Posted on 02/24/2004 11:28:50 AM PST by Liz
That is a good point. Usually actions are more substantive than words. What actions could Mel Gibson take to repudiate his father Hutton's public declarations of Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism ?
He could buy rights to the books Hutton wrote and pull them from publication.
He could make a movie about the Holocaust.
As you wish. I don't find the truth off-topic or boring.
Well, we're talking past each other because I don't think he has an obligation to repudiate his father's views. If my brother says something dumb, its for him to explain, not me. And I don't have any obligation to condemn him publicly.
But if you want actions....
There's a scene in the movie when Jesus' hand is nailed to cross. The hand holding the spike was Mel Gibson's. He did that because it was his way of acknowledging that everyone is guilty for the death of Jesus. He's a non-Jew, accepting personal responsibility for the death of Jesus by his actions in holding the spike to Jesus' hand as it is hammered down. He repudiated the idea that Jews are to blame for the death of Jesus through his action of having a Catholic hold that spike.
How's that?
Just to be clear, I don't have a "dog in this fight". I'm not really a practicing Christian. Maybe I will be someday, or maybe not. But I think what's being said about Gibson in this context is unfair. Every time I've ever seen him on this movie it is patently obvious that it is very personal for him, and that the key element is that all of us are guilty for the death of Jesus.
The "Jews" are the focus here only because Jesus happened to be born a Jew. Had he been born in Norway, the same thing would have happened to him because Norwegians are no better or worse then Jews. He's made that type of comment so many times its ridiculous. The jews of that time were just like anyone else, and reacted the same as would anyone else. Its not the fact that they were jews that led them to kill Jesus -- its the fact that they were human.
Again, I don't buy into the whole concept of original sin. But Gibson does, and does so in a very humble manner. The idea that he is assigning guilt to any particular group doesn't match up with what he has said and done.
It would be nice if you appreciated the truth. You do not, contrary to your statement above.
He could walk around the world on his knees, greeting every living individual and shaking their hand, saying "Hi, I'm Mel Gibson, and I'm not an anti-semite", and some would post in here that his hands were kind of clammy, so he's obviously not sincere.
He could publically kiss the butt of every single person who doesn't believe him, only to have them post in here that his lips weren't soft enough, so he obviously isn't sincere.
In the context of everything else he said, my take on the gist of what he said was "Diane, he's my dad. I don't agree with him, but I love it and see no need to publically humiliate him here on national television." Gee, perhaps if he were to put his dad on a cross and make him march down the street to pay for his views...
The point is, were Gibson an Anti-semite, he'd have a lot of opportunity to be more blatant with it. He's established enough that he wouldn't suffer greatly for it (unfortunately), and hell, the Europeans would adopt him in a heartbeat. I don't see that he's doing that, and that fact, along with various other things he's said and done (not the least of which is to flat out deny he IS anti-semetic, pointing out that to hold that particular belief is against his own religion) lead me to believe he's not guilty of that particular sin. It appears obvious you'll never be convinced of that.
This being a thread about a movie about Jesus, I would bring up the idea of forgiving those who trespass against us, but then again, if Gibson isn't an anti-semite, t'isn't he who needs forgiveness.
I'm going to see the movie tonight. I'm actually anxious about seeing it. I'm not sure how I'll react, knowing that I have some culpability in what happened to Christ. We'll see.
On my way home I stopped at the Rave Theater to pick up my pre-ordered tickets for Saturday Night. The first thing that struck me was the parking lot.
I pass this theater every day on my way home, and duringthe week at 4 PM there are usually at most a few dozen cars in the parking lot, and those are of people shopping in the shops around the Theater. THe Parking Lot was so Full I had to Park in the Winn Dixie Parking Lot across the street. I have never seen that many cars, even on a Friday or Sat Night.
As I approached the building I noticed TV Vans from 3 of the 4 local stations and also a camera crew from the local Church Channel (Frazier). OK, I thought I can see that in Religious Montgomery, Al. Especially considering the controversy and subject matter of the movie.
As I approached the ticket window I was hit with Bombshell number three - in the window was a sign : "ALL SHOWINGS OF THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST SOLD OUT THROUGH MONDAY MARCH 1. ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR ADDITIONAL SHOWINGS PLEASE CALL THE BOX OFFICE OFTEN."
Finally, as I was leaving one of the afternoon showings let out. I watched in astonishment as a couple hundred solemn and totally silent movie-goers passed by. There were a lot of puffy eyes and a ton of hankies out. BUt what struck me was the silence, and not just the movie goers, everybody outside suddenly was quiet too. It was literally as if everyyonef felt like a funeral procession was going by.
The silence was broken by the gathered newsies who started asking people for interviews. Almost everyone just waved there hands and walked away, a few with a choked "I couldn't, not right now"
A few intrepid souls did come forward, but I could only catch snippets of what they were saying, but I heard "Unbelievable, amazing and powerful"
Take from this what you will, but without even entering the theater I have already been struck by the iommensity of this movie. Today was an experience I will never forget! I cannot wait until Saturday Night!
I just saw it too. Exactly what I thought.
I just saw the movie, and while I agree somewhat with your general statement, i.e. lot's of people give up their lives, generally it's because they have no other choice- What's so powerful in this movie is watching the extraordinary punishment Jesus took...when he didn't have to.
Yeah, I'm a wimp. I still haven't been able to bring myself to watch "Saving Private Ryan," and some of the scenes from "The Patriot" haunted me for weeks.
I had purchased tickets in advance so we could get in at 1 pm on a Wednesday afternoon. It was sold out.
Just as you say, everyone was quiet at the end of the show. No rush to get out of the theater, no crowded aisles. I've never seen anything like it.
The management put boxes of tissue on the outside seats of each row. Never seen that either.
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