Dear sinkspur & SJackson,
I wasn't a big fan of Mr. Gibson's heretofore, although I did kinda like the whole Mad Max persona. I didn't go see the Passion movie. I'm not a big movie-goer.
However, I find myself rising to a partial defense of Mr. Gibson. Whether you think he apologized sufficiently enough, here is what he said:
“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 I may have offended.”
He tells us:
- he acted completely out of control;
- said things that he doesn't believe are true;
- said things that are despicable;
- is deeply ashamed of EVERYTHING he said (not some of the things he said, but EVERYTHING he said);
- and apologizes to ANYONE he may have offended.
This is what is known as a categorical statement. There's nothing held back, here. With a statement like this, he doesn't need to go into details of precisely which words of which he's ashamed, nor specifically to whom he is apologizing. He's ashamed of ALL OF IT, and apologizing to ANYONE OFFENDED.
As well, he says that the things he said are despicable and untrue.
Now, you may choose not to give him the benefit of the doubt, and thus you may choose to believe that his apology is insincere, and that he hasn't told the truth about his feelings and beliefs. There's little Mr. Gibson will likely be able to do to convince you otherwise, and so be it.
However, his words represent a complete repudiation of what he said, and an apology carte blanche for what he said.
As for me, I don't really think that Mr. Gibson quite believes what he said.
sitetest
This was written for him by a PR flack. He mentioned the police specifically.
He did not mention the Jews specifically because he's not in the least sorry for his bigoted ranting.
Now, if he would come out publicly, apologize, and repudiate his father's anti-semitism, I would believe him and accept it because I know that is the last thing he wants to do.
In Judaism would encompass a specific acknowledgement of the wrongs, directed to those who were harmed, as well as a sincere effort to undo the damage done. I'd be surprised if Christianity views it much differently.
In Mel's context, yes, this would involve addressing the officers involved, by name, the arresting officer and "sugar tits", as well as addressing the Jewish community. No, Mel didn't do that.
As to whether Mel believes what he says, you have to look at that in the context of his past statements. Clearly his father is a confirmed Jew hater. In the past I've defended him on the basis of not blaming the son for his fathers transgressions. Mel has refused to address his father's beliefs as an issue. There's some legitimacy to that position. However Hutton claims to have been involved in the production and marketing of "The Passion". Unfortunately if that's true, as producer he needs to address these issues. Or deny Hutton's involvement. He did neither.
He's stated he learned his faith from his father, who has never lied to him. Central to his father's faith, not Catholicism, is the takeover of the Vatican by the Jews, through the masons. That raises doubts about Mel in the context of the former statement.
When queried specifically about his fathers Holocaust denial, the best Mel could come up with was that 10 million civilians died in WWII (actually far more), and some were Jews. In view of pops position that the Jews weren't killed, they moved to New York, LA and Sydney, that raises questions.
Personally, I think he meant it.
I also think he's a Hollywood personality, likely left wing on balance, as important politically, or as a moral spokesman, as Cindy Sheehan and the Dixie Chicks. But as he's got a platform, so his rants should be addressed