Gibson Eats His Words

1. Gibson has been an anti-semite for years! Stop treating this dog has human. right up there next to Hizbellah!

Posted at 4:01PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Bruce Sucher

2. As a Jew I am always hurt by anti-Semitic comments. It is especially sad to hear it from people such as Gibson who I very much enjoyed as an actor. However, he must have a had too many drinks that night and I do forgive him for those comments.

I wish Gibson grows to understand that no group of people is responsible for all wars or evil in the world. Jesus was a Jew all his life and Christains and Jews share many good ideas from the bible. The whole notion about which group of peoole was chosen by God and who is loved more by God is Childish. No one is perfect. That's why we are here on earth. To try to become better human beings.

Posted at 4:04PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Joe Weinstein

3. Mel is human but this is pretty unforgivable..........

Posted at 4:06PM on Jul 31st 2006 by D. C

4. As tired as I am getting of this story, there is still one thing that continues to bother me.

What Mel is quoted as saying, per TMZ, is that he said "F*****g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."

I cannot see anywhere where this could be interpreted as the type of anti-Semitism that most seem to perceive in the comments. He at no point says anything about violence towards Jews, he doesn't say he wants to harm Jews, he doesn't say that Judaism should be banned. He says nothing about killing them, nothing.

There is a type of fanaticism that is growing in the world that is dangerous, and which Jews are not immune to either. Some are now going after Gibson for his statements, calling them a hate crime. Does it mean that this road we are taking will reach the point that if any Jew is criticized for something, he can pursue you for a hate crime?

They “are responsible for all the wars in the world” he says......well, let me tell you, pop over to your neighbor, talk to your friends, or look at the Bush foreign policies and tell me that none of these has blamed Arabs and Muslims and Islam in general or in part for all the wars and problems today....making no distinction between creed or nations as a whole, versus the terrorist organizations.

Many non-Catholics go around saying in the TMZ comments that all Catholics are drunks and all priests are child molesters, call Jesus some girly dude. These are all pretty insulting things to say.

Is there a term for that? Isn’t that going too far? Is it anti-Catholicism? Is that a hate crime? According to those defining anti-Semitism here, it is.

Mel apologizes and is contrite about his actions, but this apology is not readily accepted, and there are calls for him to be banned from Hollywood, shunned, and vilified.

The Jewish State of Israel issues an apology with one hand, calling the killings in Cana regretful, and a mistake, but takes it away with the other hand saying the victims were responsible for their own fate.

As this type of apology from a world leader is acceptable?

It starting to look a lot like the TMZ and some Gibson critics are getting pretty cocky and open in their anti-Catholic remarks. Obviously there is a double standard in the US.

Criticize a Jew, and you are an anti-Semite. Criticize a Christian or Catholic, and you are cute and funny. And morally justified.

Posted at 4:06PM on Jul 31st 2006 by dee

5. sad. alcoholism is the worst disease ever.

Posted at 4:08PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Shelley

6. Thank you for going after Mel Gibson while the Mid East is about to explode. Well, somebody has to do the dirty work and you're doing a good job performing it.

Although I don't agree with what Mel Gibson said, to the people in the Mid East and Lebanon, now being decimated by Israel, Mr. Gibson's statements seem bear some truth.

Shame on him and shame on you for going after him.

Posted at 4:09PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Emile Ferris

7. The only bad part of this entire story is how ferociously Harvey Levin goes after it. He makes it out like its the story of the century. Get over it dude, keep YOUR hurt feelings cuz of this to yourself. The guy was a little buzzed & pissed off...who the hell hasnt said some bad crap they regret the next day??? You?? I dont think so.

Posted at 4:11PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Jen

8. Mel done speaketh da truth.

Posted at 4:12PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Larry_the_voice_of_reason

9. I absolutely agree with Dee. No further comments needed

Posted at 4:14PM on Jul 31st 2006 by gunner

10. I feel so bad for Mel and his family. Alcoholism runs in my family, too. I have known only one way to overcome it and that';s via AA. Mel, I hope and pray you get into AA and learn to stay sober one day at a time.
Dianna

Posted at 4:15PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Dianna Montesquieu

11. The only bad part of this entire story is how ferociously Harvey Levin goes after it. He makes it out like its the story of the century. Get over it dude, keep YOUR hurt feelings cuz of this to yourself. The guy was a little buzzed & pissed off...who the hell hasnt said some bad crap they regret the next day??? You?? I dont think so.

Posted at 4:17PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Jen

12. Dee- I couldn't have said it better.

Posted at 4:23PM on Jul 31st 2006 by justK

13. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Gibson been quoted making some anit-gay remarks as well?

Posted at 4:23PM on Jul 31st 2006 by David B

14. Hey Mel STOP drinking, Stop beating your wife,
STOP molesting and abusing your kids,
and Stop blaming your father. Just a guess.

Posted at 4:23PM on Jul 31st 2006 by jon

15. I am not Jewish. As far as my view toward Israel ... see

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0731-28.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0731-24.htm

But I think the people defending Mr. Gibson and say that "he was under influence and that he must not have meant it" are simply ... not bright.

For those peope I hope they consider this hypothetical situation. Your best friend, in a drunken stupor, confessed that "he slept with your wife and your mother, ... or something outrageous ". The next morning he appologize to you. You will immediately hug him and say "you were drunk, what you said was not true, I forgive you" ... Yeah! Right!

The issue is serious and whether the appology is sincere or just a career-saving script by his lawyers/agents must be considered.

On another note ...

What is sad is that many seems to accept the fact that it is ok for our police to act as protector of the rich and privilleged. It happens. It is wrong. To say that that is fact of life diminishes its negative impact on society. While many law enforcement officers risk their lives doing their job (with some perks, i.e. authority), it is undeniable that they have sometimes been instruments of the oppressing class (see pictures about the 1960's Civil Right movement, and other civil disobediences, ...).

Here is simply another sad example of a society bent on rich-worshipping. But it "ok". "That is just the way things are". I wonder if people all took that same attitude in the 60's, where would our country be today!!!

Let's call it WRONG when it is. Do not sound so helpless against injustice.

I am a little mad that very little outraged has been directed at the police department policy of brown-nosing the upper class.

If you are a minority and if you ever get pulled over, you will "know" how near the "to protect and to serve" motto goes.

Posted at 4:25PM on Jul 31st 2006 by diputs hsub