Schlock, Yes; Awe, No; Fascism, Probably

Slate ^ | 27 February, 2004 | Christopher Hitchins

[Servant of the 9]

The gay movement in the United States ...... has had at least one good effect with which nobody can quarrel. The closeted homosexual is a sad figure from the past, and so is the homosexual who tries desperately to "marry" a heterosexual.....

This may seem like an oblique way in which to approach Mel Gibson's ghastly movie ....
.... an associate of his had once told me, in lacerating detail, that an evening with Mel was one long fiesta of boring but graphic jokes about anal sex. ... long before he emerged as the spear-carrier for the sort of Catholicism once preached by Gen. Franco and the persecutors of Dreyfus, Mel Gibson attained a brief notoriety for his loud and crude attacks on gays. .... the proud producer of a movie that relies for its effect almost entirely on sadomasochistic male narcissism. The culture of blackshirt and brownshirt pseudomasculinity, as has often been pointed out, depended on some keen shared interests. Among them were massively repressed homoerotic fantasies, a camp interest in military uniforms, an obsession with flogging and a hatred of silky and effeminate Jews. Well, I mean to say, have you seen Mel's movie?

I think that it's a healthy sign for our society that so many Jews have decided to be calm and unoffended by the film, and that so many Christians say they don't feel any worse about Jews after having seen it. We have a social consensus where Jews feel more secure and Christians less insecure. Good. But this does not alter the fact that The Passion is anti-Semitic in intention and its director anti-Semitic by nature. Some people including myself think that Abe Foxman and the Anti-Defamation League are too easily prone to charge the sin of anti-Semitism. But if someone denies the Holocaust one day and makes a film accusing Jews of Christ-killing the next day, I have to say that if he's not anti-Jewish then he's certainly getting there.

[Servant of the 9]

Hitchens once again proves he is still part of the Radical Loonie Left.

His positions against Bill Clinton and for The War on Terror are those of a leftie of 50 years ago.

So9

[OpusatFR]

When Hitchens is good he is very, very good, but when he is bad he is awful.

He can't hide his personal disdain for religion in this rant. It comes oozing through like K-Y in a fist.

Well.....he started it.

[Redcoat LI]

"When Hitchens is good he is very, very good, but when he is bad he is awful."

Hitchens continues his love-hate relationship with clear thinking and good writing.

Christianityphobia is the disease of the Euro-peon left.

[davisfh]

"This may seem like an oblique way in which to approach Mel Gibson's ghastly movie ...."

Seems oblique??

[DainBramage]

Ten to one if Hitchens goes to the movie his head will rotate 360 degrees

and he'll pojectile vomit green gunk while screaming about Mel's mother.

[Rummyfan]

long before he emerged as the spear-carrier for the sort of Catholicism once preached by Gen. Franco and the persecutors of Dreyfus, Mel Gibson attained a brief notoriety for his loud and crude attacks on gays. ....

Wow, I sense that Christopher has a bone to pick here, comparing Mel Gibson right off to Generalissmo Franco and French anti-Semites of the nineteenth century. Some of his scotch-fueled rants are a bit much.

[hellinahandcart]

Since you enjoy this thing---Chrithtopher hasn't finished foaming yet.

[hellinahandcart]

I would have thought Hitchens had said everything he had to say about "The Passion" yesterday; but apparently he thought he hadn't sufficiently driven home the implication that Mel is a closet homo...

[hellinahandcart]

make that "since you enjoy this sort of thing"...

[thoughtomator]

That's their first line of defense, when the truth is laid bare... accuse the truth-teller of being a closet homosexual. (But I thought nothing was wrong with that? Now I'm confused!)

[Servant of the 9]

Wow, I sense that Christopher has a bone to pick here, comparing Mel Gibson right off to Generalissmo Franco and French anti-Semites of the nineteenth century. Some of his scotch-fueled rants are a bit much.

This is a standard old time liberal attack on any man who is macho or connected to the military.
The did the same to Hemmingway, Robert Heinlein, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood.

So9

[AnalogReigns]

Fascinating in a column purportedly about The Passion, Hitchens makes only passing mention of it--pouring out his ire instead on its director. Gibson may indeed have some looney ideas about the Holocaust inherited from his father...so what? Please tell me, how is the movie anti-Semitic?

Gibson's script closely follows the Gospel texts (yes, harmonizing them...its what any history does) along with the mystic nun's vision (the main additions) which doesn't contradict scripture, just adds rather interesting, if unimportant, details.

A true ad hominem attack. If he weren't already proudly hell-bound, Hitchens should be ashamed.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

Dear Mr. Christopher Hitchins

Do you still have those little maggots running in and out of your nose?

Just curious.

[Viking2002]

I see that Chrissy Bitchens has her panties in a bunch again..... >:-)

[Avenger]

"...along with the mystic nun's vision (the main additions) which doesn't contradict scripture, just adds rather interesting, if unimportant, details."

What mystic nun are you referring too?

[DentsRun]

Hitchens flat out lies when he says Mel Gibson denies the Holocaust. I read the transcript of one interview where Gibson answered a question on the matter by saying something like (this is from memory) "Yes, there was a holocaust. Yes it was one of the most horiffic tragedies of all time. Yes they were killed just because of who they were." Then he repeated it a couple more times.

Hitchens is also wrong when he claims the Gibson people lied about the pope having said "It is as it was." Hitchens says it never happened. My understanding is after the pope said it (and word was released to the press), the Vatican staff freaked out and said it never happened. Then a few days later after that the Vatican newspaper then said the pope did say it after all but the papacy never endorses films (which was an oblique way of saying "we wish he hadn't said it because when the pope starts endorsing films that opens up a whole can of worms.)

[DentsRun]

This is the second time in the last three days Hitchens has suggested that Gibson is a repressed homosexual with deep seated anal and flogging fantasies. It's been my experience when someone accuses another person of being a repressed homosexual (especially when the person in question has seven children after 20 years of marriage to the same woman) that what is really going on is a major case of projection. If Hitchens thinks he sees homosexual fantasies in "The Passion of the Christ," it can only be because he keeps slipping off to the men's room and looking in the mirror.

[Servant of the 9]

Hitchens flat out lies when he says Mel Gibson denies the Holocaust.

Yes, he does, but Mel has kept that can of worms writhing by refusing in several interviews to give a one word, yes or no, answer to "did the holocaust happen?" when asked for one.

He is caught between filial respect and forthright honesty.

So9

[AMDG&BVMH]

"That's their first line of defense, when the truth is laid bare... accuse the truth-teller of being a closet homosexual. (But I thought nothing was wrong with that? Now I'm confused!)"

LOL!! Hitch would prob. like nothing better than to come up with pictures to "out" him. The fact that he is married and has about seven children would be, according to Hitch, just a "pathetic" coverup . . .

I also sensed an attack on regular masculinity in this "Hitch-piece." Heaven forbid, homosexuality makes any bigger inroads. I'd like my daughter to marry a manly-man, and moreover, so would she . . .