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Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alcoholism

[Restored from another computer]

Mel Gibson has issued an apology of sorts. He acknowledges he said "despicable" things to a Sheriff's deputy and that he has been battling alcoholism all his life. [Background here and here.]

An investigation is underway in L.A. to determine whether he received preferential treatment by not including his allegedly anti-semitic comments in the first official report released to the media. The Sheriff's office says:

"There is no cover-up," [Sheriff Lee Baca] said. "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.

But Gibson has donated in the past to a charity spearheaded by Baca and provided other support to the Sheriff's department:

He served in 2002 as a "celebrity representative" for the L.A. Sheriff's Department's Star Organization, a group that provides scholarships and aid for the
children of slain sheriff's deputies. Gibson donated $10,000 to the stepdaughter of
a deputy shot and killed in the line of duty and filmed public service announcements for Baca's relief committee dressed in a sheriff's uniform.

From Gibson's statement:

"I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested," the statement reads, "and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are
despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said."

Gibson said he has battled alcoholism as an adult, adding, "I ... profoundly regret
my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health."

Gibson's blood-alcohol level was .12 Until recent years, the threshold for DUI in most states was .10. While MADD may disagree, I don't think .12 is any big deal. When I represented people charged with DUI's years ago, most were over .15 and many were over .20 I have to wonder whether Gibson's alleged anti-semitic and other belligerent comments were the result of his drinking or just a strategy move by his publicists, The public has a tendency to be forgiving of contrite alchohol and drug-abusing celebrities. Right now, I can't think of an anti-semitic celebrity who's gotten a pass. [decimel points corrected.]

While Gibson's apology is filled with self-flagellation for his driving while inebriated, his purported life-long alcoholism and his "belligerent" remarks to the arresting officer, it's also notable for its lack of reference to his alleged anti-semitic comments.

Interestingly, Gibson isn't beholden to the Hollywood studios these days since he mostly directs and is rich enough to independently finance his films but he's still dependent on box office revenues.

Studio executives noted that Gibson has made enough money that he doesn't
really rely on the studios as much as he once did because he can finance his
pictures independently. They even question whether Gibson wants to act, noting
that he has turned his talents to directing in recent years.....Gibson was the highest paid celebrity in 2004, earing $210 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The next year, he earned $185 million more, thanks largely to DVD sales of "The
Passion of the Christ," a worldwide blockbuster.

...."In Hollywood the main currency is currency. It's about box office," he said. "If
someone says something offensive but the movie makes a lot of money, it seems
all is forgiven. We've seen people recover from just about everything in Hollywood."

As to Passion of the Christ and Gibson's father's reported anti-semitism, the article also notes:

Gibson told ABC's Diane Sawyer in 2004 that the movie grew from a spiritual
rebirth he experienced in 1991, as he struggled with alcohol and other addictions.
"Drugs, booze, anything. You name it," Gibson said during the interview. "Coffee,
cigarettes, anything. All right? I'm just one of these guys who is like that. That's
my flaw."

....A March 2003 New York Times Magazine article quoted his father, Hutton Gibson, as dismissing historical accounts that 6 million Jews were exterminated in
the Holocaust.

I don't like to pre-judge anyone, but I can't help but think of the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

I can overlook Gibson's driving with an above-legal alcohol level but the alleged
anti-semitic comments, which he doesn't deny in his apology, are another matter.

Query: Is Mel Gibson a U.S. citizen? If not, now that he has publicly admitted
driving while intoxicated, if he pleads guilty, will he be in danger of being deported
if Congress passes the House version of the immigration reform bill? I can't wait
to see who he retains as his defense counsel. [Update: Gibson was born in the U.S. and raised in Australia. He is a U.S. citizen.]

Update: James Wolcott is great today on Gibson.

Update: Also read Ari Emanuel over at HuffPo.

....alcoholism does not excuse racism and anti-Semitism.

....At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements. People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line.

There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money.

Nicely put, Ari.

