Posted on 07/30/2006 7:20:40 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
It is a maxim: Bigotry is wrong.
It is an evil whether it is expressed by world leaders or inebriated actors.
Unlike some who have made untoward statements without regret, the day after his arrest in Malibu on suspicion of DUI Mel Gibson issued what amounted to a comprehensive and humble apology.
Predictably the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) deemed insufficient Gibson's sorrowful and blanket apology.
With the apparent ability to peer into the human soul, National Director of the (ADL) Abraham Foxman proclaimed the following: "His [Gibson's] tirade finally reveals his true self and shows that his protestations during the debate over his film "The Passion of the Christ," that he is such a tolerant, loving person, were a sham."
The ADL is apparently trying to use the incident to alter the results of its past failed effort to characterize Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" as bigoted.
It appears as though some apologies are more equal than others. Demands for another, and another, and another more remorseful apology invariably keep on coming when it comes to those whom the Left disdains.
Remember when on the occasion of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday Republican Sen. Trent Lott made some regrettable remarks? Lott's words were construed as meaning that the nation would have been better off if a segregationist's presidential campaign had been successful.
Eight days after making the remarks Lott apologized, saying, "A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embraced the discarded policies of the past. ... Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement."
Lott's critics on the Left claimed the apology was inadequate. Lott proceeded to issue apology after apology, each time expressing more and more contrition. But no matter how sorrowful Lott's expressions were, they were never good enough for his critics. Ultimately, he stepped down from his position as Senate majority Leader.
At the time one of Lott's most outspoken critics was Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd. Dodd said, "If a Democratic leader had made [Lott's] statements, we would have to call for his stepping aside, without any question whatsoever."
Fast forward to April 2004. Dodd took to the senate floor to praise the work of Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, saying, "I do not think it is an exaggeration at all to say to my friend from West Virginia that he would have been a great senator at any moment. Some were right for the time. Robert C. Byrd, in my view, would have been right at any time.... I cannot think of a single moment in this nation's 220-plus year history where [Robert Byrd] would not have been a valuable asset to this country."
This is the same Byrd who once donned the white sheets and hood of the KKK, voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and as recently as March 2001 used the "N" word on national television. Absent were myriad calls for a more contrite version after Dodd issued a generic apology.
When he ran for president as a Democrat in 1984, the Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown." One apology for the foul verbiage sufficed.
In June 2005 Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin intentionally placed the following into the Congressional Record: "If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."
After initially refusing to do so, Durbin offered an apology of sorts for his Nazi, Soviet and Pol Pot comparisons. However, his office did not classify his expression as an apology but rather referred to it as a "Statement of Regret." The senator was not required to show further regret.
Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden recently said, "You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking." Biden did not apologize for his remarks but instead claimed that he was misconstrued. Calls for clarification were scant as were cries for an apology. A statement issued by the ADL's Foxman labeled Gibson's recent apology as "unremorseful and insufficient."
What did Gibson say in his public apology that was lacking in contrition or fullness?
Gibson described his actions as "very wrong and for which I am ashamed."
Saying that one is ashamed is a clear expression of remorse but Gibson did not stop there. He stated that when arrested he "acted like a person completely out of control."
Regarding his statements, Gibson acknowledged, "I said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable."
Referring to one's statements as despicable is strong, unequivocal language. Still, Gibson went even further.
Adding to his expression of sorrow over his outbursts, he said that he was "deeply ashamed of everything" he had said and categorically apologized to anyone who was offended.
He summed things up by saying, "I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry."
According to the Left's parameters, Gibson has exceeded that which is expected. According to human standards, he has exceeded that which is sufferable.
No further apologies needed.
Have a fruitful day.
I have seen nothing in his movies, including "The Passion", that showed an anti-semitic slant. I would also say that his former movie partner, a certain Mr. Danny Glover, hangs out with a variety of anti-semites icluding Harry Belafonte, Hugo Chavez, Castro, ANSWER etc. not to mention defending McKinney who's father several years back summed his daughters loss during a post-election press conference: "Jews have bought everybody. J-E-W-S." Glover and numerous others on the left are guilty by association up to their eyeballs. And don't forget how the left played down Michael Jackson's little phone message rant.
