Mel Gibson apologises for anti-semitic abuse - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

aberkok · 07-31-2006, 04:59 PM

I know there are examples of different newspapers reporting the same events with vast discrepancies, but this one cried out to me today. The first is from Toronto's Metro - the free paper on the subway:

http://www.metronews.ca/story.aspx?i...hType=AndWords

Quote:

Gibson apologizes for drunk-driving incident

associated press File Photo

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson issued a lengthy statement Saturday apologizing for his drunk driving arrest and saying he has battled alcoholism throughout his life.

The actor and The Passion Of The Christ director also apologized for what he said were “despicable” statements he made to the deputies who arrested him early Friday on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif.

“I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested,” he said in a statement issued by his publicist. “I disgraced myself and my family with my behaviour and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse.”

He said he was taking “necessary steps to ensure my return to health.”

Publicist Alan Nierob declined to elaborate beyond Gibson’s statement, and sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Erickson declined to respond, saying the case was still under investigation.

Gibson, 50, was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol after deputies stopped his 2006 Lexus LS 430 for speeding at 2:36 a.m. Friday. Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said deputies clocked him doing 140 km/h in a 70 km/h zone.

A breath test indicated Gibson’s blood-alcohol level was 0.12 per cent, Whitmore said. The legal limit in California is 0.08 per cent.

The actor-director posted $5,000 US bail and was released at 9:45 a.m.

Gibson also apologized Saturday for what he called “my belligerent behaviour” when he was taken into custody. “The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person,” he said.

“I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable.” Nierob and sheriff’s officials declined to discuss what Gibson said.

Associated Press

The second is from the Guardian U.K. I subscribe to the online version of the print edition, so you might not be able to find this on the web. Here's the story:

Quote:

Mel Gibson apologises for anti-semitic abuse

Star's outburst after alleged drink-driving

LA police accused of covering up remarks

Audrey Gillan

Mel Gibson yesterday apologised for his "despicable" remarks after a Los Angeles police officer claimed that the actor had shouted a barrage of anti-semitic abuse, including a claim that "the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world".

Gibson, 50, was arrested in the early hours of Friday after he was found driving his Lexus along the Pacific coast highway while allegedly drunk. A three-quarters-full bottle of tequila wrapped in a brown paper bag was found on the floor. He was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and released on $5,000 bail.

The entertainment website TMZ published what it said was a four-page extract of the police report into the incident. It says that the actor had tried to run away from police and that he "became increasingly belligerent". The Australian star told the officer that he would regret arresting him and that he "owned Malibu".

The report says: "Gibson blurted out a barrage of anti-semitic remarks about 'fucking Jews'. Gibson yelled out: 'The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.' Gibson then asked: 'Are you a Jew?'"

The incident gained further attention when it was alleged that the LA police department had tried to cover up Gibson's offensive remarks. A spokesman had told reporters on Friday that Gibson had been arrested "without incident". Allegations of favourable treatment of the star are now being looked into by the city's office of independent review, which investigates allegations of police misconduct. It has also been claimed that the police officer involved was asked to rewrite his report omitting Gibson's anti-semitic remarks.

Mike Gennaco, who will lead the investigation, said: "I'd like to see if there was a legitimate law enforcement reason for asking that the report be altered."

Gibson served as a "celebrity representative" for the LA sheriff department's Star Organisation in 2002, a group which provides scholarships and aid for the children of officers killed in the line of duty. He donated $10,000 to the step-daughter of an officer who died and also filmed public service announcements for the sheriff's relief committee.

Sheriff Lee Baca said the actor's behaviour after his arrest was not relevant to the criminal case. "There is no cover-up. Our job is not to [focus] on what he said. It's to establish his blood alcohol level when he was driving and proceed with the case."

Gibson, whose father told the New York Times that he did not believe the Holocaust happened, issued a statement apologising. He said: "I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologise to the deputies involved for my belligerent behaviour. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself."

He added: "I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse."

Other than what is mentioned in the Metro article (Nierob and sheriff’s officials declined to discuss what Gibson said), do you think there's a reason that the Metro didn't have Mel's remarks published? Were they simply too slow off the mark? Who gains from this ommision?

Does the Guardian have an ulterior motive for printing Mel's remarks and having him painted as an anti-semite (which he obviously is on some level)?

I can't see a reason why one paper did and the other didn't. Can you?

Gilda · 07-31-2006, 05:19 PM

See, the weird thing here is that it's being characterized as apologizing for the anti-Semitic remarks, but if you read the actual statment, it's a very generic apology to the deputies for "despicable behavior" and words. I'm not sure if he has apologized for the anti-semitism. It's certainly possible that hea meant it in that way, but the words there are awfully ambiguous.

Gilda

ngdawg · 07-31-2006, 05:47 PM

Alcohol does two things: It enhances the asshole effect and it allows the truth to come up. That's all I'm sayin....

raeanna74 · 07-31-2006, 06:01 PM

At least he's apologizing for his behavior. How many celebrities actually apologize the next day after they do something stupid like this?

