Mel Gibson Is Not The Christ
Mel Gibson was pulled over for speeding and erratic driving. He was belligerent and threatening to the officer, tried to leave the scene, and apparently worst of all made an anti-semitic rant. Mel Gibson was arrested. Mel Gibson was drunk. And, since the incident, he has apologized several times. Apparently no one is buying into his apology- not Hollywood, the news media, Jewish pundits, conservative Christians, nor liberal America. His drunken mug-shot is plastered all over the Internet. His upcoming television mini-series, interestingly sympathetic to the Holocaust, has been canceled. And the big question, now, is how can his career be salvaged?
This has a whole lot to do with The Passion Of The Christ. Many have never forgiven Gibson for being successful with the movie. Hollywood did not like it, because Gibson went outside their authority to make it a success. Liberal America did not like it, because the film was faithful to the Biblical record and appealing to religious/social conservatives. Many in the Jewish community did not like it, because it is a reminder that Christianity, at it's core, is a challenge to their religion. And the critics did not like it, because most are inseparably tied to Hollywood and liberal America. And now this crowd can jump upon a fallen Mel Gibson and self-righteously use him as a punching bag.
Indeed, Gibson has proven that he is not The Christ. He is a weak man who has done a stupid thing. But guess what? When a person gets drunk, he is likely to say and do stupid things; things that are out-of-character, things that will later be sorely regretted. I've had several drunks in my family. I remember a couple of my uncles who were really nice guys- until they got to drinking. Then, they became foul-mouthed punks, as mean as snakes. Oh, they would later regret such foolish behavior. And, they literally drank themselves to death. Such is the nature of the Beast.
So, Mel Gibson got drunk, drove a car, and said some stupid things. The law needs to be firm. And, I think the man agrees.
The drinking, foul-mouthed, money-worshiping Hollywood crowd needs to shut its belligerent, hypocritical, collec tive mouth.
Liberal America needs to show just a bit of the same grace seemingly so readily available to every other member of their fraternity who has done something stupid. Like, Bill Clinton.
And, conservative Christians need to realize that Gibson is just a man- not Jesus...and start showing a bit of the grace they so eloquently preach about on Sunday mornings. And, pray for Mel Gibson.
So, leave him alone. Or, so help me, in the name of Jesus, I'm going to punch every one of you.
08.03.06 (6:50 am) [
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posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
08.03.06 (2:08 am)
I've always liked Mel. He's seemed like a good guy. When I heard what he said, I was shocked and turned off to him. Last night, there was a woman from a alcohol rehab center that Mel had donated money to - she commented that a lot of people say things they regret when drunk or in the heat of the moment, especially when they are in turmoil of addiction.
I don't recall ever being drunk and saying something I regretted. But I've certainly said things in the heat of the moment that I regret or didn't really feel.
How many people haven't said something they regret?
posted by:
surrogate (
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post date:
08.03.06 (2:48 am)
I've delerately not written about this. I'm sort of inclined to not form an opinion especially since the loudest support and criticism come from the Catholic League and the ADL, two groups who aren't especially known for looking at things with anything other than self-serving eyes.
I will say this though, first, "Hollywood" is not a person or a group with an agenda. You cut that out or I'll punch YOU in the nose. It's goofy and makes you sound like a less objective person than you are... (You are at least a little objective, aren't you?) And secondly, this is what went through me head when I read that he'd said things he didn't mean because he was drunk. Um...
This is JUST an observation, mind you... Um.
I've found that people tend to say things they DO believe in their heart of hearts when they're drunk but hold in check when they're sober. Not the other way around.
I easily could be wrong about this, and sure hope I am, but it's been my impression over the years.
Any thoughts? Either way I like Mel from his movies. His religious beliefs and even his racial views wouldn't be all that uncommon no matter what. We all have predjudices. I think it's more a matter of pretending we don't for a long enough time that it becomes a habit and that we recognize our own to the point that we try not to let them color our actions.
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
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post date:
08.03.06 (5:11 am)
Gah, I cannot stand the way American culture worships Hollywood actors etc. *fumes* As you have stated and as we've seen, Mel and all in Hollywood are flawed human beings not worthy of the pedistals we Americans put them on, nor of the $500,000 shoes they wear or the $3 million of plastic surgery. We as Americans put up with this waste why? Because in our culture power, prestige and money are everything. Somehow, I'm not buying it.
posted by:
bawdy (
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post date:
08.03.06 (8:34 am)
Gibson is an idiot. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, and Hollywood is basically run by Jewish people. I hope he's repentent and not just acting on the advice of his lawyers and handlers to apologize and enter rehab. Either way he's committed career suicide.
posted by:
ruined (
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post date:
08.03.06 (10:57 am)
I think this whole Mel Gibson thing is just dripping with stupidity. You said it best when you said, "He's JUST a man." So what? He got drunk and said stupid things. Shame on him. Now, let's move on.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
08.03.06 (12:55 pm)
Reply to: scubadiva
All of us are guilty of, somewhere and sometime, opening the mouth and inserting the foot bigtime. Apology should be accepted, and folks should move on.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.03.06 (1:05 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
You don't think the people from the movie and entertainment industries tend toward an agenda? Polls have proven to differ. These folks have a mindset and a message that is not in line with the average American- far, far to the left. And that's why The Passion has riled them so much. How dare this man make a movie that positively and sympathetically portrays Jesus Christ! So, Gibson must be punished, and here is the golden opportunity.
Now, as far as what one tends to say when he/she is drunk: I am not very knowledgeable of the issue, as I do not hang around social situations which tend toward such behavior. I had several uncles and aunts who were drunks, and as a pre-adolescent I decided for sure that I did not want to be like them.
I've been drunk one time. It made me want to do some things that I would never do when thinking clearly.
