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Gibson apologises to Jewish community
Herald Sun ^ | 2 August 2006

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.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: antisemitic; apology; dui; jews; melgibson; skinful
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To: toddlintown
What? Mel Gibson is now the replacement for Jesus Christ?

Stop being blasphemous; not to mention stupid.

61 posted on 08/01/2006 6:52:02 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: new cruelty
My life changed after one compelling event...

My Dad had one of those. It involved the head cardiac nurse, who happened to be black, that used the de-fib paddles on him when he went into ventricular fibrillation, then had the lovely grace to apologize to him later for burning him. Nurse Perry was a Saint to my Dad.

That was quite an epiphany for a Southern white man of the previous generation. Not to imply that I had ever heard him say that trigger word that starts with n, but he had some deeply held personal beliefs that he was able lose after that.

62 posted on 08/01/2006 6:52:04 PM PDT by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken!)
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To: mosquewatch.com
Yes, you are a participant on this thread. I am just pointing out that you don't have a dog in this fight, this is between the Jewish community and Mel Gibson. Therefore, you have no reason to accept or reject apologies that are not directed at you.

Other than that, I support and apprectiate much of what you do here on FR.

63 posted on 08/01/2006 6:57:40 PM PDT by EricT. (SpecOps needs to paint the NYT building with a targeting laser.)
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To: toddlintown

REPENTANCE:
(1)Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct and is *followed by amendment of life*.


64 posted on 08/01/2006 7:01:47 PM PDT by FreeRep
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To: nopardons
"Mel Gibson is now the replacement for Jesus Christ?"

Apparently seeking forgiveness isn't good enough for this crowd. Somebody suggested he donate money to ??

Somebody else refused to accept his apology until Gibson met his particular qualifications.
Somebody else says this is between Gibson and the Jewish community.

Someone else starts spouting from the Bible.

Nobody's happy. Send out Barabbas. Would that make you happy?

The guy got drunk and made an ass of himself. Obviously none of you sanctimonious posters ever did. Phonies.
65 posted on 08/01/2006 7:02:07 PM PDT by toddlintown (IT)
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To: toddlintown
The guy got drunk and made an ass of himself.

Yes he did. I saw pictures of him hanging out with two young women that night. He's lucky his wife puts up with him.

66 posted on 08/01/2006 7:08:13 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: toddlintown
The "guy" is an alcoholic, has had several DUI arrests in the past three years, all of which he got a pass on, and only GOD can forgive us our sins.

The "send out Barabbas" garbage is not only ridiculous, but moronic.

FWIW, I have NEVER been drunk, I have NEVER driven a car in an intoxicated state, so post your supercilious, smarmy little diatribes to someone else.

South sider are/were you? ;^)

67 posted on 08/01/2006 7:12:14 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Aussie Dasher; dixiechick2000; wtc911
Maybe Gibson could get together with the handful of conservative Jewish Studio bigwigs and put together a "To Kill A Mockingbird" sorta drama on the ages long tensions tween Christian Conservative and Hollywood (Jewish and otherwise).

Do some candid exchanges in the plot and maybe some reckoning that could help both sides have a little respect. and folks could realize that Islam is a bigger danger than the Christian right or "warmongering Jews"/sarc

Just a whimsical thought.....might make money too.

As for Mel's lack of support for Israel or at least what appears to be that.

He needs to do some reading while he's dealing with his demons....some Horowitz or Coulter or Martin Gross for starters

I'm pulling for him. I like him (a lot) but like most reasonable folks some of his remarks sure disappointed me.

I had a large lunch today with a group of culture war conservatives who are 100% Israel cheering squad and I'd say that sentiment about Mel was universal....everyone quite let down on a personal level
68 posted on 08/01/2006 7:18:03 PM PDT by wardaddy (Harpies need love too.)
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To: nopardons

"I have NEVER been drunk"

Your problem.

