Posted on 07/31/2006 4:43:47 PM PDT by Hildy
On Saturday, Gibson released a statement apologizing:
"After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the L.A. County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said, and I apologize to anyone who I have offended. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry." <> He went on in the statement to say that he has had substance abuse problems in the past. "I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health," Gibson said.
The ADL's Foxman, however, was unmoved by the apology. In his own statement, released Sunday, he said, "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 is unfortunate that it took an excess of booze and an encounter with a traffic cop 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."
And there were signs that even Gibson's conservative Christian fans were not moved by the response. Reaction in the popular conservative online forum FreeRepublic.com, was also largely negative. In response to the statement, one commenter posted, "Gibson showed his true colors last night during his arrest. I argued with you about 'The Passion of the Christ' and his portrayal of Jews. I stood up for Gibson to you and a number of my Jewish friends. Now, I'm sorry I did."
Another, responding to hopeful comments that Gibson can still change his views, wrote, "Lots of denial going on here. It's difficult when your hero falls so far."
I think Variety should have used some Freeper quotes supporting Mel Gibson for balance. But, alas, Variety is part of the lamestream media. ;)
I'm not even getting in on this crazy thread. Sheesh.
Did you read the keywords on this thread? Too funny.
Except that during Christian Holy week, my father did not hear people screaming "Kill the Catholics!"
Hildy and Veronica an embarassment to Free Republic, JeanS? I don't think so.
Yes, so true. The Passion remains a marvelous portrayal of the mainstream Christian faith which was born out of the Jewish faith.
And lest many posters here forget; The very first Christians were indeed Jews and will always be Jews by birthright! And, there would be no Christians at all if not for Jews (something I hope Jews here do not regret...)!
By the way and just for the record, I have many Jewish friends and family members, some of whom have spoken rather disparagingly of other ethnic and religious groups. Italians, people of color, Polish, Irish, etc, all bear the brunt.
In fact, let me tell just one of these short stories that involves politics, so apropo for FR. Because of my background and close ties to some key Jewish communities, some Jewish folks errantly ridiculed Mario Cuomo with terms such as "Wop" and other names while talking directly to me because they were new acquaintances of mine and so did not realize at the time that I had some Italian blood of my own! I was shocked because I would never have expected slurs to come from Jews of all people! But I also immediately realized this is just human nature and they meant no ill will. Well, they did but it was directed at Mario Cuomo -- and that was ok with me -- since they were Republican Jews and we were all at a Jewish Republican event for George Pataki back in 1994 or so.
Similar slurs were said about Mario and especially Leonora Fulani the woman of color when I spoke on behalf of Pataki at a Jewish synagogue that same year. I never viewed my Jewish audience / Jewish friends as Italian and Black American haters. Still don't. They remain by and large one of the the first group of folks to come to the aid of minorities or the afflicted anywhere.
Most importantly, I am aware of the fact that the loathesome Holocaust and other atrocities suffered by Jews naturally make Jews sensitive to the antisemitism issue. Same goes for people of color and the issue of slavery. I understand it. But let's not pretend that Jews do not also think negative and speak negative sometimes, because they do. They are human, too.
But, back to Mel. I can't explain why those poor phrases lept from Mel's mouth. Maybe -- just maybe -- the devil made him do it. Satan took advantage of Mel's weakness and lack of sobriety in order to deep six some of the good work wrought by The Passion? Could be. That's how Satan works: he works to undo the good. Whatever the case, it is tragic.
This is your most popular thread EVER!
Here's my opinion: I don't see that as true. Since some Jews supported Jesus and some Jews didn't, I don't hold Jews as a whole accountable in any way whatsoever. So, that's only a burden if you make it one. I just have never ever seen any significance in that line of thought. It is irrational to me and can only be explained by hypersensitivity (which I might share were I born a 100 percent Jew).
To me, that's akin to blaming all Germans even those alive today for what Hitler and his minions did; to blaming all Conservative Christians for Oklahoma City (which you may recall clinton and reno actually doing...); to blaming all Beatle fanatics even those alive today for gunning down John Lennon; etc. (I know some of these examples are rather poor but I am tired at the moment, so please excuse me.)
:)
You are trying. However, when my father was growing up, he was called a Christ killer - and he did not like that one bit. That was not that long ago, either.
Well, the fools who said such things to your Father were fools! Fools will always exist, unfortunately. Yet I know even the words of fools are hurtful, so give your Dad a hug from me.
Hildy was quoted in Variety, Playboy, Field and Stream or Popular Mechanics as saying:
"Gibson showed his true colors last night during his arrest. I argued with you about 'The Passion of the Christ' and his portrayal of Jews. I stood up for Gibson to you and a number of my Jewish friends. Now, I'm sorry I did."
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Hildy, keep up the good work. I don't think that you're tooting your own horn. It's a great testament to Democracy and the power of technology to usurp (is that the right spelling?) the liberal drive by media's stranglehold on information. You gotta love it when the average person gets their say.
PS: Did you ever the see the South Park episode entitled "The Passion of the Jew"?
I added you as a keyword to a thread. Go look for it.
The bullying thread goes perfectly with this thread.
"Many serial bullies are also serial attention-seekers. More than anything else they want attention. It doesn't matter what type of attention they get, positive or negative, as long as they can provoke someone into paying them attention. It's like a 2-year-old child throwing a tantrum to get attention from a parent. The best way to treat bullies is to refuse to respond and to refuse to engage them - which they really hate."
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