Posted on 08/04/2006 8:28:14 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Actor and director Mel Gibson is in trouble with the Jewish community again. In 2004, Gibson produced a movie based on the death of Jesus, The Passion of the Christ, which was both highly successful and controversial. Many people felt the movie depicted Jews in hateful stereotypes and would stir up anti-Semitism among Christians, who were the film's target audience.
But even for those who rejected claims that The Passion was anti-Semitic (as I did when the film came out), Gibson's vicious tirade against Jews a few days ago when he was arrested for drunken driving leaves little doubt about his personal views. Gibson's vile accusation that "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is proof enough for me the man is an anti-Semite.
Excuses offered
Gibson has now issued a mea culpa for his attacks: "I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge," he said in a written statement. But he also went on to claim, "I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot," and he seemed to blame his alcoholism for his actions. He even implied that because his Catholic faith forbids "hatred of any kind," that he couldn't possibly be an anti-Semite.
Of course this defense is nonsense. The Catholic Church defines anti-Semitism as a sin, and, Heaven knows, Catholics are as capable of sinning as anyone else. Ironically, Gibson seems to be aware that admitting he is an alcoholic is a necessary prerequisite to overcoming his alcoholism. So, he should understand that admitting his anti-Semitic prejudices are the first step to ridding himself of them.
Bigotry on rise
Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest and ugliest forms of bigotry, which even the horror of the Holocaust has not seemed to eradicate. One would think that after the systematic torture and murder of six million innocent men, women and children, the world would recoil at Jew-baiting. But that has not happened. Indeed, some forms of anti-Semitic stereotyping seem on the rise.
Gibson's claim that Jews have caused all the world's wars is only a less subtle and more grandiose version of the current mantra that "neoconservatives" have led us into war in Iraq. Make no mistake, most critics on both the left and right who inveigh against "neoconservatives" really mean "the Jews" or "Jewish influence" has caused this war. Old-fashioned anti-Semitism used to blame "Jewish bankers" for controlling the world, now, apparently, it's Jewish intellectuals who pull the strings. The Rothschilds have been replaced as villains by Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer.
New anti-semitism
Many liberals, who recognize anti-Semitism when Gibson is spewing it, however, are less willing to tackle the new anti-Semitism that blames Jews for involving the United States in the current war in Iraq. These modern conspiracy theorists are simply reworking ancient stereotypes to fit a new mold. In this bigoted view, Jews are only interested in themselves, have no loyalty to the nation of their birth or citizenship, and are willing to sacrifice others' lives to advance an agenda that benefits their fellow Jews. You can hear these sentiments, barely veiled, when Pat Buchanan or Air America start spinning stories about the neoconservatives and their supposedly wild ambitions.
Gibson may yet be rehabilitated from his delusional thinking. After all, he has reached out to the Jewish community and asked for forgiveness in the wake of his drunken outburst. And chances are, his prejudices stem from growing up with a father who disliked Jews and passed on his fears to his son.
If Gibson can face his own bigotry, he might let go of it. I am less confident that the new anti-Semitism will be eradicated as easily, in part because its adherents will never admit their thinking is disordered in the first place. But the bigger danger is that others won't recognize this anti-Semitism for what it is because it relies on code words rather than straightforward hate speech.
"They?" You are assuming all Jews feel the same about whatever it is you think they are doing to ofend you? Jews are a cabal that has gotten together and been responsible for anti-Christian movies? Jews like George Clooney? Your statement is as bigoted as they get. While Gibson's tirade should be old news by now and the media should be focusing on the jihadis threatening the world (not just threatening Jews), the reason Jews have such a reaction against Gibson's words is that such words, for hundreds of years, have incited violence against them.
You'd be mistaken if you think Muslims will stop when all the Jews have been slaughtered. You're next.
Gibson's statements that Jews are responsible for the world's evils (which is demonstrably untrue) play right into their hands.
Ofcourse, some people don't need dutch courage to say what they believe at all....
The trouble is that the same people(American Jews)who bring up the Holocaust are the ones who think Israel has gone too far in defending itself.
Predator? Some of my friends wouldn't even talk to women if they didn't have a few in them. There is a difference between being shy and becoming a total predator. Do you have a degree in Psychology?
Michael Savage broadcast all kinds of garbage against the Catholic church and not a damn thing was done about it. (I hope he attends sensitivity classes with Mel). Why is Gibson's party time such an issue? If he had attacked the Irish we would not have heard about it.
Yeah..Lets get Mel..come on..get him! It's PC - everyone loves that..Christians be damned..who cares about those in hollywood and elsewhere that speaks against Christ! That's O.K.!
Lets condemn a drunkard who speaks against the Jews (like everyone else)
Yeah..lets be outraged. Let's give in to the MCM lie and crucify this guy..I'm all for it..Whoo Hoo!
If we cant condemn atheists, Hell! what with this war and all, lets condemn a drunk who says something bad about a Jew!
Ain't we all so GOOD? My my..we sure are...and holy too!
Beat it troll
This is all about "Passion of the Christ".
"Beat it troll"
Is this an intellectual comeback?
The American Jews are more upset about a two bit actor than heads of state wanting to destroy Israel(or is it the Media). CNN has more on Gibson than all the conflicts in the world combined.
What's your point?
"So all Jews are liberal? There is a huge stereotype. We've more than a few on Freerepublic."
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How representative of the Jewish community do you believe the few on FR are? IOW, what are the typical %'s that Jewish voters vote for RATS vs. PUBS. Are the RATS liberal?
If you don't want to answer that's okay I think we all know what the answers are.
As far as Mel is concerned, let's move on from it...it's actually a waste of energy. Mel made three really great movies...Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and The Patriot...These movies are unforgettable and a great work of art. Thanks Mel Gibson for those great movies.
Sorry you don't see it.
Well, if you can't explain it -- really boil it down to the basics -- then you probably don't see it, either.
I'm not.
While I am appalled at the anti-Semitic rantings of Mr. Gibson at least he has made an apology for them.
I have yet to hear an apology from other Hollywood types for the anti-Christian drivel put out in their productions.
I would guess that the vast majority of Jewish freepers would join me in condemning all manifestations of religious bigotry.
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