As for the cover up? I doubt the police are concerned with his opinions as racist or contraversial as they may be. They're concerned with the laws he broke and enforcing those laws. Doesn't matter to me if it's covered up or not.

Gilda · 07-31-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

At least he's apologizing for his behavior. How many celebrities actually apologize the next day after they do something stupid like this?

I thought it was fairly common, especially for those with a "nice guy" image to protect. Hugh Grant resurrected his career with his apology on the Tonight Show. It may not come quite so quickly, but it usually does come eventually.

Gilda

Toaster126 · 07-31-2006, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the reminder not to believe things just because I read them.

Terrell · 07-31-2006, 08:14 PM

"A drunken man speaks a sober mind", or so the saying goes, I think there is a whole lot of truth to it.

highthief · 08-01-2006, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

See, the weird thing here is that it's being characterized as apologizing for the anti-Semitic remarks, but if you read the actual statment, it's a very generic apology to the deputies for "despicable behavior" and words. I'm not sure if he has apologized for the anti-semitism. It's certainly possible that hea meant it in that way, but the words there are awfully ambiguous.

Gilda

That's how I read it too.

But maybe the jewish controlled media wants us to read it that way, so Mel gets no sympathy or forgiveness.

Cunning, eh?

[/sarcasm]

Sticky · 08-01-2006, 06:59 AM

OK, I wrote this all once and cleared it out accidentally.
I hope I got it all down properly the second time.

Here read the whole thing on TMZ (http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibson...ged-cover-up/).
You have to see some of the stuff he said about Jews and women.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

As for the cover up? I doubt the police are concerned with his opinions as racist or contraversial as they may be. They're concerned with the laws he broke and enforcing those laws. Doesn't matter to me if it's covered up or not.

I think that if the Police were really interested in enforcing those laws they would not have forced teh officer to sit back down and write a new ("sanitized") report after writing the origianl detail 8 page report. He could have been back on the streets enforcing those laws and keeping the peace.
let's assume that they were not trying to protect a celebrity and they were doing what they said as TMZ reported that...

Quote:

Mee was told Gibson's comments would incite a lot of "Jewish hatred," that the situation in Israel was "way too inflammatory."

What is the Police's job? What is better hiding what happend to hopefully limit any bad reaction to the situation or to tell the whole truth?
I think it is really bad the the Police, in this case, lied (held back the whole story). If we can't count on the Police to be truthful and straightforward, then who can we count on.
This probably happend more than we would like to believe. I think that this is another case (good intentioned maybe) of shorsighted decisions that kill the credibility of the authorities. I am sure that the L.A. police do not need any more of these types of situations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

See, the weird thing here is that it's being characterized as apologizing for the anti-Semitic remarks, but if you read the actual statment, it's a very generic apology to the deputies for "despicable behavior" and words. I'm not sure if he has apologized for the anti-semitism. It's certainly possible that hea meant it in that way, but the words there are awfully ambiguous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

I thought it was fairly common, especially for those with a "nice guy" image to protect.

I think that this is just the standard generic appology that a celebrity makes when they get into trouble. He must appologize, right? He is a good guy, right? Now the general population can say, "oh, he really did not mean what he said. He was drunk. You know he is an alcoholic. And he appologized, so everything is OK."

This is not the first time that Gibson has been accused of being an anti-semite and unfortunately it won't be the last.
First it was, "His father is an anti-semite, he is not". Then it was, "no, he is just re-telling the story". And now it is "he just drank a bit too much, besides, he appologized".

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngdawg

Alcohol does two things: It enhances the asshole effect and it allows the truth to come up. That's all I'm sayin....

I don't think that is exactly right. I believe that when someone drinks you see the tru person come out. If someone is a reallg good person then when they drink you will see it. If someone is bad, however, then watch out for when they drink.

There is a famous quote from the Talmud that somebody once explained to me:

Quote:

Bekiso, Bekoso, Bekaso

(please excuse me if I don't get the translation and interpretation exactly correct)
This is translated as - by one's pocket, by one's cup, by one's anger.

The interpretation is that there are three ways to tell the true nature of a man (person).
- by one's pocket - by how a person deals with money matters
- by one's cup - by how a person handles himself with alcohol
- by one's anger - by how a person handles his anger

frogza · 08-01-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

See, the weird thing here is that it's being characterized as apologizing for the anti-Semitic remarks, but if you read the actual statment, it's a very generic apology to the deputies for "despicable behavior" and words. I'm not sure if he has apologized for the anti-semitism. It's certainly possible that hea meant it in that way, but the words there are awfully ambiguous.

Gilda

I find it interesting that his comments are getting all the attention. Take the things he did that night and put them in order of "bad" behavior. The list should look something like this.

1. Drove drunk, endangering the lives of other people
2. Resisted arrest, making the job of the officers harder and raising tension
3. Make some stupid drunken remarks including anti-semitic ones.

