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.
"We do treat murderers differently from people who say bigoted things when arrested for DUI. A little reason and judgment is needed here."
I used the Chappaquiddick analogy because he has already been villified far worse than Kennedy in the media(and by a few FReepers: )). I agree that reason is needed here.
According to the way I've been taught to interpret Revelation,the Jewish people are most definitely still God's chosen people,and that will be starkly shown in the last days.
Even though they deny the whole basis of Christianity?
Yes,because God made an unbreakable covenant with them(Abraham),and no matter what man does,God does not break His word. According to what I've been taught,the Jewish people will get a second chance in the last days(as will other people),and are perhaps the witnesses of which the book of Revelation speaks.It's a convoluted thing,much more than I can into in this thread. Suffice it to say,that many many Jewish people will be saved in the last days,and many will be instrumental in bringing others to God in those days.
I don't mean to say that they will automatically be saved just because they're Jewish-they'll have to accept the gift of salvation just like other people.
I agree...I was trying to show some here what hypocrites they are concerning Gibson.
Maybe you are right, I haven't looked into it.
From my reading of the bible, Muslims and Jews are pretty much in the same boat, non-believers in Christ, who believe in God.
I assume all the nonbelievers will given a second chance.
Make that 0.40
Sorry that I upset you napscoordinator.
It's true, I speak English poorly, can't spell, don't understand a word of Yates or Austin, believe that "prose" is a position, and buy Ann Coulter books for the pictures.
The only thing I have going for me is I am beyond fluent in Sarcastic, and thus immune to it's effects. ;-)
I thought American Christians made a mistake by embracing the Passion of the Christ as some kind of God-send. There is a reason God chose to have his Word written instead of trivialized by a movie...and a not-so-good movie at that.
Still, I really do feel bad for Mel Gibson. None of us are perfect. He cannot take back what he said, and, unfortunately, its not unreasonable to believe that there must be some anti-semitic beliefs in a person who says what he said, drunk or not.
Sorry, but I am not buying this Bill Clinton-esque theory that an apology makes everything right.
I am sorry that I ranted. That was a couple hours ago. It was not about you I promise. It was the collective group of us that do this kind of thing. I apologize profusely.
Mel Gibson gets caught, is not in an accident, and the police are unsuccessful in hiding the record. It is broadcast on the Internet in great detail. For the Media and Abe Foxman, "The passion of Christ" is unforgivable. Gibson is going to have this incident recited every time his name is mentioned for eternity.
Well it does start to get funny in the middle of the night.:)I am the worst speller.
Please, Dot ws great Here's a bonus Parker poem:
I like a martini
Two at he very most,
Three I'm under the table
And four, I'm under the host
And don't give me any guff about Eugene O'Neill, either.
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