Replies

"I don't believe for a second that he was "speaking his real thoughts" while at a .12 bac."

While I would really like to agree with this, I cannot. A blood alcohol of .12 is not that high. Also, if he is a true alcoholic, then his tolerance to alcohol is high so that 0.12 is nothing. Although ones thoughts may come out distorted and exagerated while under the influence, what does come out is what is basically there. Your inhibitions are lowered and you tend to say things and thoughts you would normally suppress. I know I did when I used to drink. Personally, I find myself forgiving his "dark side" because I know all of us have one we strive to suppress.

That being said, I fully sympathize with Mel and the alcoholism he has to contend with - I had a short period where I battled the bottle in my late 20s and I am glad I never developed a chemical dependency on alcohol so that I was able to stop drinking. I hope he can get back on the wagon. He is a fine actor and I would hate to see him stop working. Also, I would hate to see him pillored for saying politically/morally wrong things because he had been drinking.

So, I not coming down on the man when I say his credibility has been damaged. Unfortunately his dark side has been revealed to public srutiny. A horrible thing for any of us to have happen. Let me give you an example from my own life....I honestly abhor racism (anti-black thinking my in case) and I work hard to suppress it. However, there are times my deep seated "visceral" responses surface in regards to racism. I'm embarrassed and ashamed of it, but I don't try to excuse it, just to repent. I am a "recovering" racist. Mel is also...his just happens to be anti-semetism.