Posted on 08/01/2006 5:11:10 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
ACTOR Mel Gibson today apologised for making anti-Semitic remarks after his recent arrest for drunken driving and asked to meet with members of the Jewish community to begin a "path for healing".
"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said in a statement. "I want to apologise specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested," he said.
Gibson, who directed 2004's blockbuster movie The Passion of The Christ about the last hours of the life of Jesus, was caught speeding in his car in the early hours of last Friday, and he went on a rant in which he is widely reported to have said "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world".
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department report, parts of which have appeared on celebrity website TMZ.com, is laced with anti-Semitic statements and expletives said by the actor.
The report said an opened bottle of tequila was found in the car, and that at one point Gibson tried to evade arrest.
But it has been the anti-Semitic remarks that have raised the biggest outcry from members of the Jewish community in and out of Hollywood because before Passion, the Oscar-winning director of Braveheart and star of the Lethal Weapon movies denied he or the movie were anti-Semitic.
His statement today sought a meeting with Jewish community leaders in which he could explain his actions.
"I'm not just asking for forgiveness. I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one-on-one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing," Gibson said.
He said he has begun "an ongoing program of recovery," but admitted "I cannot do it alone".
"I am asking the Jewish community, whom I have personally offended, to help me on my journey through recovery," Gibson said.
Several Jewish leaders said Gibson must first complete his recovery program and perform acts of goodwill such as visiting Nazi death camps before they would answer his plea for help.
"We will know when the time is, but the time is certainly not when his press agents think it is," said Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
"I certainly think he is facing his alcoholism, and now I think he needs to face the statements of bigotry and anti-Semitism the same."
The Anti-Defamation League "accepted the apology" and National Director Abraham Foxman said that when Gibson's recovery was complete, "we will be ready and willing to help him".
A spokeswoman for ABC said the network canceled development of a Holocaust miniseries because nearly two years had passed since ABC struck a deal with Gibson's production company to make it and it had not yet even seen a script.
Michael Gennaco, who heads the sheriff department's oversight board, defended the department against claims it gave Gibson favourable treatment during his arrest and in its report.
Mr Gennaco said an initial probe showed LA sheriffs did not violate department policies, and added the final arrest report would include inflammatory comments made by Gibson.
That report will be made public when prosecutors present their case.
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney said a date for filing formal charges had yet to be decided.
My life changed after one compelling event (no, I didn't get pulled over and make hate filled statements). I wasn't whole again for some time, but were it not for that single event, I would not be here. So if I can change, I believe Mel is on the path to changing for the better.
Mindsets change.
If I ever get famous and someone looks at all my FR comments for the last 6 years, there will be lots of aplogizin' to do and that's when I was sober!
If his name had been Kennedy nothing would have been done!
OK, then. What is the truth of his feelings? There are many sides to everyone. You can feel one way towards an ethnic group, then turn around the next day and feel totally different because of your mood or an incident that happened.
He spent months, money, energy, talent on the Passion. That's something he DID.
He wasn't apologizing to you, and doesn't need to.
In Mr.Gibson's own words "The Jews are responsible for all the wars on the planet."
Do you believe this mindset came about overnight while getting drunk, or the most likely reality that he is an anti-Semite?
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12: 2 & 3
As a matter of fact, I do believe you can spout off something like that in a moment of anger or when drunk and not really believe that. I think we all do that sometimes.
Boortz, Rush, and Sean all talked about this today. WHY?? Mel is only an ACTOR not the leader of some country! I'm soooo sick of this already. It should have been old news today!
Gibson is fixated on denegrating Jews in everything he does. In vino veritas.
I recall that when The Passion was in the theaters, Gibson said he said he was going to do a movie about the events that are commemorated in Chanukah. Now a Holocaust related production.
Leave the Jews alone, Mr. Sicko. With friends like you, Jews need no enemies.
He's rich and famous and this is still what he fixates on, even/especially in a drunken state. His Holocaust denying father molded this man.
Gibson and his father should spend 40 hours a week for five years viewing some of Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation Holocaust survivor first person testimonials.
Get over it. He was drunk. Tequila makes one stupid. Grow up.
He's no more an anti-Semite than I am....and I find myself sitting here rooting Israel on .....hourly........hoping they mop the floor with Hezbollah.
The P.C. bullshit that has infected this nation has really taken hold. If I thought the man truly was anti-Semitic, I'd be dumping on him; I don't, I won't.
I'm not saying this man can't change. I just don't believe he has magically stopped being an anti-Semite 48 hours after he made an ass of himself.
Ditto to that! He is just an actor and who cares what they think or say? If I held a grudge over everything I heard from them, I'd never see another movie.
When you're drunk, do you rail against Jews? I don't think most people do. Which is exactly the issue. This seems to suggest this Gibson's true thoughts.
The inhibitions are gone, and one will act out and speak his or her feelings when not drinking. Many, many years ago , I use to bartend, and let me tell ya lol, I've seen the most "Professional and Religious " people, get to much "reality juice" in them, and the "REAL PERSON" comes out.
Also don't get me wrong, I'm not throwing stones at Mr.Gibson, I live is a glass house. We have all done stupid things, but it is his "mindset" I sincerley doubt.
If he goes for a real contrition an is sincere in mending his ways I say ACCEPTED!
We should all pray for one another who can hear and desire to grow in the ways of the LORD!
My beliefs and my experiences tell me that a man can change, even overnight. Did that happen to Mel? As FreeRep stated in the post you replied to "this is a good step, time will tell".
"Get over it. He was drunk. Tequila makes one stupid. Grow up."
I have never seen so many sacntimonious assholes in one group in my life.
Obviously no one here has ever gotten drunk and made an ass of themselves. Please...save me the AA stories and all the Bible references too.
"Get over it, I was only following orders."
Nazi's said just about the same thing, that left millions of Jews murdered.
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