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    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#1)
    by Slado on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 06:18:17 AM EST
    I don't see how its the Sheriffs responsibility to confirm or deny the statements made by someone when they are making an arrest. Just because a hollywood website says he said the things he supposedly said doesn't mean the Sheriffs department should have to make statements confirming or denying. What does that have to do with the arrest? This is only a controversy becasue some Jewish groups have a hard on for Gibson because of their interpretation over the Passion. They see this as a way to justify their over the top reaction to the movie when it came out.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#2)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 06:55:21 AM EST
    What does that have to do with the arrest?
    from the article:
    The probe was begun after a celebrity news website, TMZ.com, published portions of the arresting deputy's handwritten report, saying the star was abusive, shouted anti-Jewish slurs, attempted to escape from custody and boasted that he "owned Malibu." A source close to the investigation confirmed Saturday that the pages posted by the website were authentic.
    This is only a controversy becasue some Jewish groups have a hard on for Gibson because of their interpretation over the Passion.
    Blame the jews ... that sounds familiar.

    Right now, I can't think of an anti-semitic celebrity who's gotten a pass.
    Does Jesse Jackson count as a celebrity? (To be fair, Jesse never made an entire movie dedicated to slamming Jewish people -- he just slammed NYC with an anti-Semitic insult). I'm pretty sure Gibson's a citizen -- as I recall, he was born in the US and raised overseas. Which means we're stuck with him, alas.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#4)
    by Slado on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 07:05:24 AM EST
    Sailor. Instead of worrying about what an overpaid celebrity may or maynot think of Jewish people I worry about the terrorists actually trying to kill Jewish people in Isreal. I see words as less destructive then suicde bombers and Katusha rockets. But that's just me. And when does noting a groups obvious bias towards Mr. Gibson for whatever reason count as "Blaming the Jews"?

    Posting this article here seems quite apt. An easy graphic at the bottom of the page and a bunch of related articles on the left. Alcohol being placed no further down the list than it should be. Alcohol was rated the fifth most harmful drug, ahead of some current class A drugs, while tobacco was listed as ninth. Cannabis, currently rated a class C drug, was below both those legal stimulants at 11th.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#6)
    by desertswine on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 08:32:57 AM EST
    "I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism...
    The devil made me to it. - Mel

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#7)
    by Slado on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 08:40:47 AM EST
    "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." ---David Frum

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#8)
    by roger on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 08:42:16 AM EST
    Oscar, interesting that solvents and GHB were listed as less harmfull than cannabis. Very strange, and very wrong

    Desertswine. I'm overcome with indifference as to what Gibson had his rant about. Purely on a personal level, the man being a christer, looses all credibility as a rational thinking human being. But to understand alcoholics it is with some wonder that it is only the Jews he blames. When alcohol gets it's grip the capacity for rational thinking goes flying out of the window and any woes that subsequently befall the alcoholic are everybodies fault but the drinker's.This trait is unarguable when dealing with the alcoholic. Alcohol is one heinous drug, it's effects and the damage it causes are far too well documented to bother listing here. And knowing this yet still do unenlightened governments lock people up for decades for partaking of their drug of choice. And those that advocate legalising pot, and pot alone, aren't you being a touch selfish by wanting only your drug of choice to be legalised. As long as alcohol is legaly available there surely can be no moral ground for incarcerating people who partake of their drug of choice. And to those that would quote me chapter and verse of all the evils of all the drugs think this; On my one visit to this planet I reject the right of some other, on his one visit to this to this planet, to set laws that would deny me the right pursue all avenues of experience that, without harm to others, I see fit.

    Roger. I was most surprised myself to see solvents at that position on the list, it would be interesting to know what yardstick was used to come up with that particular result.

    My bet is that Mel is as upset and frustrated with the current Isreal/Hezbollah situation as most of the TL posters seem to be, and that (and the Tequila) resulted in his comments. Had this happened while 9/11 was fresh, I imagine his tirade would have been anti-Muslem. Had this happened after the Rodney King riots, well, I think you can figure it out. Not that this excuses anything he said...

