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There is much wisdom in this column, and under most circumstances I would agree with it whole cloth. But I am far too realistic to ignore what I believe to be so - that it was Mel Gibson himself who in fact promoted and encouraged the controvery surrounding his film, and that he did it on purpose. It was cynical ploy, but it paid off bigtime at the box office, and I guess that's what really matters, in terms of putting butts in seats.

It was cynical ploy, but it paid off bigtime at the box office, and I guess that's what really matters, in terms of putting butts in seats.

Are you saying that w/o the controversy this film would not have filled the theaters? You are wrong.

The controversy may bring a few non-Christians to see what all the hubbub is about but Christians have been anxiously awaiting 'The Passion' since it was a gleam in Mel's eye.

I can't speak for other religions, but my Protestant religion, a major one, was always taught that the Jews were God's chosen people. Never was the idea that the Jews as a race, or the Italians (Romans) for that matter, were somehow responsible for Jesus' death.

But I am far too realistic to ignore what I believe to be so - that it was Mel Gibson himself who in fact promoted and encouraged the controvery surrounding his film, and that he did it on purpose.

AIIEEEEEE!!!!

Someone even more cynical than me!

..."don joe" crawls in panicked desperation in the general direction of the coffeepot, gasping "help, help, help, the fabric of the universe is about to come undone..."

For most of my adult life, I've been the one that my friends come to when they "need a cynical viewpoint" on any topic. They tell me I'm the most cynical person they know. One of them, a (Jewish!) psychologist, told me that I shouldn't feel too bad about being so cynical, because research has shown that people like this have the most accurate worldview.

But still, I don't get that impression at all from having watched Gibson in interviews. He just doesn't have that inevitable element that screams (to a cynic, at least), "I'm a phoney!"

I think he made the film because it was on his conscience to make it, and he put his money where his mouth was, with no guarantee that it would win or lose at the box office, and I just don't get the impression at all that he's stirring the ... well, you know, in order to create a fabricated controversy for publicity.

that it was Mel Gibson himself who in fact promoted and encouraged the controvery surrounding his film, and that he did it on purpose. It was cynical ploy, but it paid off bigtime at the box office, and I guess that's what really matters, in terms of putting butts in seats.

That is out and out nonsense. I have been reading about this movie for months, and to think Gibson made others print their vile denunciations of him in order to stir up controversy is stupid.

We are going to attend the movie (I have not had a chance yet) because we want to see it based on its content from the Gospels, not the vicious and baseless accusations hurled Gibson's way.