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.
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