Instead the popular opinion seems to order his actions this way:
1. Talked bad about Jews
2. Drove drunk, endangering the lives of other people
3. Blamed Jews for his woes
4. Resisted arrest, making the job of the officers harder and raising tension
5. Make some stupid drunken remarks including anti-semitic ones.
6. Did we mention his dad didn't think the holocaust happened?
7. Mel badmouthed the Jews

Gilda · 08-01-2006, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogza

I find it interesting that his comments are getting all the attention. Take the things he did that night and put them in order of "bad" behavior. The list should look something like this.

The OP was about the apology, and I responded to that. I didn't address his overall behavior that night at all.

That said, I don't think choosing one aspect of an issue to focus on means that others are not important or are less important. It just means that a different area has been chosen for that particular discussion. You're not going to find me arguing that the drunk driving was the worst thing he did. I think he should be spending the next month in jail rather than rehab.

That just wasn't the subject of this discussion.

Gilda

Ustwo · 08-01-2006, 07:29 AM

This of course will be used as an excuse to destroy Mel yet oddly I bet the same people support Roman Polanski.

Hell, Mel's comments sound like anything you hear comming out of the U.N. these days anyways.

stevo · 08-01-2006, 07:52 AM

I like drunk mel better than sobre mel. he's more entertaining.

btw, his BAC was only .12 - what a lightweight. it sure don't take much to make ol' mel go nuts.

"I'm gonna fuck you" - nice. did he mean that in a sexual way? we can only assume.

In the past few days 2 things already assumed by me were confirmed: Lance Bass is gay and Mel Gibson is an anti-semite.

kutulu · 08-01-2006, 08:20 AM

It was a BS, canned apology written by a publicist. BFD.

His comments got the attention over the DUI because DUI's are boring. Lots and lots of people get DUIs. I know at least 10 people who got DUIs at some point in their lives. We are always hearing about celebs, athletes, politicians, etc. getting DUIs. What we don't usually hear is one of those people making racist remarks. Another thing we don't hear about is a police department that sanitizes the arrest report so that the person's image can be kept clean.

With his past history, it's blatantly obvious that he's a full-blown anti-semite. I think he probably has good self control and a good publicist so that is usually kept under wraps. A good publicist know how to do damage control. Seriously, what non-anti-Semite starts saying shit like "fucking jews" or "the Jews caused all of the wars"?

It's like Tom Cruise. We all knew that he was a Scientologist and therefore a little nutty. Last year, he went and fired his publicist and replaced her with his sister (another Scientologist). All of a sudden, Tom becomes Tomcat. He goes on rants and raves and starts looking like a lunatic. Eventually, he fires his sister and replaces her with a real publicist and he's not looking so crazy anymore.

USTWO, I'm *shocked* that you are trying to blame this on the liberal media.

Ustwo · 08-01-2006, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kutulu

USTWO, I'm *shocked* that you are trying to blame this on the liberal media.

Eh, I'm talking in Hollywood, where they showed support for the on the lamb rapist Roman Polanski.

Mel was on thin Hollywood ice for the whole POTC thing, so this will be used to make sure he is blackballed.

Mel's problem is that he is not a liberal, liberals are not held accountable in Hollywood, but you assume to much since I never mentioned the media.

Frosstbyte · 08-01-2006, 08:44 AM

So, if I understand correctly, if Mel Gibson were liberal and made anti-Semitic comments everything would be copasetic and no one would care? Because...I'm not inclined to believe that's the case.

I'm pretty sure when you're a celebrity and you say the kind of stuff he said, you're going to get negative publicity for it. I don't think his politics (liberal vs. conservative) make very much difference. POTC put him under the spotlight on the Jew issue (I had no interest in watching it so I can neither confirm nor deny that that movie is in any way anti-Semitic). And once you've put that kind of attention on yourself, if you follow it up by getting roaring drunk and spewing epithets at police officers that are related to the same negative attention, your reputation is going to suffer.

How the US feels about Israel and Jews and how the media portrays those issues aside, celebrities who make blatantly racist remarks are going to feel some heat, no matter who they are. That Gibson happened to already be in the hot seat about Jews only exacerbates how much attention people are going to pay, but I doubt there'd be much difference if the arresting office were black and he blamed poverty on a bunch of n******.

ngdawg · 08-01-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

don't think that is exactly right. I believe that when someone drinks you see the tru person come out. If someone is a reallg good person then when they drink you will see it. If someone is bad, however, then watch out for when they drink.

