You know… this is the closest thing to a witch hunt I’ve seen in years, and it’s starting to piss me off.
As we all know, Mel Gibson was arrested for drunk driving (and personally I think the man should go to jail for that and do some time, but that’s another issue). While being arrested in his drunken rage, Gibson said he was going to ruin the cop and shouted out some anti-semetic statements… all of which he admitted.
Gibson came out and apologized for the comments he made while drunk, said the comments were unacceptable, despicable (his words) and shouldn’t be tolerated. He shouted something while drunk. I don’t know about you… but I’ve had hammered friends who shouted at me, and called me names that the didn’t really mean while drunk. Chances are you have too.
Should Gibson apologize for the comments? Damn right he should. Should he explain himself? Hell yes. Should people keep an eye on him for similar behavior in the future? Yes we should. But folks… he was hammered… he did apologize (profusely), he did take responsibility, he did explain himself… and we will all keep a closer eye on him. SO ENOUGH!
I think it’s important to keep in mind here a VERY IMPORTANT FACT that everyone seems to be forgetting here: THE MAN DIDN’T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING.
Despite news agencies digging into his past, there have never been any unfair hiring practices, he has never refused to work with anyone of Jewish decent or acted racist in any way. As a matter of fact, he was praised for how much he engaged the Jewish community about their concerns surrounding The Passion of the Christ.
I find it really disturbing that more people are focused on a drunk guy yelling out some stuff… MORE than they are about the fact the man was DRIVING while drunk and could have killed someone. What is wrong with our culture?
Anyway, the guy said something stupid while hammered. Things that are inconsistent with his behavior. (No one has been able to show any anti-jewish actions, hiring practices or other racist actions). Good grief… LET IT GO until he does something else and shows a pattern.
Actor gets busted for drugs? No problem. Director convicted of Child rape? No sweat. But a guy says something (not “does” something) while drunk and later calls what he said despicable and intolerable and apologizes for it… and we’re ready to proclaim his career over? Yeah… that doesn’t add up.
What Gibson said was stupid, dumb and as he said despicable. But he was hammered. He apologized. And most importantly, looking at his history we see there is no pattern of anti-jewish behavior at all. Let’s keep an eye on him… but for God’s sake, let it go.
Just my two cents.