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#12)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 10:17:01 AM EST
    Interesting that Mel has so many apologists, while his mouth remains shut, except for the most general of apologies. He is clearly an anti-semite. What does that say about his defenders. Lots.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#13)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 10:51:53 AM EST
    My bet is that Mel is as upset and frustrated with the current Isreal/Hezbollah situation
    maybe, but he's always been a holocaust denier.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#14)
    by jondee on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 11:18:52 AM EST
    Talk about cognitive dissonance and screwing with the Rights fantasies. The maker of The Passion an anti-semite? Impossible. Completely out of the question. Consigning all Jews to eternal damnation isnt anti-semitic; only publicly criticizing the actions of the partnership between the U.S and Israeli Right is.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#15)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 11:42:39 AM EST
    I'm sure this will label me a "Mel apologist," but what I find interesting is the number of people who don't condemn him for a crime, one that put real people in danger, but do so for his comments while under the influence of alcohol, which is a right guaranteed to all of us. Ahh, well, I guess free speech is only cool is you agree with what the person is saying. I guess those same people would support the use of alcohol as truth serum. I think that consideration alone should illuminate the validity of taking their comments while intoxicated too seriously.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 11:53:19 AM EST
    Patrick-
    what I find interesting is the number of people who don't condemn him for a crime, one that put real people in danger, but do so for his comments while under the influence of alcohol, which is a right guaranteed to all of us.
    When someone is a public figure and Idol to many his speech has more weight than yours or mine. For the crime of DUI he was lucky and no one was harmed. The hate speech is a far greater crime in the court of world opinion. Oh, your relativism is a crock. Had he killed anywhere from 1 to 10,000 people while drunk that would be trump his anti-semitic remarks. It is interesting that the right wingers all seem to be rallying to apologize for, or qualify poor Mel's anti-semitism. Wonder why that is? Strange.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#17)
    by jondee on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 11:54:02 AM EST
    Critcizing what someone says isnt advocating the suppression of their speech rights.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#18)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:05:09 PM EST
    Squeaky, OK, I didn't know we were talking about the "court of world opinion." I can't wait to hear what the fine folks in Namibia and Tadjikistan are saying about it. I'll just sit back and apologize until I hear.
    It is interesting that the right wingers all seem to be rallying to apologize for, or qualify poor Mel's anti-semitism.
    Is that what they are doing, or looking at what appears to be a double standard?
    Critcizing what someone says isnt advocating the suppression of their speech rights.
    True and not true...To me it depends on the context.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#19)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:13:21 PM EST
    Patrick-OK, I meant to say the court of public opinion. You knew that. Your arguments are less than weak. Patrick would have us celebrate Mel's free speech while castigating him for DUI. Odd that the cop on the beat has not condemned him for it while wondering why no one else has either. Nice way to try to change the subject of Mel's rabid anti-semitism. It isn't working, Patrick, why not try a real hijack like Slado did and compare it to Kennedy or Clinton.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#20)
    by Slado on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:21:13 PM EST
    Squeaky I'm only pointing out you and others obvious double standard. You and others will blame Isreal first when there are actual lives on the line and defend crooked dictatorships and their surrogates at the UN but if a rich celebrity mouths off about Jews then these defenders of human rights will be first in line to remind us of the obvious crime in the court of "public opinion". I will wait until all the facts are out to Judge whether Mr. Gibson is actaully an anti-semite. If he is then he's a fool that makes good movies. There are a lot of those in Hollywood. Saying "Jews are responsible for all the wars" mathces up exactly with the court of "World Opinion". Maybe that's why you said it in the first place?

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#21)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:31:43 PM EST
    Odd that the cop on the beat has not condemned him for it while wondering why no one else has either.
    I'm not condemning him at all for either reason. I'm pointing out the double standard, that if you cannot see, there's no reason to continue this conversation further.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:36:05 PM EST
    Slado- Your inchoherent hijack is, well inchoherent. Why do you so badly want to change the subject?