I don't know of a single good person who got nicer when drunk. I do, however know and live with 'good' people who, after drinking a little too much, turn into assholes. Not everyone becomes an asshole, some just get stupid. Others will cry and whine...
Last fall former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch was pulled over after running a stop sign.
He started berating the officer, yelling 'Don't you know who I am?? I could have your badge!', etc.etc.....Now, he's a total asshole around the NASCAR scene, so that didn't surprise me. And these reports that Gibson went off about Jews doesn't either.
Bill Cosby has an old bit about his asking Richard Pryor why he did cocaine. Pryor answered that it 'enhanced certain aspects of your personality'. Cosby then replie, 'Yea, but, what if you're an asshole?' Same thing with booze....it causes tongue slippage coupled with the don'tgiveafuck syndrome.

roachboy · 08-01-2006, 08:49 AM

mel obviously has an alcohol problem.
mel really should not drink.
mel drives when he is drunk. mel says stupid things when he is drunk. mel puts his agent in an awkward spot when he is drunk.
personally, i hope he dries out somewhere and gets treatment to help him stay off the sauce.

i dont really understand what roman polanski has to do with any of this: is this the non sequitor of the moment that the limbaugh crowd is throwing about?

Ustwo · 08-01-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosstbyte

So, if I understand correctly, if Mel Gibson were liberal and made anti-Semitic comments everything would be copasetic and no one would care? Because...I'm not inclined to believe that's the case.
.

He could appologize and that would be the end of it were he a known liberal. I'd not be surprised if Mel is anti-semetic, it seems to be in vogue these days world wide. What annoys me though is that the same people who will be up in arms about Mels druken comments (and who gives a crap what an actor thinks or does) make excuses for world leaders saying the same thing.

I don't CARE if Mel Gibson is anti-semetic or not, hes just an actor, I do care that the president of Iran wants to destroy Israel and has stated so publicly, or that many people in the world think Israel should just accept being bombed as a way of life and not fight back. Of all the people saying obnoxious comments about the Jews these days, Mel Gibson should be VERY low on the list of who matters.

Sticky · 08-01-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngdawg

I don't know of a single good person who got nicer when drunk.

I know a bunch of people like this. If you are a nice person, you are a nice person. If you become an asshole when you are drunk it is becuase deep down you are really not a nice person - people may think you are becuase you put on a good act or cover it up really well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngdawg

Bill Cosby has an old bit about his asking Richard Pryor why he did cocaine. Pryor answered that it 'enhanced certain aspects of your personality'. Cosby then replie, 'Yea, but, what if you're an asshole?' Same thing with booze....it causes tongue slippage coupled with the don'tgiveafuck syndrome.

Exactly, alcohol helps remove inhibitions by killing some of your judgment. For example, if someone in his everyday dealings keeps a filter on what leaves his brain and comes out his mouth, alcohol helps remove the filter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kutulu

Another thing we don't hear about is a police department that sanitizes the arrest report so that the person's image can be kept clean.

I think this is a huge issue although coming from the L.A. Police I don't find this surprising in the least.

stevo · 08-01-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

I know a bunch of people like this. If you are a nice person, you are a nice person. If you become an asshole when you are drunk it is becuase deep down you are really not a nice person - people may think you are becuase you put on a good act or cover it up really well.

A good friend of mine is one of the nicest people on this planet. I've known him for 6 years. was a roommate with him for a year in college, and have yet to see this guy get mad. upset, yes. but not mean, angry, or mad. When he's drunk (which i've seen a lot of) he's even nicer. sometimes to the point of annoyance.

point is, there are poeple who get nicer the more they drink, however few there are.

Ustwo · 08-01-2006, 12:28 PM

Now the drunk hijack is interesting.

For me I tend to get more of what my mood is when I get drunk. If I'm happy, I'm a happy nice drunk, if I'm pissed off I'm the pissed off mean drunk. There are times when a drink can make me more mellow, but from personal experiance I avoid drinking when I'm pissed/sad.

Willravel · 08-01-2006, 12:34 PM

Yeah, never get drunk if you're in the mood to hijack something.

flat5 · 08-02-2006, 02:21 AM

Gibson's statement is for damage control.
He may go to court.

140m/h on what road? Sounds very dangerous to me.

Fuk him, I say.

Sgoilear · 08-02-2006, 03:31 AM

I think the reason why the free metro paper printed less infomation might simply be space consideration. The free papers I've picked up in the past tend to only be pretty short and mainly focused on local issues where as larger papers can focus more on stories intended for blatant sensationalism.

I honestly fail to see the point in news agencies reporting anything thats happened with Mel Gibson besides their attempt to attract viewers. Yes, he was drunk driving. Yes, he spat out anti semitic remarks. Yes, he really should apologize. If you took Mel Gibson out and replaced him with a random person off the street, we'd never have heard a whisper. I'm sure things like this happen with disapointing regularity and we never hear about it simply because no one in the public eye is involved.

I'm not condoning his behavior, just saying that it's not even real news.

aberkok · 08-02-2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgoilear

I think the reason why the free metro paper printed less infomation might simply be space consideration. The free papers I've picked up in the past tend to only be pretty short and mainly focused on local issues where as larger papers can focus more on stories intended for blatant sensationalism.

