Frankly, I knew Mel Gibson was anti-Semitic from his movie-- The Passion of Christ. So his alcoholic meltdown was no great revelation to me.
In a way it's a good thing. Gibson's movie was lauded as a wonderful thing, anti-Semitism and all, by millions of Christians who saw the movie, who embraced the movie.
Now, we see the man, the inner heart and soul of the man who made the movie.
So, what's good about Gibson's ugly utterances?
Well, he's a star-- a super-star, not just a Hollywood celebrity, but a church celebrity. He's an icon of America and now, we see that inside of him, underneath his smooth, star-veneer, he's a Jew-hating, bigoted anti-Semite, no different than millions of rednecks, neo-nazis, KKK members and their friends and families.
Gibson, by losing control of his inner censor, probably by becoming "blacked out" alcoholically, allowed his shadow, the dark side of his SELF to "shine" through, so people could actually see, beneath the veneer, what at least a part of him thinks and feels.
It's not surprising. His father is an "outed" bigoted, anti-Semitic, holocaust denier-- a totally despicable hater.
What's good about this is that he's now forced to apologize. He's already had one contract cancelled and it is likely that there are millions of people who will never pay to see a Mel Gibson movie again. I'd already joined that group because of his Passion of the Christ movie. It was not an easy decision. I love some of Gibson's past movies-- Braveheart, The Patriot, What Women Want-- but it won't be hard to give him up. On the other hand, I would love to see him do what it takes to earn my forgiveness.
A simple apology is NOT enough. Gibson has the power to do something big, something huge-- to face the reality of the anti-Semitism he holds within him. He says that it is against his faith, but regardless, Gibson has, inside of him , some serious anti-Semitic, bigoted... parts? Feelings? Thoughts? Emotions? Whatever way you characterize what he has, it needs to be exorcised. Saying he doesn't think that way may be trued, but that doesn't get to the marrow of the problem.
Gibson has to, face it, that like his alcoholism, he has a problem with bigotry. He has to accept the reality that it is not something he can deny, it is something that he must face and deal with. Alcoholics who successfully get off the wagon must learn to see themselves as alcoholics. Denial only weakens them.
Gibson could accept the fact that he has been a bigot and then start DOING things to compensate for what he has said and done. He's a very creative, passionate, influential guy with a lot of money. If, with the right intentions, he honestly faces his bigotry and starts to engage in projects and works that expose and fight bigotry, he COULD help millions of Americans to understand their shadow selves-- the bigotry lurking beneath their conscious selves or, for some, not hiding or lurking at all. Gibson could become a speaker, make movies that show how bigotry works, how it hurts, how it is present where "nice" people live.
I believe that Mel Gibson wants to be a good person. I KNOW he's afflicted with demons-- or he wouldn't be an alcoholic. Apparently, he's been invited by a Hollywood rabbi to give a talk at a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, when we can all atone for our sins. A sin is something you do. Gibson IS a bigot, deep inside. I have no doubt that the thoughts and feelings he expressed the other day, while drunk, were there before and are still there, somewhere inside of Gibson. There are billions of people who have shadow selves that are bigoted. Some of them face their shadows. Some of them confront their shadows and deal with them. Most ignore their shadows or don't even know they have them.
Gibson could make a difference. He could take this opportunity his alcoholism has fatefully cast in his path and do something good with it that would go beyond atonement. It could save his soul and rescue millions whose shadows have kept them from being the good people they would really rather be. I would love to watch a Mel Gibson movie that makes me cry-- thankful for the work he's done inside himself so he could make a movie that touches peoples' hearts and wakes their spirits so they face their shadows and take charge of them. If Gibson does this act of redemption, he'll be a man the world will honor, rather than disdain.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
To learn more about me and OpEdNews.com, check out this article.
and there are Rob's quotes, here.
To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
My radio show, The Rob Kall Show, runs 9-10 PM EST Wednesday evenings, on AM 1360, WNJC and is archived on www.whiterosesociety.org Or listen to it streaming, live at either www.wnjc1360.com or here.
A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
I did NOT watch Mel's
"Passion" as I see the story very differently.