How do you know what an constitutes an alcoholic?

You sound like a North Side do-gooder.


69 posted on 08/01/2006 7:18:31 PM PDT by toddlintown (IT)
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To: toddlintown
I was a North sider....a LADY WHO LUNCHED, even. :-)

You don't have to be an alcoholic to know what an alcoholic is and Mel Gibson, long before this incident, has said that he is an alcoholic. Soooooooooooooooooooo, since you want to take the man at his word, take these!

And there is NOTHING wrong with never having been drunk, but lots WRONG with people who get drunk...a lot!

70 posted on 08/01/2006 7:23:47 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons

Sanctimonious.

I thought the argument was that Gibson was a latent Jew-hater. Now we're talking about about teetotalers?

What you do at Wrigley Field...drink Perrier?


71 posted on 08/01/2006 7:32:46 PM PDT by toddlintown (IT)
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To: toddlintown
Nope, not "sanctimonious" in the least, but obviously, you can't handle facts nor truth.

I've never been to Wrigley Field, actually, but when in Yankee Stadium ( the Yankees won tonight, BTW, and are in FIRST PLACE! ), I drink a Coke. I don't like beer, have never drunk one, but am not against anyone having one at Wrigley, or any place else, as long as they're not going to drive and/or get drunk.

As to what the thing is about, it's about Mel Gibson being a nasty drunk, who said a whole bunch of REALLY disgusting antisemitic garbage, and deserves all of the cracks made about him.

72 posted on 08/01/2006 7:40:25 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: EricT.
"Mind my own business.", understood 100%. My intent was to mean no harm, or to be anything else than a friend of Israel.

Kol ode balevav P'nimah - Nefesh Yehudi homiyah

Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah.

Ode lo avdah tikvatenu Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim:

L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu - Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim.

73 posted on 08/01/2006 8:46:36 PM PDT by mosquewatch.com ("The enemy is anyone who will get you killed, no matter what side they are on.")
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To: Aussie Dasher

i have to say if the media doesnt forgive mel then he must be an ok guy. they usually make a big to do like this when they are trying to ruin someone......if he were a true lib, he would not have apologized....he heard this crap from his dad all his life.probably why it came out while he was drunk

leftys want to crucify him for making the jesus movie.


74 posted on 08/01/2006 8:51:47 PM PDT by irishfox
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To: mosquewatch.com
If I see "in vino veritas" one more time I'm going to stomp someone like a moldy grape. There are two kinds of people in the world, those who have never drank enough to say something stupid, and the rest of us. I'm Jewish and I don't know if I will accept his apology or not, it will depend on his actions. But those on this board that think that alcohol is a truth serum are barking up the wrong tree.
75 posted on 08/01/2006 9:00:59 PM PDT by BruceysMom (I'm hot & not in a good way: menopause ain't for sissies)
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To: wardaddy

Hey, you!

It's great to see you!

Glad you're back. ;o)


no...I ain't going there...LOL


76 posted on 08/01/2006 10:35:19 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: dixiechick2000

I've already had a post yanked on a South bashing thread.

it's been three months....a little latitude woulda been appreciated


77 posted on 08/01/2006 10:38:24 PM PDT by wardaddy (I have undergone Harpie detox, it was very tough but well worth it)
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To: wardaddy

LOL!


See above...;o)


78 posted on 08/01/2006 10:40:20 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: wardaddy

Oh, heck.

Wrong thread.

Check your pings, and LOL at me. ;o)


79 posted on 08/01/2006 10:41:06 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: dixiechick2000

I have a contrast cat scan in 6.5 hours at St Thomas and can't sleep.

I have scar tissue from the surgeries they want to look at to see about what to do.....in my sternum and rib ligaments and maybe pericardium.

Oh boy....can't wait..lol


80 posted on 08/01/2006 10:46:34 PM PDT by wardaddy (I have undergone Harpie detox, it was very tough but well worth it)
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