Mel's epiphany

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Here's how hatred and prejudice are pried loose from the grooves of the brains of bigots. They are told by an aroused world community that if they don't flush them down the toilet in a demonstrable and thoroughly believable way they are dead in the water as far as any commercial aspirations are concerned. They do what the world tells them to do not because they've "seen the light", but because they want to survive and thrive. Sometimes friendly persuasion doesn't do it. Sometimes a chasm opens up, the heart goes ballistic, the mind races and the waters part. And in this sense, what happened to Mel Gibson in Malibu two days ago may finally prove to be one of the most enlightening, wisdom-bequeathing turns in the road he's ever experienced. And hail to that. God works in mysterious ways.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 30, 2006 at 9:41 AM

comment #1

Mathew says ...

I'm not sure what you're getting at. Are you suggesting we lobotomize Mel Gibson for being who he is?

Posted by Mathew at July 30, 2006 10:18 AM

comment #2

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Wells to Matthew: Are you suggesting you can't read? I'm saying Gibson doesn't have a choice, and that his troubles may, in a roundabout way, become his salvation. Either he purges himself of his anti-Semitism in a very convincing and persistent way, or he'll be forever tainted and probably dead with a large segment of the public. I was very clear about this in the item. From such situations the seeds of enlightenment and profound change are sometimes sewn.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at July 30, 2006 11:11 AM

comment #3

Lisa says ...

Isn't he sorry just because he was caught? You reckon that someone as rich and as surrounded by yesmen as he is - will see the light? Honest question - no sarcasm.

Posted by Lisa at July 30, 2006 12:38 PM

comment #4

Mathew says ...

If a sober Mel Gibson would of sat down and quiety discussed how and why he feels Jews are behind all of the wars (which they are not) then I could see how one would see him being "looney".

However getting drunk, driving and then ranting off at a police officer about "jews starting all of the wars.." is Mel just being human and suffering under the duress of his situation. I'm not condoning his behavior or that he doesn't harbor prejudices; however I don't see how his personal purging has any consequence on the real issue of the current middle east conflict that instigated his behavior.

I made the lobotomy comment based on the extreme tone of your post and your calling Mel a "looney" in the past. If Mel can't purge himself then let's throw him into the Cuckoo's Nest, try some shock treatment and if that fails we'll just cut out his frontal lobe and then society will be at once safe again.

Posted by Mathew at July 30, 2006 12:43 PM

comment #5

Mathew says ...

"Isn't he sorry just because he was caught?"

I don't think so. I'm sure he feels stupid and truly embarrassed about the incident. There are people who are Mr. Hydes while drunk. My grandfather for example was the most even tempered person that I knew. However thirty years earlier in his life he had a severe drinking problem that made him mean spirited and intolerable to live with. The demons that Mel Gibson may have are no different than many other peoples it's just that he is unable to contain them while under the influence.

Posted by Mathew at July 30, 2006 1:05 PM

comment #6

Daniel Zelter says ...

Jeff: Does Mel even need to be "popular" with the public anymore? He's set for life. Even if Apocalypto flops, he'll have plenty of cash to dry his tears.

Mat: What "duress"? I think most working actors would be lucky to reach Mel's level of financial security at that age.

Posted by Daniel Zelter at July 30, 2006 1:07 PM

comment #7

Lisa says ...

ok but if he is anti semetic - and I am just saying if here - then really why would he change?

If that's not the case then he has my sympathy that he is being mis-represented.

Posted by Lisa at July 30, 2006 3:57 PM

comment #8

Mike Gebert says ...

Zinger from a rightwinger (David Frum): "If a drunken Mel Gibson did indeed call out, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," then there can be only one possible place for a man who believes such things: as the next Secretary General of the United Nations."

Posted by Mike Gebert at July 30, 2006 4:05 PM

comment #9

judy says ...

I am feeling very stupid here Jeff but I just don't understand what you are getting at. Do you mean that he is going to change his way of thinking when he is sober? Are we able to control what flies out of our mouths when we are really drunk? There are a lot of questions and no real answers.

Posted by judy at July 30, 2006 5:01 PM

comment #10

Anonymous says ...

You had me til the God part. Well, actually you lost me when you said he doesn't have a choice too, but whatever. At least no one was raped though he did say he wanted to fuck that police officer.

Posted by Anonymous at July 30, 2006 7:06 PM

comment #11

Anonymous says ...

Wells to Judy: My last stab at this. I'm saying he has no choice but to profess a sincere and profound change of heart regarding his views abotu Jews -- no choice because he's toast with a lot of people if he doesn't. The act of "saying" he doesn't believe in anti-Semitic viewpoints and proving it in this or that way may lead him, I'm saying, to an absolutely genuine refutation of these views. The initial public demonstration that Gibson doesn't subscribe to anti-Semitic views (because it'll be good p.r.) may lead him, I'm saying, to an actual, real-deal turnaround. Without the DUI in Malibu, he would have just cruised along thinking what he thinks. Now he has to do a major re-examination, and that's a good thing.

Posted by Anonymous at July 30, 2006 7:45 PM

comment #12

Mathew says ...

"....he would have just cruised along thinking what he thinks."

And what would be wrong with that? Really it's rather tiring debating this about someone who can comfortably live the rest of his life without ever making another film.

I just find it fascinating that you're more concerned about him 'purging' his anti-semitic demons rather than his drinking problem. It shows to me that you've lived in the Hollywood bubble for too long. A world where if you kill yourself in a car crash or OD on drugs you become an icon.

Posted by Mathew at July 30, 2006 8:40 PM

comment #13