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#23)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 12:56:15 PM EST
    Patrick-So let me get this right, Gibson's DUI arrest is equal or more important in the scope of things than his condeming a whole people for the sad state of the world. Mel Gibson is a movie star. He ranked #3 out of the top 100 celebrities in 2005. A bit of background:
    In spite of and because of the criticism, the movie [Passion of Christ] grossed US$611,899,420 worldwide ($370,782,930 in the US alone) and became the eighth highest-grossing film in history and the highest-grossing rated R film of all time. The ticket sales were boosted by the film attracting viewers who generally do not attend theaters, including entire church congregations attending together.
    When Mel speaks people listen. In terms of your suggesting what did not happen, like someone getting killed or hurt because of the DUI, what is the point of bringing that up? No one here brought up the fact that that he could have started a pogrom, or he could have shot someone in the face, now did they? Double standard my a$$. Why anyone would defend anti-semetic remarks is beyond me. Unless, it is, that they agree with Gibson.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#24)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 01:20:00 PM EST
    Patrick, what he said during the arrest, and the threats he made to the officers during the arrest are very relevant. Don't you note the tirades And I thought driving 87 in a 45 was just so egrgious that it didn't need mentioning as a bad thing. And I find it hard to believe that a .12 for an experienced drinker would make him say thiungs that weren't already in his heart. You might screech screeds at .2 and above, but .12 is barely a buzz for an alcoholic. In Vino Veritas?
    Squeaky I'm only pointing out you and others obvious double standard.
    Actually, we're pointing out YOUR double standard. We, on other threads, have been pointing out that 700 dead Lebanese civilians is a greater crime than 18 dead israeli civilians. I know that I would have condemned Lebanon if it was the other way 'round, and I suspect the others would have done the same. You have consistently been a fan of the dispraportionate response israel has displayed, yet you think Mel's blatant anti-semitic remarks are A-OK. You are the one who is duplicitious, we are consistent. BTW, I did notice that as soon as I had shown your original post to be mistaken, you just moved the goal posts.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#25)
    by Aaron on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 01:36:23 PM EST
    repost I applaud Mr. Gibson's ability to step forward and apologize for the statements he made and acknowledging how unacceptable such outbursts are. It shows some responsibility and character and he deserves respect for this. I think it's important to remember that oftentimes when people are under the influence of alcohol they reveal their deeper feelings, conscious and otherwise, without regard for consequences. Perhaps this incident will lead him to confront some of his prejudices and maybe even grow as a human being. I just hope the road warrior stays off the road while he's under the influence of alcohol, so that he will not have to live with the monstrous guilt he will surely feel should he kill or cripple another human being while driving drunk. Such behavior should never be overlooked by anyone, unless you're willing to take partial responsibility for the death and injury which occurs as a result of your leniency. In my view taking such a position is extremely irresponsible. I for one will not condemn Mel -- an actor who has created some very fine entertainment -- simply because he harbors prejudices. In some ways it is perhaps a very good thing to see a prominent public figure expose and confront such deep prejudices in his personal and professional life. I think it's far better to have these human failings revealed in a larger-than-life figure, so that he and others will be forced to confront these prejudices, as opposed to harboring them in secret and silence. His apology, regardless of its motivation, allows me find forgiveness for him, and embrace him as a fellow human being who falters and falls at times but picks himself up and tries to make amends, perhaps even a bit wiser for the experience.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#26)
    by Slado on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 01:58:17 PM EST
    Sailor I must agree with you that .12 does not make for someone who can't control what they say. Drink 3 beers in an hour and you will easily top .12. When I was at the Tropical Ilse on Bourbon street I blew a .31 and my freinds got free drinks and even then I wouldn't be so drunk as to yell anti semetic, racist or anything that I wouldn't usually say. So though we don't agree on much you make a great point about the .12. He's a boob that said stupid things and is now back tracking and using alchohal as an excuse. So be it. I still love his movies. Come on Braveheart? Awesome.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#27)
    by soccerdad on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 02:23:10 PM EST
    Come on Braveheart? Awesome.
    Why am I not surprised. MadMax does Scotland, followed by MadMax does America, followed by MadMax goes biblical.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 02:29:36 PM EST
    Yes, I am a big fan of Road Warrior and Gibson's role in it. I would never invite the guy into my house though. I also love Wagner's Tristan and Isolde and think that Fischer did more for chess in America than anyone has. Fischer and Wagner are and were big a$$holes though. Mustn't throw the baby out with the bath-water. Praise Gibsons acting all you want, it is his public speech that is unacceptable and should be condemned.

