Sunday, July 30, 2006

So, Mel's a Jew Hater After All

Looks like Mel Gibson has confirmed a hostility toward Jews that many were accusing him of during the imbroglio over "The Passion":
Lt. Steve Smith, in charge of the detective bureau for the Malibu/Lost Hills station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, confirmed to me just now that "the contents seem to be similar" between the official reports and the four pages posted by TMZ.com on the Internet alleging Mel Gibson "blurted out a barrage of anti-Semitic remarks" -- "fucking Jews" and "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" and asking the arresting deputy "Are you a Jew?" -- during his DUI arrest early Friday morning. Smith denied TMZ.com's charge that the sheriff's department was involved in a "cover-up" of Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic tirade detailed in deputy Jim Mee's first arrest report. "TMZ has learned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps," the website claims. But Smith told me emphatically, "There's no whitewash. I've seen the first report, and the supplemental report, and it looks to be the same thing as what's on the Internet. The contents that are on the Internet are covered in both those reports." That is the first official confirmation from the Sheriff's station that Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic rants are included in the official reports about his DUI arrest.

UPDATE: *Gibson issued a statement today apologizing for his drunk driving arrest and saying he has battled alcoholism throughout his life. The Oscar-winning filmmaker also apologized for what he said were "despicable" "out of control" statements "that I do not believe to be true" made to the deputies who arrested him early Friday morning on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. But though his statement seems to confirm he made the anti-Semitic slurs, it does not specifically admit them or apologize for them.
My Comments:
I still don't believe there was anything remotely anti-Semitic about "The Passion" (apart from its director, that is).


UPDATE
G. Thomas Fitzpatrick at Recta Ratio notes that "war brings a discreditable plague of anti-Jewish sentiment" amongst some in the traditional Catholic community.

Which brings me to the primary reason this Mel Gibson episode is so upsetting to me. Many of us conservative and traditional Catholics came to the defense of Mel and "The Passion" when they were being attacked by Hollywood, the ADL, and even liberal Catholics as being insensitive to Jews. We saw the attacks for what they really were: attacks on the Gospels themselves and the teachings of the Church.

Now those same folks against whom we defended "The Passion" and, indeed, the Church, are gloating because of Mel's clearly anti-semitic worldview. Mel has discredited not only himself, but the Gospel itself in the mind of those who now might be willing to view "The Passion", the Gospels, and the traditional teachings of the Church in light of Mel's recent comments.

The next time someone wants to make a movie that portrays some aspects of the Gospels that Jewish people might find offensive, the Mel Gibson canard will be thrown out in an effort to discredit that effort. Every time the issue of traditional Catholic devotion comes up in the public arena, in the back of the minds of those unfamiliar with traditional Catholicism will be that Mel Gibson is one, and that he is an anti-Semite.

Mel Gibson (and, by extension, those Catholics who share his sentiments) has done far more than harm just himself by his actions and comments.


UPDATE # 2
Tom Haessler, commenting at Amy Welborn's blog, says essentially the same thing:
If it's true I'm deeply saddened. I debated with many liberals insisting that Mel was not anti-Semitic even though his eccentric dad was for certain. Fortunately, this will give a black eye to radtradism and sedevacantism, but I'm certain that the average guy or gal in the street thinks he's a "Catholic", not understanding how schism deprives one of membership in the Church.

If this isn't true, it's certainly one of the most scurilous lies in many a moon - but I fear it is true.

Despite all this, the film needs to be evaluated as a work of art regardless of the character (or psychiatric issues?) of the director. I continue to believe that it's a moving icon that deserves recognition as a great work of art. But it's time to insist more than ever that private "revelations" of pious nuns (really personal meditations), whether unapproved (like the POEM OF THE GOD MAN) or approved (like Anne Catherine Emmerich's) must be acknowledged to have problematic features (like survivals of old-fashioned Christian anti-Semitism) as well as potential for nuturing piety.

We need to pray here for damage control AND for Mel, personally.

Score one for the progressive theologians who now will be doing the "I told you so" dance.

