Sunday, August 06, 2006

Mel Gibson

"...every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay..."
~ From "Show me the Way" (Styx)

I used to drink alcohol. I used to drink a lot. Maybe alcohol affects people differently, but I know when I drank to excess, I would often say things that I later regretted, too, as Mel Gibson claims. The difference is that I never said anything, as far as I know, that wasn't something I didn't think.

For instance, I remember once being in a bar with a friend getting sloppy drunk and telling him I loved him. Well, I really genuinely liked him as a friend, but if I had been sober, I never would have voiced that opinion to him.

It's a guy thing.

My point is, I wonder if maybe Mr. Gibson really is anti-Semitic, as many have suggested.

I remember before his film, "The Passion Of The Christ" was released, many "Hollywood insiders" were suggesting the movie was anti-Semitic. I saw the movie and I saw no hint of anti-semicism therein. But I have been thinking.

The aforementioned insiders know a thing or two about Mel Gibson that the rest of us don't know. They know him personally. They have presumably had many off-the-record conversations with him. Perhaps he has made anti-Semitic statements to them in the past.

If a reviewer reviews a film, (especially a reviewer with personal issues with the filmmaker) and already knows Mr. Gibson has made insensitive statements before, it would not be not unusual for said reviewer to see anti-semitism in the film. My point is: Perhaps Mel Gibson is indeed anti-Semitic.

That said, although it lowers my personal opinion of him a great deal, I will not participate in any sort of boycott against Mel Gibson's movies.

I don't like the politics of many of the celiberals in Hollywood, but I enjoy much of their work. I can separate politics from entertainment.

I don't like Sean Penn's politics, but I like Jeff Spicolli.

I don't like George Clooneys politics, but I like Ulysses Everett McGill.

I don't care for Natalie Maines' political statements, but I enjoy the Dixie Chicks music.

I don't like Rosie O'Donnell's Liberal viewpoints, but I love her comedy.

Barbra Streisand has a beautiful singing voice. Should I refuse to enjoy her singing because I happen to disagree with her politics?

I had tremendous respect for Mel Gibson. I thought he was a cut above the rest. Perhaps I have been wrong about him. Perhaps he is not exactly what many of us had envisioned. But is that not partly our fault? Are we not guilty of trying to elevate mortals to immortality?

So, the bottom line is: Mel Gibson is human.

Who knew?

9 comments:

Old Soldier said...

One other difference that you didn't articulate is that Mel Gibson has profusely apologized twice and asked to meet with Jewish leaders to effect a healing. Only Mel Gibson knows if he harbors ill feelings toward Jews, we probably never will.

tugboatcapn said...

Personally, I don't care one way or another whether Mel Gibson is Anti-Semitic or not.

The man is entitled to his opinion.

Now if he formed a Political Action Committee in order to make trouble for Jews, or started a church and preached against the Evil Jews, or became the Emporer of America, and began systematically exterminating Jews, then I would have a problem with him.

As long as he sticks to drunken tyrades, he's not hurting anyone but himself.

Poison Pero said...

Good to have you back, Mark!!

I'm sick of hearing about Mel Gibson......Sure he has problems, and his comments were horrible.

That said is he any worse than the multitude of Hollywood idiots who are alcoholic/drug addicts, who spew out their hatred for the U.S.?

I try not to listen to any of them (Mel included), because they live in a world of make believe.......They aren't important, and they surely aren't great.

Like Savage said the other day:

"It's a shame, but in most cases the famous aren't great....and the great aren't famous."

Pamela Reece said...

Ah.. the B.S. of Hollywood. Would anyone care if this was just some dude pulled over in the streets of Chicago? Doubtful. The man was drunk. No, it doesn't exuse him. However, I know a lot of folks, including myself, who may have had a few too many and said or done things they normally would not do. To me, this has nothing to do with bigotry but alcohol.

btw..I miss you Mark!

Dionne said...

I was disappointed by his comments but it doesn't change my admiration and respect for all the great things he has done in the past.

I do think people say things they don't mean when they are drunk. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I was impressed with how he took responsibility for his bad behavior unlike Kennedy and others. I wish him Godspeed in recovering from the alcoholism.

Jim said...

Mark and readers, I invite you to respond to a question on my blog, According to My Sources

Please come over.

None said...

We're still on Mel?

Chipper said...

I think everyone is allowed to act like complete idiot once in awhile esp when they're completely toasted. I don't think we'll know the whole story until the tapes are released.

Erudite Redneck said...

Mark, did ya fall in?