Possibly, but in this case we are talking about the Metro vs. the Guardian U.K. There is little doubt that out of the two, the Metro is going to be the more sensationalistic one.

Quote:

I honestly fail to see the point in news agencies reporting anything thats happened with Mel Gibson besides their attempt to attract viewers. Yes, he was drunk driving. Yes, he spat out anti semitic remarks. Yes, he really should apologize. If you took Mel Gibson out and replaced him with a random person off the street, we'd never have heard a whisper. I'm sure things like this happen with disapointing regularity and we never hear about it simply because no one in the public eye is involved.

I'm not condoning his behavior, just saying that it's not even real news.

I think for a lot of celebrity news, yes. In this case we have a person who like it or not, is somewhat of a role model in society and millions of people have watched his films. He has influence. Now he has revealed himself as an anti-semite. I think that's relevant news.

Sticky · 08-02-2006, 06:58 AM

Gibson's latest appology:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movi...ent/index.html

Charlatan · 08-02-2006, 07:01 AM

I think you will find that Metro used an Associated Press story and that the Guardian used either one of their own writers or a stringer on the ground in LA.

A syndicated AP story is generally going to favour being the dry side.

aberkok · 08-02-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticky

Gibson's latest appology:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movi...ent/index.html

Quote:

(CNN) -- There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.

I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsibility for my words and apologize directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words.

The tenets of what I profess to believe necessitate that I exercise charity and tolerance as a way of life. Every human being is God's child, and if I wish to honor my God I have to honor his children. But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.

I'm not just asking for forgiveness. I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one on one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing.

I have begun an ongoing program of recovery and what I am now realizing is that I cannot do it alone. I am in the process of understanding where those vicious words came from during that drunken display, and I am asking the Jewish community, whom I have personally offended, to help me on my journey through recovery. Again, I am reaching out to the Jewish community for its help. I know there will be many in that community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable. But I pray that that door is not forever closed.

This is not about a film. Nor is it about artistic license. This is about real life and recognizing the consequences hurtful words can have. It's about existing in harmony in a world that seems to have gone mad.

Well even though this isn't specifically to do with why I started this thread (I was more interested in the paper vs. paper aspect), I found this very interesting and I'm curious to see if he follows through with his claims. The idealist in me is cheering and I hope he truly is open to learning about himself.

Redlemon · 08-02-2006, 07:25 AM

Now THAT'S an apology. *applause* Hope he sticks to it, and actually means it.

kutulu · 08-02-2006, 07:58 AM

A much 'better' apology but what is the difference really? Words are just words. Besides, I doubt he was the one who wrote it anyways.

I personally don't care if he's a bigot or not, personal viewpoints won't keep me from watching his movies. I support everyone's right to be an ignorant bigot, as long as you aren't acting out your viewpoints on others.

Sgoilear:

Yes it is 'not news' but so is most of the 'news' the media corps throw at us. All that really matters is whether people want to hear about it.

Back to the apology. I think its funny how people place such importance on apologies and saying the right things. People are so stupid. They are easily manipulated by statements prepared by professional writers. I guess it's a lot easier to listen to what a person says than it is to watch what they do.

krwlz · 08-02-2006, 08:19 AM

Mel Gibson is an actor.. And a good one at that in my opinion. I know a lot of anti-semites... But they aren't actors, so they don't get shit for spouting off at the mouth.

My personal opinion is thus: So what? It's not like he went out and shot a jew. Shooting off at the mouth is never a good thing, but beliefs are beliefs, and nothing is going to change how he thinks. So... Let him keep acting, and directing, and anything else he does. If he's discriminating about working with jewish people, or in any other way harming jews, then we have an issue.

But as it stands, I really don't see any issue here, past driving 140 while a wee bit tipsy.

kutulu · 08-02-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krwlz

But as it stands, I really don't see any issue here, past driving 140 while a wee bit tipsy.

You can add being abusive to the cops and the cops trying to cover up his abusive behavior to that

Val_1 · 08-02-2006, 11:08 AM

To me, the biggest issue here is the cops attempting to cover up his behavior. I don't agree with Mel's viewpoints. I've always felt that he was a sexist and a bigot, in this case he just proves it. But, since he isn't in any way my friend or neighbor there's nothing I can do to change that. But, when an official police document was about to be changed to remove all the evidence from a public record .... THAT is wrong!

krwlz · 08-02-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kutulu

You can add being abusive to the cops and the cops trying to cover up his abusive behavior to that

Agreed. The strict law enforcement side of this, is the part that is an issue. The covering it up the real issue. The rest of it... Had it been some average joe would a single word of this have reached headlines? You know as well as I do that it would have been in the blotters and that's it.

Tophat665 · 08-02-2006, 02:14 PM

I hear he (or his publicist) came out with a more to the point apology. Nevertheless, in vino veritas. Hardly surprising from the guy who wrote and directed "How the Jews Killed Jesus", better known as "The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre", sold as "Passion of the Christ".