    Sailor... have been pointing out that 700 dead Lebanese civilians is a greater crime than 18 dead israeli civilians. Leave it to the left to make such a daft comparison! Crimes? This is war! When you are at war, the idea is to kill more of them they they of you. It's not that hard to comprehend.. well maybe then again...for some...it is. BTW..any idea how many of those 700 are actually civilians? I didn't think so! But just run with those numbers....because we all know the press is never biased.

    I would never invite the guy into my house though.
    Based on his comments (Noonan and DUI arrest)? Or other reasons?

    The one movie of his that I had the misfortune of seeing recently (since it was on cable) that really bugged me was called The Patriot . He played the title character of a heroic plantation owner for chrissakes (no pun intended) whose slaves just loved him. I didn't see the Jesus snuff flick but I live in a very superstitious (err religious) area and there were parents bringing their toddlers along to see the gorefest! Anyway, the guy is just one more alcoholic who thinks he's on a mission from god almighty. And hey, while a speeding Lexus is bad enough, at least he doesn't control the world's largest nookular arsenal.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#32)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 03:17:16 PM EST
    Based on his comments (Noonan and DUI arrest)? Or other reasons?
    Based on the fact that he is a bigot, sexist and egomaniac. He seems just plain gross. Not my type of guy.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#33)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 03:23:12 PM EST
    Don't you note the tirades
    Sometimes, in general terms, or more specific if they are relevant to a charge. I didn't know that was an issue here, have I said otherwise?
    And I find it hard to believe that a .12 for an experienced drinker would make him say thiungs that weren't already in his heart. You might screech screeds at .2 and above, but .12 is barely a buzz for an alcoholic. In Vino Veritas?
    Well that's the same old argument, dusted off with a new spin. We don't know what his tolerance level is. I, myself, would be passed out at .12, but have seen hardcore alcoholics function at .20 and above. If he's been sober for some time, his tolerance could be much lower. Yours is an assumption I don't think we can make.
    Squeaky I'm only pointing out you and others obvious double standard.
    Did I say that? I recall talking about double standards, but I think in more vague terms. Actually, reading your comment I think you must be confusing me with someone else or directing the comments to another poster. I don't think I've moved any goalposts...Cheerleaders maybe..
    Drink 3 beers in an hour and you will easily top .12.
    I don't think that's quite right. The link is a kinda cool link for theoretical BAC's. At 100 pounds, drinking 3 beers in 1 hour would make you around a .07, and that seems consistent with my experience.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#34)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 03:36:15 PM EST
    I'm pointing out the double standard, that if you cannot see, there's no reason to continue this conversation further.
    Did I say that? I recall talking about double standards, but I think in more vague terms.
    Oh maybe I don't see the double standard because it is just too "vague".

    Squeaky, fair enough. I've been around him a few times, and while he may be all of those things some of the time, imo, based on my experience, he's none of those things most of the time. Again, not that this excuses anything he said...

