Message to Mel Gibson's Father

Email | 4/11/2004 | Dan Barash

[Snuffington]

I have yet to see anyone delve into the geo-political views of other artists parents. And believe me, there are a lot of nutty parents out there, so it's not like the story here is that they finally found the parent of a celebrity with goofy opinions.

No, anyone being honest knows that the reason any of us even know the name of Mel's dad - let alone his views on the holocaust - is because Abe Foxman declared Mel the enemy of Judaism, and wasn't able to make a very good case of it with the material he had. And Mel was such a terrible, awful anti-Semite it simply wasn't fair that they didn't have anti-Semitic statements or acts to pin on him. In that case it was obviously justified to make a celebrity and villain out of a dad who we'd never heard about before. That way people would at least have a good reason to presume Mel truly is a horrible anti-Semite, and his good behavior toward Jews in his real life is exposed as actually being a sinister plot on his part to hide his true nature.

Seriously, I think there are people who think this way. And a lot of other sheep who baaaa right along without stopping to wonder why we suddenly care about the opinions of a man who had previously been entirely obscure.

[Sam Cree]

I like Mel Gibson movies pretty well and admire his going against all odds to make a movie, apparently a very good one, on his personal religious beliefs.

I am fascinated that it is such a hit among Arabs.

I wish the church burning scene was not in "The Patriot," though. I am OK with poetic license, but something as inflammatory as that is a little much, IMO.

[yonif]

The guy writing this has nothing to do with that. He is a rightwing Jew and this is directed to the dad, and in no way is he trying to descredit the movie Passion, in no way part of the ADL, etc. etc.

Many posters on this thread, however, mistakenly feel it is the other way around.

[Sam Cree]

"Have you read the posts on this thread?...So they attack his father instead. Cowards."

I doubt that the above is applicable to the people posting on this thread (if that is what you mean), though it likely is, as you say, applicable to many leftists who have attacked the film.

[yonif]

Have you read the posts on this thread? They (for the most part) can't get over the fact that The Passion has/will surpass every Anti-Christian/secular humanist movie in recorded history. So they attack his father instead. Cowards.

How do you make the conclusion that the writer of this is anti-Christian or has a grudge against the film? This was directed to the father alone and probably those who think like him. It has nothing to do with the movie, especially because the guy writing it is on our side of (rightwing)ideology.

[Sam Cree]

"According to a transcript released by the network, Hutton Gibson said, "It's all — maybe not all fiction — but most of it is," when asked about his views on the Holocaust.

"Hutton Gibson follows a tiny wing of traditionalist Catholicism that views the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council as a conspiracy between Jews and Masons to take over the church."

"In this latest interview, Gibson said Jews want to take over the world. He did not know why Jews would want to achieve that, but said "it's all about control. They're after one world religion and one world government."

"(Mel)Gibson, who produced, directed and co-wrote the film, has said repeatedly that he is not anti-Semitic and that the project was a deeply personal expression of his own faith.

The above is quoted from USA Today.

[Snuffington]

The guy writing this has nothing to do with that.

No, he's one of the sheep not stopping to think why the entire world is suddenly talking about an entirely obscure man.

And incidentally, this is a recycled joke with only a few minor changes. I read the original some time ago (maybe on the Onion?) and it had no references to the Gibsons.

[wimpycat]

With all due respect, it's rather hard to argue that this has nothing to do with Mel Gibson, when the message is written to "Mel Gibson's father", instead of to "Hutton Gibson".

[justanotherday]

"How do you make the conclusion that the writer of this is anti-Christian or has a grudge against the film? This was directed to the father alone"

Attack the father, attack the son. And yes, while Mel's father has made some gross mistakes, The Passion's attackers have used Mel's fathers statements to attack the film and the message.

How does this post differ?

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Maybe later, you can make Jewish kids sing some Christian hymns in public school - really show 'em who is boss.
>>>

As opposed to threatening schools that allow Christian kids to sing Christian hymns in public school?

Sauce, goose, gander.

[justanotherday]

Maybe later, you can make Jewish kids sing some Christian hymns in public school - really show 'em who is boss. >>> As opposed to threatening schools that allow Christian kids to sing Christian hymns in public school? Sauce, goose, gander.

The real deal here is: let's secularize the school systems, let's take Christianity (and morality at the same time) from our teachings, let's induct our children into a post Christianity teaching.

There is a culture war going on, and we know where the sides are drawn

[Sam Cree]

Hey, welcome aboard, ConservativeKnight.

I don't doubt that Hutton is a decent man, he raised up Mel, who is presumably a decent person. But some of Hutton's views, a couple of which I posted above, are not very decent.

Now that Snuffington has pointed out that he has already read this elsewhere, I am wondering if it is correctly attributed to Plaut. It doesn't sound like him. Plaut is usually biting, sometimes sarcastic, but not exactly a humorist, I don't think.

[Tribune7]

Sounds like another attempt to smear Mel by attacking his father.

It's a fairly gentle dig and it's not undeserved.

[YoSoy2]

Sounds like another attempt to smear Mel by attacking his father.

And it is.

Should add another $100m to the bottom line.

Hopefully much more than that.

Happy Easter!

[Sam Cree]

No, I'm sitting in my office trying to get a good start on a painting and freeping here and there as well.