Hey Mel! Jesus was a Jewish liberal. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Ustwo · 08-02-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tophat665

I hear he (or his publicist) came out with a more to the point apology. Nevertheless, in vino veritas. Hardly surprising from the guy who wrote and directed "How the Jews Killed Jesus", better known as "The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre", sold as "Passion of the Christ".

Hey Mel! Jesus was a Jewish liberal. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Shame more people don't feelt he same away about statements involving the Jews at the UN, Europe, and the Mid East.

aberkok · 08-02-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

Shame more people don't feelt he same away about statements involving the Jews at the UN, Europe, and the Mid East.

I am very curious to see which statements you are talking about. Could we have a source please?

Ustwo · 08-02-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberkok

I am very curious to see which statements you are talking about. Could we have a source please?

Sigh, I'll assume I don't have to give you anti-semetic referances from the mid-east at least? If so just read a speach by the Iranian president, or any number of other leaders around there.

For the UN:

Quote:

The UN's 1975 resolution equating Zionism — the national liberation movement of the Jewish people — to racism was only the most notorious illustration of its anti-Jewish bias. The measure was repealed in 1991, but the UN continues to anathematize the world's only Jewish state.

The UN's 2001 Durban conference on racism and xenophobia, for example, turned into an anti-Semitic bacchanal. At times, the venom has sunk to medieval lows. "In presentations to the UN Commission on Human Rights," Bayefsky wrote, Arab delegates have trafficked in blood libels, "accusing the Israelis of . . . needing to kill Arabs for the proper observance of Yom Kippur and of injecting Palestinian children with HIV-positive blood."

Quote:

UN bias against Israel is overt in bodies such as the General Assembly, which each year passes some nineteen resolutions against Israel and none against most other member states, including the world's most repressive regimes. The World Health Organization, meeting at its annual assembly in Geneva in 2005, passed but one resolution against a specific country: Israel was charged with violating Palestinian rights to health. Similarly, the International Labour Organization, at its annual 2005 conference in Geneva, carried only one major country-specific report on its annual agenda -- a lengthy document charging Israel with violating the rights of Palestinian workers.

Europe

Quote:

Anti-Semitism in Europe
􀂾 The data indicates that nearly a third of European respondents, 30 percent, harbor some traditional anti-Jewish views.
􀂾 As part of the survey, respondents were asked to decide whether or not they felt that certain traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes (the four statements listed on the following page) were “probably true” or “probably false.”
􀂾 A plurality of Europeans, 45 percent, responded that it is “probably true” to characterize Jews as being more loyal to Israel than to their own country.
􀂾 30 percent of the respondents believe that Jews have too much power in the business world.
􀂾 19 percent believe that Jews do not care what happens to anyone but their own kind.
􀂾 16 percent say that Jews are more willing than others to use shady practices to get what they want. 􀂾
Among those in the five countries surveyed, Belgian, German, and French respondents are the most likely to hold a prejudiced view of Jews while British and Danish respondents are the least likely.

http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/European_Attitudes.pdf

Quote:

In April alone, 400 acts of violence took place against Jews, compared to 200 for all of 2001. "Jews and Jewish interests are being attacked because they are Jewish. That much is clear," says a French justice official. "But once you face that terrible fact, you have to start asking yourself: Why them?

Quote:

Until Europe undergoes a similar rapprochement between democratic values and Christian virtues, it's hard to see how anti-Semitism will be defeated. "Not since Kristallnacht, the Nazi-led pogrom against German Jews in 1938," writes Mark Strauss, editor of Foreign Policy, "have so many European synagogues and Jewish schools been desecrated." If anti-Semitism is, at its core, a sickness of the soul, then deep cultural changes — including spiritual renewal — would seem to be required.

pan6467 · 08-03-2006, 07:40 AM

I can't believe this crap.

There are people here crucifying the man for a drunken (free speech) tirade, and yet they argue and say they will fight for censorship.

Hypocrites!

Either Gibson had the right to say what he said and should face no retribution and thus free speech OR he should be condemned for the rantings of a drunken man and thus we all need watch what we say and Heaven forbid we ever get drunk and say something we regret.

As for the Sheriff cover-up, the only reason anyone cares about what happened is he is a celebrity and people like to see famous people get into trouble and have problems..... it somehow allows us to feel better.... it's why soap operas are so big.

He is being investigated for drunk driving and probably will be found guilty.... NOT for what he said. I cannot believe how quick we are to want to see blood and someone's carerr and life be destroyed because they made a mistake.

There is also someone above who said something to the effect ".12 what a lightweight". Alcohol affects people differently. If you have drank long enough you experience a tolerence break where your liver is pretty much fried and you get drunk on low doses. This could be a reason, another could be he had been on a bender and the alcohol was wearing off. He could have been depressed that he relapsed and he had a tirade to point fingers as to why.

Who knows..... not one of us were there, not one of the fucking talking head/gossip columnists were there. Speculation, rumors and gossip are pathetic ways to try a person.

