Posted on 08/02/2006 12:45:17 AM PDT by tessalu
LOS ANGELES - Mel Gibson said yesterday he is not a bigot or an anti-Semite, and that he apologizes to "everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words" he used when he was arrested for drunken driving early Friday. "Hatred of any kind goes against my faith," he said in a statement released through his publicist Alan Nierob. "I Advertisement "I'm not just asking for forgiveness," Gibson said. "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." It was the second apology the 50-year-old Oscar winner has issued through Nierob since his arrest. Gibson said he is "in the process of understanding where those vicious words came from during that drunken display," and hopes members of the Jewish community, "whom I have personally offended," will help him in his recovery efforts. "There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said. "But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith."
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
My friends call me laotzu.
I accept haters as a given in any society. I've heard enough racist, anti-semitic, anti-muslim, anti-Italian, anti-polish, anti-catholic, anti-pakistani, anti-french, anti-christian, anti-black, anti-conservative, anti-liberal, etc, etc, etc rants in my day, that I know that there's a lot of folks with a lot of hostilities/dislike/hatred towards one group or another (witness the many ant-something rants here on FR). It's as old as time itself.
BTW, sometimes these dislikes/hatreds are based on reality and not just pulled out someones butt.
There are groups I intensely dislike. I just think our liberalized Oprahied society forces people to deny that they have these views.
I just felt that Mel should have stood up like a man and said, "yah, I stand by my remarks, and if you don't like it, go F#@k yourself". - I'd have thought he was a flamming arsehole, but I'd have respected him for it.
You presume he stands by his remarks. What should he do if he doesn't?
I assume you mean that what if Mel really doesn't subscribe to the anti-semitic rant he was on?
Well, I've been around guys who've had too much to drink and who have gone on anti-something rants (which they wouldn't have done without the booze to loosen their inhibitions) and I've yet to meet one which ranted against someone or some group or something which when they are sober actually are for or support..
That said, Mel could be the exception. So what should Mel do if he is that exception. Nothing. Don't follow the "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" bullsheit template every celebrity dickhead who ever gets caught does. Let others try to rationalize his behaviour. He has already said too much.
Actually I meant what if he realizes he has a problem, not referring to alcohol, and he has to fix it. In that case, his apology was perfectly appropriate. I recognize you may not believe him, personally I'm willing to wait, time will tell.
dennisw
Time will tell what?
He has opinions and views as do most people. His are considered socially unacceptable in OUR society. Had he said what he said about Muslims, there may have been a different reaction. Had he said what he said about blacks, he'd have had to kiss Jesse Jackson's ass by now..
Our liberal PC society does not allow that kind of speech because it offends people and hurts their feelings - and we can't allow that.
In his "apology", he said that he said stuff that clearly he doesn't believe.. That's the BS part.
His views aren't going ot change because he's in alcohol rehab. He'll just learn to keep his views to himself.
I'm just saying that when something like this happens, it's forever etched in the plublic's mind. It is kind of ravenous, but people love to see someone's downfall.
All this righteous indignation is sickening.
I'm not saying what I think is right, but what I think is going to happen.
You cannot possibly know, of course, how much your post means to me. In recent days -- and not just about the Gibson incident -- there have been too many ice-cold souls on display here on FR. Lately I have seen too much of what it is about the Right that scares many people. So your post gives me hope, and for that I thank you sincerely.
Dear nopardons,
"First it was he didn't say it, then it was he said it and he's sorry, then it was he's an alcoholic who has blackouts and doesn't remember anything he said and if he said it he didn't mean, but he's sorry. What's this one, the tenth apology/grovel?"
Actually, I've only read about two statements from Mr. Gibson.
The first was a general apology in which he stated that he said "despicable" things that he doesn't believe, and that he was ashamed of everything he said. That hardly sounds like a denial.
The second statement was a detailed apology, especially to Jews for his anti-semitic ranting.
If you can point out where he's made statements other than this in the aftermath of his DUI arrest, I'd be interested.
"WHAT ABOUT THE NASTY GARBAGE HE SAID WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY SOBER?"
Which nasty garbage is that?
Do you mean the anti-war stuff?
Well, I support the war on terror, and the war in Iraq, but I think the subject here is his anti-semitic ranting, not his politics.
sitetest
"This is a case of 'you who is without sin cast the first stone'"
Actually, your case is that you don't know the pretext of the phrase "ye without sin cast the first stone". Jesus was having a trial and asking if anyone had been sinned against or witnessed the sin. He was never implying that if you have sinned you cannot condemn the actions of those who have sinned.
What?
Ok, you are right. Got it wrong indeed. I should have known better.
I agree.
Whether his apology is sincere. You could well be right, I've no way of judging his sincerity. All I can do only wait and see.
His timing will probably contribute to more Jewish deaths than ten of those bombs Hezbollah keeps firing.
I see one drunken anti semetic rant is equal to or greater than ten Hezbollah bombs. Got it.
Just how the heck to you figure that. As offensive as his words were they did not and will not kill anyone. Those who agree with the sentiments agreed long before Mel ever said them And if they plan or planned on killing Jewish people what he said would not have swayed them. I really doubt a bunch of neo nazis or islamofascits are standing around waiting for Mel's approval before commiting violence against Jews.
Those who are not anti semitic will not suddenly begin endorsing acts of violence against Jews because of Mel's rant.
But why not ask a Jew in Israel what he would rather deal with some drunken jerk spouting off nasty anti-semitic comments or the bombs of Hezbollah.
Correct. How could someone spewing anti-Jewish hatred ever result in anyone getting killed??
Just because Mel Gibson is a Catholic, has made a few movies that some Conservatives like, and is anti-birth control does NOT make him a conservative of ANY stripe; social issue or otherwise!
Hollywood hasn't been a Jewish run enclave, since the studio system died and those people were, for the most part, Republican CONSERVATIVES, in thought, word, and deed. They were also responsible for not only tying together/packaging what we know call THE AMERICAN DREAM, but indoctrinating immigrants with our manners, morals, AND patriotism!
Do Jews still work in Hollywood? Yes, they do. But are they part of some sinister cabal? Only of you want to call it a VLWC, which also contains many people who are NOT Jews, but ardent lefties!
I've been told by alcoholics in recovery, that until one hits the absolute bottom, there will NEVER be any real recovery. Perhaps Mel has finally REALLY hit the nadir of his out of control life and will manage to recover from his addictive personality....now. Only time will tell.
Thanks! :-)
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