the AIPAC and its vast influence in the media and government to further the selfish interests of the Jews over the gentiles own, it is no wonder the zionists are monitoring every website, including this one, where any posts may be too revealing against their nefarious activities.
I also suspect, that the Jews being a well organized community unlike us, may be having dedicated posters on every blog to have majority opinions that favour their views and to complain about non-jew posters whose post may be too damaging to the cause of the zionists.
[link to www.saneworks.us] This is a great article in Mel Gibson's defense.