07-31-2006, 05:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Alcohol does two things: It enhances the asshole effect and it allows the truth to come up. That's all I'm sayin.... __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

07-31-2006, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	At least he's apologizing for his behavior. How many celebrities actually apologize the next day after they do something stupid like this? As for the cover up? I doubt the police are concerned with his opinions as racist or contraversial as they may be. They're concerned with the laws he broke and enforcing those laws. Doesn't matter to me if it's covered up or not. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

07-31-2006, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	Thanks for the reminder not to believe things just because I read them. __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

08-01-2006, 07:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	This of course will be used as an excuse to destroy Mel yet oddly I bet the same people support Roman Polanski. Hell, Mel's comments sound like anything you hear comming out of the U.N. these days anyways. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

08-01-2006, 07:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
stevo Rail Baron Location: Tallyfla	I like drunk mel better than sobre mel. he's more entertaining. btw, his BAC was only .12 - what a lightweight. it sure don't take much to make ol' mel go nuts. "I'm gonna fuck you" - nice. did he mean that in a sexual way? we can only assume. In the past few days 2 things already assumed by me were confirmed: Lance Bass is gay and Mel Gibson is an anti-semite. __________________ "If I am such a genius why am I drunk, lost in the desert, with a bullet in my ass?" -Otto Mannkusser

07-31-2006, 05:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	See, the weird thing here is that it's being characterized as apologizing for the anti-Semitic remarks, but if you read the actual statment, it's a very generic apology to the deputies for "despicable behavior" and words. I'm not sure if he has apologized for the anti-semitism. It's certainly possible that hea meant it in that way, but the words there are awfully ambiguous. Gilda

07-31-2006, 08:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Terrell Insane Location: Orlando, Florida	"A drunken man speaks a sober mind", or so the saying goes, I think there is a whole lot of truth to it.

08-01-2006, 08:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	It was a BS, canned apology written by a publicist. BFD. His comments got the attention over the DUI because DUI's are boring. Lots and lots of people get DUIs. I know at least 10 people who got DUIs at some point in their lives. We are always hearing about celebs, athletes, politicians, etc. getting DUIs. What we don't usually hear is one of those people making racist remarks. Another thing we don't hear about is a police department that sanitizes the arrest report so that the person's image can be kept clean. With his past history, it's blatantly obvious that he's a full-blown anti-semite. I think he probably has good self control and a good publicist so that is usually kept under wraps. A good publicist know how to do damage control. Seriously, what non-anti-Semite starts saying shit like "fucking jews" or "the Jews caused all of the wars"? It's like Tom Cruise. We all knew that he was a Scientologist and therefore a little nutty. Last year, he went and fired his publicist and replaced her with his sister (another Scientologist). All of a sudden, Tom becomes Tomcat. He goes on rants and raves and starts looking like a lunatic. Eventually, he fires his sister and replaces her with a real publicist and he's not looking so crazy anymore. USTWO, I'm shocked that you are trying to blame this on the liberal media.

08-01-2006, 08:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
Frosstbyte Winter is Coming Location: The North	So, if I understand correctly, if Mel Gibson were liberal and made anti-Semitic comments everything would be copasetic and no one would care? Because...I'm not inclined to believe that's the case. I'm pretty sure when you're a celebrity and you say the kind of stuff he said, you're going to get negative publicity for it. I don't think his politics (liberal vs. conservative) make very much difference. POTC put him under the spotlight on the Jew issue (I had no interest in watching it so I can neither confirm nor deny that that movie is in any way anti-Semitic). And once you've put that kind of attention on yourself, if you follow it up by getting roaring drunk and spewing epithets at police officers that are related to the same negative attention, your reputation is going to suffer. How the US feels about Israel and Jews and how the media portrays those issues aside, celebrities who make blatantly racist remarks are going to feel some heat, no matter who they are. That Gibson happened to already be in the hot seat about Jews only exacerbates how much attention people are going to pay, but I doubt there'd be much difference if the arresting office were black and he blamed poverty on a bunch of n******.

08-01-2006, 08:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	mel obviously has an alcohol problem. mel really should not drink. mel drives when he is drunk. mel says stupid things when he is drunk. mel puts his agent in an awkward spot when he is drunk. personally, i hope he dries out somewhere and gets treatment to help him stay off the sauce. i dont really understand what roman polanski has to do with any of this: is this the non sequitor of the moment that the limbaugh crowd is throwing about? __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

08-01-2006, 12:28 PM	#22 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	Now the drunk hijack is interesting. For me I tend to get more of what my mood is when I get drunk. If I'm happy, I'm a happy nice drunk, if I'm pissed off I'm the pissed off mean drunk. There are times when a drink can make me more mellow, but from personal experiance I avoid drinking when I'm pissed/sad. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

08-01-2006, 12:34 PM	#23 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Yeah, never get drunk if you're in the mood to hijack something.