The Christ I follow never glorified violence nor demonized any other, and he never was a Christian!!!
Christ was a social justice, radical revolutionary Palestinian Jewish Road Warrior who confronted the temple authorites job security and status quo of Rome: the occupying force at that time.
Anyone who has studied the history and motives of the early Christian writers understands that in order to 'protect' the early followers from Roman rage, the Jews were most certainly blamed for the crucifiction, although they were NOT the ones who did it!!!
Rome crucified trouble makers all the time, and JC was a rabble rouser supreme.
The temple authorities did NOT crucify JC, only the state did such things. Temple authorities were NO fans of Christ for he challenged their money making activities: charging for ritual baths and livestock to be sacrificed in exchange for one's sins.
JC said such activities were NOT necessary, for all can approach God, just as they are.
The Crusades clearly prove that early Christianity was severly corrupted and driven by anti-Semitism.
St Francis of Assisi, is one of the very few Christians who spoke out against them.
It was not until after Emporer Constantine legitamized Christianity and Augustine penned the "Just War Theory" ~ a blatant corruption of JC's message of NONVIOLENCE~ did any Christian ever even serve in the military.
100 years after Constantine ruled, ALL soldiers had to be baptized Christian.
Violence and coersion is NOT true Christianity.
It is an abomination:
just as is the demonizing of ANY people.
I go into more detail regarding the above in my soon to be released novel
KEEP HOPE ALIVE
details on WAWA:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
by
Eileen Fleming (145 articles, 51 quicklinks, 266 diaries, 579 comments)
on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 8:41:40 AM
Just when the public needs a distraction from the genocide in south Lebanon, we get Mel Gibson's drunken, anti-Jewish tirade. That's just great, so now what? We all get to wring our hands about "rampant anti-semitism" and Mel will have to kiss the ring of the local rabbi.
Let thee who is without sin . . . as the saying goes. It's hard to KEEP your job as a radio hate jock without spewing venom upon the 'scapegoat du jour': gays, Muslims, liberals. Anyone ever utter a mysoginistic, homophobic, racist or other epithet in a fit of rage? I thought so.
Maybe, like me, the recent "collective punishment" meeted out by Israel in Lebanon had gotten Mel so enraged that, after a drink too many, he lashed out. Unfortunate.
I was raised with and had many Jewish friends in my day. Loved them and their hospitality. That doesn't prevent me from criticizing Israel and seeing it as another rascist, apartheid state bereft of any moral authority. As Colin Powell stated, "It is not anti-semitic to criticize the state of Israel." We don't need sacred cows any more than we need scapegoats.
by
Bruce Bloomquist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 11:05:31 AM
"Let thee who is without sin . . . as the saying goes. It's hard to KEEP your job as a radio hate jock without spewing venom upon the 'scapegoat du jour': gays, Muslims, liberals. Anyone ever utter a mysoginistic, homophobic, racist or other epithet in a fit of rage? I thought so.
Maybe, like me, the recent "collective punishment" meeted out by Israel in Lebanon had gotten Mel so enraged that, after a drink too many, he lashed out. Unfortunate.
I was raised with and had many Jewish friends in my day. Loved them and their hospitality. That doesn't prevent me from criticizing Israel and seeing it as another rascist, apartheid state bereft of any moral authority. As Colin Powell stated, "It is not anti-semitic to criticize the state of Israel." We don't need sacred cows any more than we need scapegoats."
I'll cast that first stone. Obviously, you sir are also a bigot. You clearly have no knowledge of Israel or of history. The fact that you "had many Jewish friends" clearly means you can't be a bigot. No, of course not.
Let me just tell you - I know plenty of Jewish people who are jerks. I also know plenty of Christians who are. You are a fine example of what the writer of this story is talking about - have a look at your shadow sometime.
by
BenB (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 2:17:27 PM
We're all bigots (in one way or another)-- so try not to be so bigoted about it. And, by the way, I do know a fair bit about the history of Israel -- it's not a pretty picture when seen from all sides. But U.S. history is pretty ugly, too.