This episode reminds me of why I am so against campus speech codes because they shuffle a kid that may have racist or anti-semitic views through four years of college and instead of creating an environment where those horrible views are exposed and questioned they graduate more angry and also more confused.
None of us know what will happen but this may be a chance for Mel to break away from any such underlying views that were very likely to have been fostered by a domineering, anti-semitic father.
Slightly off-topic, but Monica's deflowerment is one offense for which Bill isn't responsible. First, they never consummated their relationship in the traditional way, and second, la Lewinsky had already had numerous affairs, including one with her school drama coach in L.A., before heading east to (as widely reported) "get [her] Presidential kneepads."
Foxman wants more headlines and more press time. Period.
".........and most people will forgive him",
Do you really think so? I doubt that he'd get a majority of Freepers forgive him.
Well now , it all depends on what the definition of sex is, now doesn't it?
"[I]t depends on how you define "alone" ... there were a lot of times when we were alone, but I never really thought we were."
"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" - excerpts from Bill Clinton's grand jury testimony
The Dixie Chicks were cold sober then they came out against Bush. Mel was drunk and out of control. You don't see a difference here?
sw
Gibson relied on a particularly controversial and critical source for his version of the Passion--it was a vision by a 19th century German nun. There were many other sources, including the Gospel, that would not have raised the same questions.
When he went to promote the film, Gibson talked up a Jewish conspiracy to keep the film from being made and distributed, which turned out to be false. He also made up a favorable quote by John Paul II, "It is as it was", which was denied by the Vatican.
His drunken confessions have a shed a lot of light on past behavior that, at the time, people excused because he was doing a good deed by bringing the Passion story to life for movie viewers and they did not want to believe that his motivations could be so clouded.
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Congratulations...you two have managed to turn this thread into the gayest ever on FR.
Agreed on all points. The only reason I replied was to point out that Primal Fear is a really good, taut psychological thriller that was hamstrung by a stupidly generic title (which has nothing to do with the plot) and a terrible marketing campaign.
I had no interest in seeing it until I stumbled upon it on cable, and the movie was actually good enough that it made me angry at the idiots who chose the title and made the trailers. The filmmakers' work deserved better.
This incident proves that sometimes bigotry is well founded.
I see the ADL's side in this. He apologized for everything but the really crappy Jew stuff.
I think he should apologize for claiming that he "owns Malibu".
Everyone knows the Jews own everything.
So where's my share?
Take it up with Gibson. You were supposed to get Malibu.
"And then there was the matter of Bill Clinton who deflowered Monica....guess I shouldn't go there.
"
Monica was a virgin when she started working at the White House? Better check your story...
"Mel did NOT commit murder, but will be treated as such.
"
No, actually, he will not. He will probably be fined for his DUI, but he will not face trial for the words he uttered. Instead, he will be shunned by some, celebrated by others, and ignored by most people...who already ignore him now.
We do treat murderers differently from people who say bigoted things when arrested for DUI. A little reason and judgment is needed here.
It might be blamed on your misspellings.
One damn word? It is people like you who complain about things not getting done and all you can do is complain about one word misspelled instead of getting the actual point of a post. You were one of those in school who did not understand the subject matter but spelled correctly...Good for you. I am sure it got you far in life. Go find a post that only cares about spelling. I think I see you pulling this crap on everyone and it is not funny or cute. Time for you to grow up if that is possible. I am sick of you little perfect people who complain about one word that is misspelled...You would be welcomed over at DU where you belong.
He showed the same stubborn Jewhatred in his apology that he showed in defense of his odious father, and in his drunken tirade. Mel Gibson is a garden-variety Jewhater, the sort of low rent character who posts at LF or any other Jewhating site.
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