Here's what bothers me about this discussion:
Mel has seemed like a fairly OK Hollywood type, religious, family man, does some movies that go beyond the usual Hollywood drek, etc. He gets drunk, drives, and is reported to have said some hateful things while being arrested.
I guess I'm surprised at the depth of the condemnation. Maybe it is because we expected more of him, sort of thought he was more like us.
It goes beyond all of that though, because he is such a religious guy and because, unfortunately, of the controversy behind THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. That PRECISELY why this is just so disturbing. So I guess that's what it is so bothersome to you...so I guess we agree.