"If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?" -- David Ben Gurion (the first Israeli Prime Minister)
by
Bruce Bloomquist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 3:41:41 PM
Jews, Blacks, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Chinese, Gays, Women...I mean, in this nation of many peoples, who is exempted from racism and bigotry except white males, Rob? I don't think that's new, or revelatory, and i don't think it's a Shadow. It is simply the truth underneath the American Equality Lie.
by
Nezua (42 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 93 comments)
on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 5:44:21 PM
I suppose David Ben Gurion wrote that in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion? Nice try.
Don't confuse your bigotry with the bigotry of others. You throw around terms like "collective punishment" as if their truths.
I'm not even going to bother responding to you any more because you don't get it. You make-up quotes, you cite some obscure rabbi who is in no position of power. Shall I write the countless quotes from Arab world leaders that make openly bigoted remarks toward Jews (and Americans as well).
Don't bother posting or looking for another reply from me - you're not worth wasting my time arguing with. Simpleton.
by
BenB (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 8:40:02 AM
As usual I'm disappointed in your writing. The ways in which you are off the mark in your analysis here are just everywhere. Even though you receive some appropriate feedback here in the comments, I wouldn't imagine that you'll take the hint.
I suspected you were clueless in some areas. Are you supporting a zionist's agenda, or are you really this dumb?
by
bill giltner (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 8:47:01 AM
A very good article; but my partner and I, Rick, have been together 20 years and have had NO use for "Mr. Gibson" since 1994 or 1995 when he spewed MORE hate: "ALL Gay people are really sick, they like it up the ass; the world would be a better place without them". Sadly, there was NO public outrage over this; but it would be nice to see him apologize for THIS as well, but I don't think we or millions of other GLBT Americans will ever get one. A lot of people aren't aware of this, so I thought I'd let you know. We've personally boycotted everything he's done since reading of his homophobic hate.
Brian Ehlert
by
Brian Ehlert (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 1:42:54 PM
I suppose it will not have crossed your mind that Gibson is right and the adjusting that has to be done is on the jewish side?
Do they not control finance, including the rip-off of all our societies?
Do they not control the media, trash, pornography and all?
Do they not control publishing, including the trashing of educational materials? Do they not therefore control all the information to which we have accesss, giving us only the attitudes they want us to have, including their own image?
Do they not use interest-free funds and leveraging to buy into all the industrial interests they want, including all those things worst for us - the drink, tobacco, arms industries?
Do they not manufacture wars for their profit and our harm?
Do they not use loan guarantees to buy up all our 'leaders' to give them financial control of all our populations?
I could go on and on, and I speak from a position of knowledge gained from personal experience. But do I really have to?
Gibson is not so wrong as you would like us to think, and maybe you should think about that.
by
amazin (32 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 396 comments)
on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 3:07:28 PM
Being a person of Jewish descent I do not and I did not:
control the media
serve the Mammon ( very commn accusation of the Jews)
control any population except maybe for the ants in my house
manufacture wars
adjust loans
deceive people maliciously
ever deceived anyone for greed(surely did it for other reasons)
ever profited from illegal or sleasy transaction
ever hated/despised anyone for his/her ethnicity only
ever accused any other ethnicity of all that nonsense( sorry) you have listed
ever was invited to share the spoils of other 'evil Jews', etc.
If one person like me never did those things the whole theory falls apart. It does not mean though that Jewish peoople are saints. Not in the wildest dreams. But neither are Hindus or Chinese or WASPs or Bush. I would not pay much attention to Gibson at all. He never struck me as a man of deep intelligence. But we are so hooked on celebrities that we cannot get out.
by
Mark Sashine (50 articles, 19 quicklinks, 242 diaries, 3437 comments)
on Friday, August 4, 2006 at 7:39:23 AM
I agree with RK, but from another direction. I generally dislike Gibson's movies, especially The Patriot and Braveheart (anti-English), but I think The Passion of the Christ is a great film. His recent outburst is appalling, and I hope he redeems himself.
by
Andrew Soane (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Friday, August 4, 2006 at 4:48:42 AM
16 comments
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