I think your insight is worthy of exploration. I may ask the question with an upcoming blog, and see what others have to say.
Your thoughtful comments sometimes make me feel guilty, because I do not put near as much thought and expression into what I have to say in the blogs of others. I think folks like yourself are what make t-blog so good. Even though I only agree with you about half the time!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.03.06 (1:10 pm)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
When someone is good at what they do, and especially when that person is uniquely/extremely good, then I have little qualms about paying them lots of money. I don't complain about the baseball player who makes $10 million per year. He has a highly developed, unique skill that so few can do. It's true that he is not making the difference in life, or serving his fellow man, as would say a nurse or policeman or school teacher. But his skill is more refined, more rare if you will. So, if Gibson is considered to be worth $20 million per movie, then more power to him. But I may just decide that his movie is not worth me paying $10 for a ticket, and $8 for the popcorn.
I'm going to ditto to you what I said to surrogate. Your comments are always thoughtful and helpful. Thanks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.03.06 (1:15 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
O.K. When a person is drunk, inhibitions go away. Some things come out that, otherwise, stay dormant in the recesses of the mind. I wonder where Gibson came across such thoughts? Is anti-semiticism something he wrestles with? I wrestle with racism, sexism, etc. I know they are wrong/sinful, etc. I don't advocate such viewpoints. But if I'm not careful, sometimes I trip up in these areas. There is no excuse- I'm a work in progress, filled with flaws. So, too, with Mr. Gibson. I don't think he is an idiot. Just human.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
08.03.06 (1:20 pm)
Reply to: ruined
I think, as we elevate to a higher venue, we take on a greater responsibility. The average drunk would say such things, and probably just get punched in the nose. But Gibson, like it or not, is equated with religion. He has a responsibility to conduct himself better. And he has failed. Now, let's accept his apology, understand he is not a worthy example of how a person should behave, and move on.
posted by:
surrogate (
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post date:
08.03.06 (4:32 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave Thanks for the complinments. I think the polls you refer to are about the perception of people NOT in Holywood about people FROM Hollywood. Yes, there are lots of lefties out there. So? That doensn't mean anyone's out to GET anyone. They tend to think about the green stuff more than anything else, at least the people in real positions of power. As far as Hollywood hating "the Passion?" I've only heard that from people like you and the talk radio brigade... don't ever remember hearing it from "Hollywoood."
posted by:
tfruge1 (
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post date:
08.03.06 (6:30 pm)
Gibson is obviousally anti-semitic based on his remarks and his "Passion" movie. If anyone else would have done this, all you would have seen is a write up in a local paper about a drunk driver, but this was no regular Joe. I think he should be punished for what he did, but as for the comment, he apologized for it. I forgive him for the comment made because I am a forgiving person for those who ask for it like Mel did. Everyone makes mistakes and says things they shouldn't have. One last thing. Big deal if he is anti-semitic. At least he isn't in the streets demonstrating his anti-jew views or worse, killing jews.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.03.06 (11:33 pm)
Reply to: tfruge1
How is the Passion movie anit-semitic? I think it is a pretty faithful rendering of the gospel accounts, and except as one may view the New Testament message as anti-semitic, I don't get it.
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
08.04.06 (2:48 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
You need to get drunk more often. Then you won't want to do those things every time you get drunk. Shots tomorrow during the McKinney debates. We'll do a shot every time Cynthia interrupts. Or dodges a question. We'll both be under the table in 5 minutes.
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
08.04.06 (2:52 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I thought the idea of him attending Yom Kippur would be perfect. Emitting apologies thru a publicist is certainly not significant enough. I'm sure all the tv news shows are drooling over who will get his first interview. His movie on the Mayans (Apoplytico) comes out in October, so I'm guessing mid-next month, he'll be on tv doing a foot-in-mouth interview.
If he pleads and doesn't go to trial, the tapes won't be in the public domain. I bet there are a lot of folks dying to get their hands on that. Talk about cha-ching.
posted by:
tfruge1 (
reply)
post date:
08.04.06 (4:25 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
The movie itself is about Jews brutaly killing another Jew. This movie is so plainly depicting anti-semitism its rediculous. Yes the movie is a good biblical representation of the last days Jesus Christ, but his last days were nothing but being hated upon by his own kind. You have to realize who made this movie, Mel Gibson. He himself is not a Jew. He starts his own religion. Then he produces a movie that is by far the most brutal and graphic depiction of a person's life ever made on film. I know he wanted it to be "as accurate and real as possible", but come on. Because of his hate for the Jews, he was able to really get into the making of the movie that based on the content is anti-semitic.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
08.04.06 (1:02 pm)
I remember reading back when The Passion of the Christ was released that Gibson's father has uttered many anti-Semetic statements, so that's where Mel gets it from.
If he's not an idiot, he sure looks like one after pretending to be so passionate about POTC, but now seeming to have learned little from Christ's teachings. Let's not forget he profited mightily from that film. He just comes across as a hypocrite and a modern day Pharisee. Yes, he's only human, but don't try to pass yourself off as devout if it's a lie. I admire you for owning up to your weaknesses. We all have them. Gibson is only doing so after backing himself into a corner.
posted by:
DonkeyOrchid (
reply)
post date:
08.04.06 (10:22 pm)
You always learn who are your friends when you are down and out. and also I do believe when people are drunk, what comes out of their mouth comes for their hearts is what they really mean but keep it well hidden as it is not acceptable. Haven't seen the Passion personally and not sure I even want too.
posted by:
Misguided (
reply)
post date:
08.06.06 (6:33 pm)
eh you put a drink in someone's hand its like pop in a can if u shake it up a bit it explodes...so makes me think no one here knows what was racing through his mind at that time...say sorry move on.
