Matt C. Abbott
Posted on 07/31/2006 3:44:06 PM PDT by Diago
Priest criticizes ADL for statement regarding Mel Gibson
Readers might remember that the ADL was quite vocal in its criticism of Gibson for his 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ.
Here's what ADL national director Abraham Foxman had to say regarding Gibson's arrest:
Mel Gibson's apology is unremorseful and insufficient. It's not a proper apology because it does not go to the essence of his bigotry and his anti-Semitism.
His tirade finally reveals his true self and shows that his protestations during the debate over his film 'The Passion of the Christ,' that he is such a tolerant, loving person, were a sham. It may well be that the bigotry has been passed from the father to the son. It is unfortunate that it took an excess of booze and an encounter with a police officer to reveal what was really in his heart and mind.
"We would hope that Hollywood now would realize the bigot in their midst and that they will distance themselves from this anti-Semite.
The ADL, in my view, has no moral right to cast stones at Gibson, considering the organization has no problem with abortion-on-demand. In 2000, the ADL issued a press release in which "they cheered the Supreme Court decision barring a partial-birth abortion ban in Nebraska and admitted that the ADL had 'filed an amicus curiae or 'friend of the court' brief which said the Nebraska law unconstitutionally interfered in matters of individual choice,'" according to a story from Catholic World News.
Also from the CWN story:
While the [ADL] claims it is only seeking to identify 'anti-abortion groups that advocate violence,' the group's pro-abortion advocacy and attempts to associate the shooting of abortionists with peaceful pro-life groups such as Human Life International contradicts their reassurances. An ADL press release from October 30, 1998 identified Human Life International among 'anti-abortion extremists' and derided any pro-life group comparing the slaughter of the unborn to the Nazi Holocaust.
I asked Father Tom Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, to respond to Foxman's statement on the Gibson arrest. Father Euteneuer's response is as follows:
Mr. Foxman claims that Mel Gibson did not give a 'proper apology.' Can this man ever be satisfied? Gibson said that he disgraced himself and his family by his behavior and apologized for his anti-Semitic remarks which, by his admission, he spoke in an altered state and does not believe to be true. And that's not enough? According to Catholic principles Mel exhibited all the elements of a proper reconciliation: contrition with a firm purpose of amendment, confession and (he is in the process of doing) penance. The greatest penance is that this all came out in the public forum: Foxman and the ADF should get off his back.
The Catholic League's response to the Gibson arrest is here.
Related link:
http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=725
A new blog
Check out the following blog by pro-life and Catholic activist Darla Meyers:
http://www.neveragainescr.blogspot.com/
I am beginning to wonder if this wasn't some kind of publicity stunt.
Dear Dark Skies,
I think it's possible that perhaps he wasn't rip-roaring drunk, although others on these threads have noted that alcoholics with some years of sobriety often exhibit reverse tolerance when they fall off the wagon.
However, even if Mr. Gibson wasn't experiencing reverse tolerance, a .12 still translates to a six-pack or more of beer in an hour or less for a good-sized man.
I'm a pretty big guy, and it would take more than a six-pack to get me to .12 in an hour or so. That wouldn't make me falling-down drunk, but it would make me moderately drunk.
Moderately drunk folks may act in exaggerated, unpredictable, and especially, belligerent fashion if put into stressful situations, like being arrested for DUI.
sitetest
Your point about relapse makes much sense...but isn't that a matter of lack of liver process (ie the liver is damaged and leaves the alcohol in the blood...hence a higher blood test level).
And on top of that, I am not defending Mel, but I am not yet convinced. Though you do make a convincing argument.
Excuse me but all this talk about alcohol has reminded me of the pleasure of a scotch and soda. I'll be back.
Dear caseinpoint,
Alcohol is a depressant. One of the things is represses is a person's inhibitions. Thus, it's entirely possible that someone may say things when they're drunk that they think or feel, but would never otherwise utter.
However, it's also possible that they'll say things to provoke or enrage that they otherwise wouldn't say, or say things that just come to the surface of their mind that they'd normally suppress or repress. Where might this stuff come from? Well, in Mr. Gibson's case, from his relationship with his clearly anti-semitic father. Hutton Gibson's words are in Mel Gibson's head, whether Mel believes them or not. Is it possible that they could spew out when Mel Gibson is drunk? Sure, the inhibitions are down, stuff can just pour forth.
Hope that helps.
sitetest
If he wasn't drunk, that makes what he said even more deplorable.
I am told that advanced stage alcoholics can get "drunk" on two drinks.
Gibson's inhibitions were certainly down.
As to a publicity stunt, I can't imagine what Gibson thought he would gain by screaming anti-semitic obscenities at police officers, unless he wants to be viewed as completely daffy.
Alcohol is a depressant. It depresses inhibitions, it does not cause one to tell the truth although it may reduce your inhibition against speaking your mind or reveal something you are hiding.
But...... it may also depress your inhibition regarding telling lies, so you may just start telling whoppers for the fun of it. Or depress your inhibition to not act like a raging toddler spewing forth anything you may have seen, heard or read, regardless of whether you believe it or not.
It may also depress an inhibition against a paranoia that when sober you conciously avoid acknowledging or acting upon, but when drunk you become a raging paranoic.
It's a very complicated thing, the depressing of normal inhibitions.
Dear Dark Skies,
There's a neat site called "Drink Wheel" that can provide estimates of blood alcohol level for a given number of drinks for a person, male or female, of a given size.
http://www.intox.com/wheel/drinkwheel.asp
Reverse tolerance. I googled the topic and found that some folks ascribe it to decreased liver function (meaning that you'd also see increased BAC), but others ascribe it to increased sensitivity of the brain to the inebriating effects of alcohol, and others ascribe it to both.
Assuming that increased brain sensitivity was at least partly at work, it seems reasonable that Mr. Gibson may have been more affected by a .12 than you or I would. As I understand it, he's been battling this problem for decades. My sincerest sympathies are with him, and with all who suffer from addictions.
Scotch and soda - I prefer mine on the rocks, no soda or water. Maybe a little later. ;-)
sitetest
Si it sounds to me that we shouldn't presume he is a closet anti-Semite. Thanks for your insight.
Thanks. Knowing how much I suppress my own thoughts and instincts, I would hate to think what a witch I'd be if I were ever drunk.
Dear caseinpoint,
"So it sounds to me that we shouldn't presume he is a closet anti-Semite."
Lots of folks would disagree with me, so draw your own conclusions.
And even I would only go so far as to say that we shouldn't presume it. He may well be an anti-semite. I just don't view this as particularly persuasive evidence that he is one.
sitetest
What, will we wake up
tomorrow to read the Pope
has made a statement?!
According to the most accepted science now, someone who is intoxicated and ranting and raving is NOT expressing his/or true feelings. It used to be thought that one did.
Everyone's using
this incident to advance
their own agenda --
 |
"Mel Gibson never harmed one hair on my body, unlike some actors!" |
Thanks. I will take a wait and see attitude with Gibson.
Some folks think that is because a damaged liver can't process the alcohol and it is still in the blood stream. I am not defending Mel and I think anti-semitism is demonic
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