Posted on 07/31/2006 4:44:12 PM PDT by gopwinsin04
Seems like that was inconsiderate of me to put the "crowd" label out there so for that I apologize.
I too am a fan of Mel and hope he comes out of this thing ok.
(Chuckle). Yup, true, very true.
Could you please list for me the ones (Jews)he was at war with in Hollywood and the ADL, who were out to destroy him and his movie.
NOT Funny
"Yup. Finding the 'root causes' of your drinking merely produces a well informed drunk.
(Chuckle). Yup, true, very true."
'Root causes' don't mean a flip in terms of getting and staying sober. I know numerous people with long-term, continuous sobriety (including myself) who couldn't possibly tell you the 'why' of their alcoholism. Nor do we care.
The first thing a practicing alcoholic needs to do is "put the plug in the jug," as AA oldtimers told me years ago. Put the plug in the jug and keep it there, more specifically. Then, and only then, will it be possible to take a good, hard, honest look at the living and emotional problems that tend to accompany the disease.
Why? His father is a Holocaust denier, and Mel has long credited his father with leading him into the bizarre religious beliefs and practices that they share. Nobody should be surprised that he has a warped view of Jews. Personally, I think he and his father are both seriously mentally ill, and their cultish religious beliefs are just manifestations of that illness.
I have a lot of friends and relatives who got sober in AA. And some of them did a lot worse than Mel in their drinking years. I hope Mel finds AA. They're good people.
Yes, I imagine that a passionate (pun intended) and often publicly expressed belief that the vast majority of AA participants are going to hell because they aren't faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church (never mind that Mel is a member of breakaway sect operating in direct defiance of ecclesiastical authorities) could be a bit of an obstacle to effective participation in an AA program.
No..I will not. You'd have to be living on another planet not to have known this..So do your own homework.
sw
Have lived by them for a few 24 hours at a time now.
And I try and work at keeping my side of the street clean these days. It is work enough so I don't bother with others' (sides of streets).
I really do wish Mr. Gibson all the best in his endeavors to be willing to finally be rid of "his" demons!
"While it's not known where Gibson will be treated, Chris Printiss, the co-founder of celebrity treatment center Passages in Malibu, said he's aware of Gibson's plans."
"The center that I've heard he's checked himself into follows the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. And I don't believe that will help him."
Uh, most treatment centers follow the 12 Steps. Besides, an alcoholic needs AA, not therapy when getting sober.
"I hope Mel finds AA. They're good people."
No problem. Must agree about the fine, sober people in AA. They've been "my crowd" for many years. More specifically, they also saved my life.
My point is that entirely too many people believe they have to identify the 'root cause' of their drinking BEFORE they can sober up. Wrong-o. That's a thoroughly bogus, backward assumption. If I'd sat around trying to figure out the 'root cause' of my alcoholism, I'm confident I'd still be drunk. Or dead. Or nuts. Living sober trumps all three of those options by many, many miles.
Day one of my recovery numerous AA's told me the first thing I needed to do was to stop drinking. Completely. They assured me there'd be plenty of time to work on all the rest of my issues once I attained and maintained sobriety. They were right, of course. 'Root causes' don't matter. Sobriety does.
I couldn't agree more.
I"m a member of the 'Passion' crowd- if you mean those who found the film brilliant. I have been a long time Mel Gibson fan. Don't like ALL of his movies, but he is one gorgeous man.
That said- I would prefer that he, and other celebrities keep their personal opinions on controversial subjects to themselves.
For example- I've loved Neil Diamond for years, and it HAS made me think less of him-as a person- to learn how very liberal he is. It has NOT changed my enjoyment of his music.
Mel Gibson has obviously absorbed some of his fathers anti-semitism. He has also- to his credit- kept these subconscious feelings under control until now. Now alcohol has loosened his mouth, and his dark side has been revealed.
I dare say most people lose their inhibitions and say things when inebriated that they would NEVER say sober. Private thoughts, petty jealousies, hatred of spouse/inlaws, etc.
Anti-semitism is ugly and wrong- but is an opinion and Gibsons ranting statements are not criminal. They are immoral, but that is a matter of the soul.
He is also 1000% wrong- it is not the Jews who are causing all the war and violence in the world- it is the Muslims.
Now I wonder what kind of reaction there would have been if he- or anyone of his stature-came out and said that( drunk or sober)?
It is also to Gibson's credit that he has apologized( hey, for liberals an apology works for murder-why not this?) and that he wants members of the Jewish community to help him with whatever subconscious anti-semitism he has revealed.
I can say he's wrong, and it shows an ugly dark side to him if he actually IS anti-semetic to that degree; but that does not negate his talent. I would rather never have known this side of him- but how the man DEALS with what he did, and said, will show his character now.
The alcoholism concerns me more. He's not out killing Jews, but he COULD kill innocent people while driving drunk.
I have never never read anything that would indicate that some people on any religion in Hollywood were at war with Mel Gibson.
For me, I feel I was conned by Gibson in that I paid him money to see Passion of the Christ.
Mel should have done this ages ago, especially because he is the father of young children...and so many children, too. :)
How do you know? Have you been livin' in Mel's head? Are you his soul?
:}
As do I...and apparently most of the people on this thread.
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