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Mel Gibson's Meltdown
Slate ^ | 07-31-06 | Christopher Hitchens

Posted on 07/31/2006 12:29:38 PM PDT by veronica

Edited on 07/31/2006 1:43:28 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

I was just in the middle of writing a long and tedious essay, about how to tell a real anti-Semite from a person who too-loudly rejects the charge of anti-Semitism, when a near-perfect real-life example came to hand. That bad actor and worse director Mel Gibson, pulled over for the alleged offense of speeding and the further alleged offense of speeding under the influence, decided that he needed to demand of the arresting officer whether he was or was not Jewish and that he furthermore needed to impart the information that all the world's wars are begun by those of Semitic extraction.

Call me thin-skinned if you must, but I think that this qualifies. I also think that the difference between the blood-alcohol levels—and indeed the speed limits—that occasioned the booking are insufficient to explain the expletives (as Gibson has since claimed in a typically self-pitying and verbose statement put out by his publicist). One does not abruptly decide, between the first and second vodka, or the ticks of the indicator of velocity, that the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion are valid after all.

There's a lot to dislike about Gibson. He is given to furious tirades against homosexuals of the sort that make one wonder if he has some kind of subliminal or "unaddressed" problem. His vulgar and nasty movies, which also feature this prejudice, are additionally replete with the cheapest caricatures of the English.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: hitchens; invinoveritas; melgibson
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
So you really like communists?

Not much. But, I am no longer convinced my friend or the people in that house are.

141 posted on 07/31/2006 1:20:44 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: American Quilter

He darn sure did.

http://www.slate.com/id/2090083/


142 posted on 07/31/2006 1:20:50 PM PDT by Restorer
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To: MarkeyD
Seems to be headed down the same path as Nick Nolte.

More than you know. (Credit to Registered.)


143 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:00 PM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: Skooz
Once, many, many, many years ago, I got drunk and, for some reason, decided that the people who lived in a house I was walking by were communists.

You prove my point. You didn't like communists (nor do I) and ranted against them. You didn't accuse those people of being Norwegians or plumbers.

144 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:43 PM PDT by Uncledave
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To: Skooz

Well, as a former drunk myself, I respectfully disagree with you. (Just as an aside, there sure are alot of us there at FR :)


145 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:43 PM PDT by Hildy
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To: kabar

its not a crime. we are simply trying to assess whether it occurred, with evidence over and above the police report - either an admission, or the police car video/audio tape.


146 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:44 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: akorahil
He actually has a track record of being accused of anti-Semitic remarks, this time he actually recorded. He father has made some outlandish remarks about Jews and is a bona fide Holocaust denier.
147 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:51 PM PDT by oldleft
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To: veronica
Has Gibson been lobbing rockets into Israel? No?

Lets get our priorities straight, then.

148 posted on 07/31/2006 1:21:51 PM PDT by TankerKC (¿José puede usted ver?)
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To: oldleft
Fair enough.

I still can't help but think a little free publicity may have been in the mix, but I also won't discount his opinions; be they alcohol induced, or alcohol enabled.

149 posted on 07/31/2006 1:23:45 PM PDT by akorahil (Thank You and God bless all Veterans. Truly, the real heroes.)
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To: veronica

How many of us here have never ushered a slur? (ummmm.....Besides me :)


150 posted on 07/31/2006 1:23:49 PM PDT by Fawn (BUILD A LONG TALL WALL)
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To: Thorin
Foxman and Hitchens will NEVER forgive Gibson no matter how much he apologizes, but it's not their fault.

Only Christians are taught to turn the other cheek.....and these men are not Christians.

151 posted on 07/31/2006 1:24:38 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kaboom"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: Uncledave

No. I didn't prove your point. I made mine.

Once the booze wore off, I did not believe they were communists.


152 posted on 07/31/2006 1:24:44 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: oceanview

If it is true, then what?


153 posted on 07/31/2006 1:24:49 PM PDT by kabar
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To: veronica
"This group more or less lives off the stench of medieval anti-Semitism. "

Hitchens cannot claim the moral high-ground by engaging in the same sort of bigotry as Mel.

BTW. What's really scary here is that after seeing the media's(MSM) reports of the current middle east conflict, I get the impression that 90% of the world feels the same way as Mel.
154 posted on 07/31/2006 1:25:00 PM PDT by DonGrafico (Gowd demmit bub! You ain't from around heah ah ya?)
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To: spectre
Hitchens attacked Mother Theresa in a book, not Gibson.
155 posted on 07/31/2006 1:25:28 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Knowledge is power, so the MSM makes sure the terrorists have our classified info.)
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To: veronica

Well, at least Mel didn't leave his wife to drown after drunkenly driving his SUV off a bridge. He didn't tell someone he raped to ice her lip either.

Who here hasn't said some really stupid things during a fit of anger after a bad day?

I didn't realize that there were so many utterly perfect and blameless people on the FR.


156 posted on 07/31/2006 1:25:47 PM PDT by Seruzawa (If you agree with the French raise your hand - If you are French raise both hands.)
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To: Fawn
How many of us here have never ushered a slur? (ummmm.....Besides me :)



How many of us here have never uttered a slur and harassed a cop while dressed in nothing but latex driving drunk on the PCH with a trunk filled with dead hookers?
157 posted on 07/31/2006 1:25:47 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: American Quilter
"He attacked Mother Teresa? Interesting, since his only Daughter is a Nun."

I had also head this, but I've since heard (on FR last week) that she changed her mind and decided not to take her vows.

Wow.. Quilter..I looked it up and I stand corrected. In fact, she became engaged, but I can't google up if she ever married?
Anyway, thank you for the update..blush
:)

sw

158 posted on 07/31/2006 1:26:05 PM PDT by spectre (Spectre's wife)
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To: veronica

Huh, a ding bat from Hollywood. Will wonders never cease?


159 posted on 07/31/2006 1:26:29 PM PDT by DManA
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To: durasell

You too?


160 posted on 07/31/2006 1:26:30 PM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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