Posted on 08/03/2006 4:46:43 AM PDT by pinochet
We can all agree that Mel Gibson diplayed extreme stupidity, in making anti-semitic comments infront of a stranger. But the intense campaign in the mass media and on this forum to denounce Gibson, is, frankly, ridiculous. Even many on this forum who defended Trent Lott, have been hysterical in their denunciation of Gibson.
Thinking or saying racist or anti-semitic things is a sin. So is engaging in, or thinking about, extra-marital sex. But given man's fallen nature, such things are common.
People normally express their prejudices to close friends or to family members, not to total strangers. Remember Rev. Billy Graham's infamous private conversation with his close friend, Richard Nixon? Gibson is a stupid man, not an evil man.
I believe that, when labelling a person a "racist" or an "anti-semite", we should look at his long-term record in dealing with blacks or Jews. One or two outrageous comments, in my view, should not make the labels stick. Using such a standard, David Duke and Pat Buchanan qualify as anti-semites. Mel Gibson does not.
The ever sensible Rabbi Daniel Lapin cautioned us all to exercise caution, before labelling individuals. In all his life, Gibson has been very respectful in his dealings with Jews.
I told my wife when I saw his apology on TV: the difference between his apology and Patrick Kennedy's is that Mel said that he apologized "for the things he said." The Kennedy faction always buffers their apologies with the word "allegedly." Mel is taking full responsibility and accountability for his actions, which is more than I can say about 99% of politicians, Hollywood types, and people in general.
The UN are enablers. They enable the total conquest of the west by the Islamofascists.
We are in deep doo doo, if we don't wake up and smell the humus......and that goes for Bush too, with his 'Religion of Peace' crap.
We are targeted and we better fight this threat.
I do admit, when I was in high school, I did think that the Jews, as a people, should just let the past be the past; I mean, all I heard was talk about persecution and the Holocaust, and that was thirty years in the past, right? At that time, I have to plead the ignorance of youth, because as I aged and matured, I began to see that unreasonable hatred of the Jews was a thing that I had escaped, but that it was alive and well in the Mideast. And as years have passed, I have watched the trend to "Blame the JOOOOOOSE!" spread from the slums of "Palestine" through France, and into England and the West. Today, sadly, I see the coming storm against God's Chosen, because it is no longer a case of sour grapes from the Muslims and displaced Arabs, but the same kind of scapegoating that occurred in Europe before WWII.
Now, racist? I have to agree there. It is impossible to look at the wild-eyed madmen lobbing rockets into Israel, blowing up pizza parlors full of children, or hiding their armaments in private homes in Lebanon, and not want to convict the entire Arab race on the basis of their actions. Color me racist. I don't know the "average" Muslim family, but sadly, on the basis of their brethren, I will be forever close-minded. As someone married to a technical writer, I cannot look upon the operating manual of the "Religion of Peace" without condemning the whole of its followers. It's entire text is filled not with the past tense of "eye for an eye" but with the present tense of "slay the infidels, enslave their women and children, dress your women so as to deny them any sense of self and keep them as ignorant as cattle." I cannot name one Muslim scientist (other than probably in the arms field.) In that area, color me racist. Guilty, guilty, guilty.
When a "dissenter" on the Iraq war presents a logical case for their view without becoming a raving lunatic with wild baseless accusations about this administration and our troops it will be accepted as patriotic dissent. I have yet to hear one put forward that is logical, respectful and coherent.
That's TWO more times than Sindee "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the middle ease" Slimehands,
and TWO more times than Jessie "Hymie Town" Jerkson,
Two more times than Hitlery "F*(^^&G Jew B*$^^#*s" KKKlintoon!
I would like a little "proportional response" is all!
Taint enuff!!!!
I can't believe this story of his comments is getting all this attention. Yes, I find his Anti-Semitic remarks were stupid and I am glad he came out and said he is sorry and he was wrong, But if anything that should be getting attention is, he was driving drunk and could of killed somebody. He should be thanking God he is not apologizing to the grieving parents of a teenage girl he killed in a head-on crash. He could be apologizing to a 5-year boy for killing his parents, or maybe Mel’s Wife and seven children could be visited by the CHP at 3:30 in the morning saying sorry but your father and husband was killed this morning. I thank God no one was killed or injured by his drunk driving, but I wish the media would focus their attention on more important things than what he may of said while drunk. I wish Mel all the best, and I hope he gets help where it’s really needed, his drinking problem, and his family life.
Name one poster, let alone many here, who have blamed illegals for all of America's ills.
Put up or shut up.
I wonder if Mel is using the same crisis management firm that Rush Limbaugh did during his Oxycotin mess?
I can't say I have never said the "N" word. Ashamed of it, said it in the heat of anger.
Doesn't mean I hate black people.
I have said "B*tch" before too. Doesn't mean I hate women.
Gibson also did it while very drunk which let all those things which were planted in his head as a kid come up past his good sense censor and got bubbled out.
And he has publically admitted wrong and is working to try to make it clear to people that he truly regrets it.
A lot of the other bile coming from a wide variety of people is done cold sober with no attempt to apologize.
Of the two, I know whom I admire most...the guy with the guts to say "I screwed up, and I admit my guilt." Not the man who says "The solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel."
Lots of people are kicking the first guy. Lots of people are saying, "let's not radicalize the situation any more by giving in a bit to his demands" in response to the second guy.
Specifics? You write that Pat Buchanan has a long-term record of dealing with Jews that qualifies him as anti-Semitic...can you elaborate?
Quite true.
To paraphrase pinochet, "which FReeper here has never had a critical thought about George W. Bush, or said something critical of George W. Bush in private?" Many people here criticized Bush's choice of Harriet Myers and many criticize his immigration policies, among other issues.
Letting loose a tirade of anti-Semitic gibberish really goes beyond "having an anti-Semitic thought."
Give him the benefit of the doubt until then. Don't hang him in effigy.
I've made a concerted effort to improve my attitude against Mexicans but as pertains to Arabs, the reward doesn't justify the effort: not until Arab culture meets me halfway.
No racist anything here. In fact, I don't even like to use the word "race" as I think it can imply that we are somehow different species or something. We all belong to the human race, we just come from different backgrounds and/or different parts of the Earth.
At the same time, I can accept why Mel said what he said. (1) He was drunk, and (2) He never had a chance to be untarnished by racism, because those sorts of feelings usually develop as a result of being raised by your parents. Exhibit A: Mel's dad. Mel never stood a chance.
I for one am getting tired of all the Gibson coverage. With everyone talking about it, you might forget that there was a real anti-semetic crime last week - the shooting at the Jewish Center.
I checked how many stories there were on Foxnews.com and CNN.com of each story. Way more about Gibson.
I bet the same is true on this site.
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