6 Comments:

At 7/30/2006 1:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've had doubts--creatively speaking--about Gibson since seeing 'Braveheart,' with its gross distortion of history and the character of William Wallace (described by one biographer as appearing to modern eyes like a combination of serial killer and terrorist). His Revolutionary War movie was another phony story--and all in all there's just way too much Mel Gibson in most of his flicks.

'Passion' might have been a masterpiece; I didn't see it because of the fictional depiction of the devil, and its far too detailed concentration on the torture of Jesus. Not my piece of cake. But I always assumed he was on 'our side.' That is, the side of truth, justice and the Aussie-American way of life.

The first contrary clue for me was his recent attack on Bush, engendered, perhaps, by our standing by Israel. And now this pathetic performance.

Sad, ain't it?

 
At 7/30/2006 1:50 PM, Blogger Brother James said...

In Vino Veritas, eh? Still we all battle a sinful nature, and manage to surpress it while sober, and fall into that sin when inebriated. I could give Mel the same latitude as a sinner.
I think one could be against the man-made state of Israel and zionism, and not be anti-semitic, but you'd never get that differentiation from the ADL or zionist press.
It seems that everyone is angry about something these days, and the barely surpressed rage pops out they're tired, flustered, or drunk.
It's a time that calls for prayer and mortification, to make sure that we're clear on God's will vs. our own.

 
At 7/31/2006 1:55 PM, Blogger Fr Martin Fox said...

I think it is a mistake to make a direct transfer from the merits of an artistic work to the merits of the artist, and vice-versa.

"Mel Gibson made a good movie." Assuming that statement is true, what need that imply about Mr. Gibson's virtues? Contrarywise, if we read that statement in light of apparent anti-Jewish sentiment on Mr. Gibson's part, how does that fact invalidate the statement?

I will also say, in fairness (not defense) of Mr. Gibson, it is not unknown that people will say things that don't reflect well on them -- I mean, not just that they are discreditable, such as these statements -- but also, they don't really reflect the "core" of the man.

People get angry, they speak hatefully, they blurt things out, without any influence of booze or drugs, and they regret them; they wonder, "where did that come from?"

It may seem convenient, but it is credible to me that Mr. Gibson could say these anti-Jewish things, and yet not be as awful as they might be taken to mean.

For that matter, I've known people who express hateful things about blacks or Jews -- and yet, as far as I can tell, are fundamentally decent in how they treat others, including...blacks and Jews. Some are all bark, no bite.

I am not qualified to speak for folks who get the brunt of that sort of talk, but I would think such folks would soon know the difference between the "talkers" and "doers."

 
At 8/01/2006 12:01 AM, Blogger Jean Heimann said...

Hi, Jay!

Of course Mel's words and behavior were certainly despicable, but he apologized and is in rehab again. I hope he went to Confession right away, too. I am sure there are many underlying problems that need to resolved here. He's struggled with alcoholism all his life and there are certainly questions about his father's beliefs and attitudes.

Why can't people forgive him? If God can forgive him, why can't all his Hollywood cronies and his fans?

Check out my post on this and Catholic League's Bill Donahue's take on this -- it is certainly eye-opening.

God bless you,
Jean

 
At 8/01/2006 8:22 AM, Blogger Pro Ecclesia said...

Hi Jean,

I had read your post yesterday. Definitely an eye-opener. The ADL is a leftist organization first, an anti-Christian organization second, and somewhere down the list of priorities, a Jewish organization.

That's what upsets me the most about Mel's tirade. He gave ammunition against traditional and conservative Catholics to foes like Abe Foxman and the "progressive" Christians who slammed "The Passion" and who are currently attacking the Gospels themselves as "antisemitic".

I certainly forgive him, and pray for his recovery from his relapse and for his apparent feelings of ill will toward our Jewish brothers and sisters. Mel has been my favorite Hollywood "personality" ever since "Braveheart" (historical inaccuracies notwithstanding), so it pains me to see him going through this.

And it pains me that he has, in some ways, through his words tainted those of us who defended him so vigorously during the debate over "The Passion".

 
At 8/01/2006 7:52 PM, Blogger Fidei Defensor said...

Compare Mel's comments to things said but a lot of people on the Left including a lot of European leaders especailly regarding the current Mid. East situation and they seem pretty mild.

 

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