Posted on 07/31/2006 9:45:46 PM PDT by monkapotamus
Mel Gibson's Apology OK With Catholic League
Monday, July 31, 2006 3:51 p.m. EDT
Catholic League President Bill Donohue commented today on the furor over the comments Mel Gibson allegedly made after his arrest for drunk driving Friday morning: "What Mel Gibson apparently said is indefensible. The remark attributed to him, The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world, is anti-Semitic and irresponsible.
Fortunately, he has apologized for his bigoted outburst.
"Unfortunately, his apology is being rejected by some who should know better. To wit: Abraham Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, has branded Gibsons apology unremorseful and insufficient.
"Moreover, Foxman concludes that it shows what a sham it is for Gibson to portray himself as the tolerant, loving person who made The Passion of the Christ.
"We have quite a file on 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.
"Indeed, I even went so far as to say that no one in his right mind would ever put Ted Turner in the same camp with a Klansman or an inveterate bigot.
"More recently, when radio shock-jocks Opie and Anthony apologized for their orchestrated anti-Catholic stunt in St. Patricks Cathedral a few years back, I not only accepted their apology, I was the first guest on their new CBS radio show and welcomed their return.
"But Mels enemies will never cut him a break. Their real goal is to discredit The Passion of the Christ, and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear. Never mind that Mel has said that Anti-Semitism is not only contrary to my personal beliefs, it is also contrary to the core message of my movie.
"How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film forgiveness is sorely lacking in his critics.
"In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for The Pianist. Nice to know what really offends Hollywood.
Yes he was. He's the Pope. I'd expect that from him.
I'll have the roast duck with mango salsa.
"but they won't accept Gibson's apology for what he did while drunk."
I think "they" are mad because he BELIEVES that Jews cause all wars. Not because he "said" it. His words just CONFIRMEND what they thought he BELIEVED.
No need for apologies. If that is what he believes, then why try to hide behind the phony "apology"?
Sorry to say it, but he did not. He apologized in general for his behavior but was not specific about apologizing for the anti-semetic remarks. Since his apology lacked specificity, it was not a full apology.
How much "Jewish money" to which you claim that he is addicted could The Passion have brought in? Parlicularly in light of the fact that the Hollywood puppeteers didn't do anything to distribute it?
At least I do think you are correct in identifying Hollywood and entertainment with major Jewish control. That must be why we have the types of "entertainment" we have these days.
I am in no position to make declarative statements about what Gibson does or does not believe. Neither are you. We know what he said while drunk. We know nothing more. We can speculate, but speculation is not fact. In an attempt to visit the sins of the father upon the son, we can say factually -- as so many have today -- that his father is an anti-Semite, a bigot and a member of a strange fringe Catholic cult.
But Mel Gibson is a man who has battled alcoholism much of his adult life. Speculating now, I think he is a man at war with himself and his upbringing. If he is, indeed, an anti-Semite, does it excuse him? No, but it helps explain him.
As for me, I am less concerned about what a man says than I am about what he does. From what little I know of the man, it seems to me he's at least struggled to lead a more decent life than the overwhelming majority of Hollywood types.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Do you read?
First he was drunk. Second, he wasn't making a public speech or even a private group of people - it was one cop while totally drunk and being arrested. Third, he said he did not believe the things he said and apologized for WHAT HE SAID extensively. He didn't make excuses for his behavior other than saying he has a serious problem that needs addressed. And apparently he's addressing it.
I wonder what comes out when you are drunk.
He made $300 million on his last movie that he financed himself without the help of any of the Hollywood studios.
So try again.
for most of us, 15 minutes of fame is too much --- of an embarrassment
Like the NAACP, the ADL's primary mission is now raising money and supporting liberal causes. At one point, the ADL was a good thing. But since it's been turned into a conservative and Christian bashing platform for leftists, I believe that it's actually contributed to anti-Jewish feelings and resentment. I have no doubt that part of Gibson's outburst was due to the unrelenting bashing of "The Passion of the Christ" by Foxman and other leftist (supposedly) Jewish groups.
Mark
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