08-02-2006, 02:21 AM	#24 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Gibson's statement is for damage control. He may go to court. 140m/h on what road? Sounds very dangerous to me. Fuk him, I say.

08-02-2006, 03:31 AM	#25 (permalink)
Sgoilear Tilted Location: Colorado	I think the reason why the free metro paper printed less infomation might simply be space consideration. The free papers I've picked up in the past tend to only be pretty short and mainly focused on local issues where as larger papers can focus more on stories intended for blatant sensationalism. I honestly fail to see the point in news agencies reporting anything thats happened with Mel Gibson besides their attempt to attract viewers. Yes, he was drunk driving. Yes, he spat out anti semitic remarks. Yes, he really should apologize. If you took Mel Gibson out and replaced him with a random person off the street, we'd never have heard a whisper. I'm sure things like this happen with disapointing regularity and we never hear about it simply because no one in the public eye is involved. I'm not condoning his behavior, just saying that it's not even real news. __________________ "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." -George Bernard Shaw

08-02-2006, 06:58 AM	#27 (permalink)
Sticky	Gibson's latest appology: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movi...ent/index.html __________________ Sticky The Stickman

08-02-2006, 07:01 AM	#28 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I think you will find that Metro used an Associated Press story and that the Guardian used either one of their own writers or a stringer on the ground in LA. A syndicated AP story is generally going to favour being the dry side. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-02-2006, 07:25 AM	#30 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Now THAT'S an apology. applause Hope he sticks to it, and actually means it. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

08-02-2006, 07:58 AM	#31 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	A much 'better' apology but what is the difference really? Words are just words. Besides, I doubt he was the one who wrote it anyways. I personally don't care if he's a bigot or not, personal viewpoints won't keep me from watching his movies. I support everyone's right to be an ignorant bigot, as long as you aren't acting out your viewpoints on others. Sgoilear: Yes it is 'not news' but so is most of the 'news' the media corps throw at us. All that really matters is whether people want to hear about it. Back to the apology. I think its funny how people place such importance on apologies and saying the right things. People are so stupid. They are easily manipulated by statements prepared by professional writers. I guess it's a lot easier to listen to what a person says than it is to watch what they do.

08-02-2006, 08:19 AM	#32 (permalink)
krwlz Fledgling Dead Head Location: Clarkson U.	Mel Gibson is an actor.. And a good one at that in my opinion. I know a lot of anti-semites... But they aren't actors, so they don't get shit for spouting off at the mouth. My personal opinion is thus: So what? It's not like he went out and shot a jew. Shooting off at the mouth is never a good thing, but beliefs are beliefs, and nothing is going to change how he thinks. So... Let him keep acting, and directing, and anything else he does. If he's discriminating about working with jewish people, or in any other way harming jews, then we have an issue. But as it stands, I really don't see any issue here, past driving 140 while a wee bit tipsy.

08-02-2006, 11:08 AM	#34 (permalink)
Val_1 Addict Location: In a State of Denial	To me, the biggest issue here is the cops attempting to cover up his behavior. I don't agree with Mel's viewpoints. I've always felt that he was a sexist and a bigot, in this case he just proves it. But, since he isn't in any way my friend or neighbor there's nothing I can do to change that. But, when an official police document was about to be changed to remove all the evidence from a public record .... THAT is wrong! __________________ I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. -Frank Sinatra

08-02-2006, 02:14 PM	#36 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	I hear he (or his publicist) came out with a more to the point apology. Nevertheless, in vino veritas. Hardly surprising from the guy who wrote and directed "How the Jews Killed Jesus", better known as "The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre", sold as "Passion of the Christ". Hey Mel! Jesus was a Jewish liberal. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

08-03-2006, 07:40 AM	#40 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I can't believe this crap. There are people here crucifying the man for a drunken (free speech) tirade, and yet they argue and say they will fight for censorship. Hypocrites! Either Gibson had the right to say what he said and should face no retribution and thus free speech OR he should be condemned for the rantings of a drunken man and thus we all need watch what we say and Heaven forbid we ever get drunk and say something we regret. As for the Sheriff cover-up, the only reason anyone cares about what happened is he is a celebrity and people like to see famous people get into trouble and have problems..... it somehow allows us to feel better.... it's why soap operas are so big. He is being investigated for drunk driving and probably will be found guilty.... NOT for what he said. I cannot believe how quick we are to want to see blood and someone's carerr and life be destroyed because they made a mistake. There is also someone above who said something to the effect ".12 what a lightweight". Alcohol affects people differently. If you have drank long enough you experience a tolerence break where your liver is pretty much fried and you get drunk on low doses. This could be a reason, another could be he had been on a bender and the alcohol was wearing off. He could have been depressed that he relapsed and he had a tirade to point fingers as to why. Who knows..... not one of us were there, not one of the fucking talking head/gossip columnists were there. Speculation, rumors and gossip are pathetic ways to try a person. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"