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#36)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 04:12:44 PM EST
    Patrick, I was a victim of circumstances;-) I never meant to connect those 2 quotes to what you said, the first was for you, the second was for slado. I should have separated them better. And in my state, cops note everything, including a 'nasty look', in the police report. And judges take it into account when they sentence you. I don't believe you would pass out at .12, tho you might vomit if you are a non-drinker. Passing out is an extreme device used by the body to inhibit more intake, but vomiting is the 1st recourse when you ingest poison. BTW, if that BAC calc was correct, I could have 3 bloody marys in an hour and pass a BAC test ... I have had 3 bloody marys in an hour and I couldn't drive a bar stool to the jakes.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#37)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 04:58:33 PM EST
    Sailor, I confess, I'm a non-drinker, but when I used to drink with the fellas we had a poker party and checked everyone before the left. I was a .07 and felt kneewalking drunk, wouldn't have ever even thought of driving, and I had a pretty good tolerance back then. At .12 I'da soiled myself, then passed out. Very ugly. As for noting everything in a report, that's a very hard bar to meet. There's so much that goes on in even the most generic of contacts, you'd have an 8 page report for everything. Nope, as Joe Friday said, just the facts.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#38)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:00:34 PM EST
    Oh maybe I don't see the double standard because it is just too "vague".
    Probably, subtlety is lost on the extremists

    Great post Aaron. Hate begets hate, judgementalism begets judgementalism, and ignorance begets ignorance (yea it's a little over the top). At some point we have to give a crap about each other and believe in the best of human nature. I wish Mel well and hope he addresses his problems. As Marvin Gaye said "only love will conquer hate." B

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#40)
    by Aaron on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 12:06:28 AM EST
    A note about about parental responsibility specifically the responsibility that Mel Gibson's father bears for his current dilemma. Most people think about the consequences of actions in a rather different way following zygote creation (children). Perhaps tempering some of our more Conquistadorin tendencies. You see the consequence when this fails to occur as in the case of Hutton Gibson. Someone who actively worked to keep fires burning, as so many do. I can't overlook the connection between Mel Gibson's outburst and what's happening right now in the Middle East. This same exact thing occurring between father and son in an untold number of homes as I write this, poisoning and polluting the minds of the young. There is no greater crime in my estimation. I read a couple of sociologists blogs, who tout the importance of family, but when your family irreparably damages you, stripping you of important decision-making abilities when it comes to judging other individuals? You've been tragically impaired intentionally, and this impairment has a very specific and insidious purpose. I don't think It would be completely out of the realm of clinical description to say that ethnic and cultural, religious and racial prejudices are nothing short of an emotional disease brought about by psychological conditioning. Manifestations of which have perhaps served us in our early primate development, and in early battles to control resources on this planet, but we've come to a point where if we don't start working together, our survival as a species will be in serious jeopardy very shortly. I'd say the speedy development of our intellect has to a great degree left our emotional evolution in the dust, impairing our creative ability to cope with what we have available in a modern society. Where I think most rational people agree, the more human beings cooperate the better things get for everybody. That's not just some utopian ideal. Somehow I was expected better things from the people in the 21st century, but I guess that was foolish knowing the people of the 20th. I wonder what this planet will try when we're gone. You think our Gods will still be interested in an earth without people, or will they move on and make new toys somewhere else.

    Aaron, you are really starting to get on my nerves with all these balanced comments. Can't you follow the trend and always, always see a "left" and "right" side of a story?? If we want balance, we have c-span. Oh and Oscar,
    Purely on a personal level, the man being a christer, looses all credibility as a rational thinking human being.
    was this really necessary? Get your point across, but please try and hide these moronic tendencies.

    Re: Mel Gibson Apologizes, Blames Behavior on Alco (none / 0) (#42)
    by Slado on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 06:35:10 AM EST
    Seriously Aaron, either have an obvious bias or agenda or stop posting. I'm sorry but you can get to a .07 very quickly. What is this website? Remember that blood alchohol levels are reletive. Someone can not be that drunk and experience the same feelings as someone who is very drunk if they aren't an experienced drinker. Unfortunately I am one of those. Like anything with lots of practice you get batter at handling intoxication. I still maintain at a .12 he was no where near drunk enough to justify the statements he is accused of saying. I wouldn't take them as factual since only one website has stood behind them but if he did say them being "drunk" is no excuse. "Would you be willing, to trade all the years from this day to that, for just one chance, one chance, to tell our enemies, that they can take our lives, but they can never take our FREEDOM!!!!" I think I'll watch it again tonight.

    London Man. You are quite right, my comments to that effect were far from necessary given the subject matter. I shall consider myself suitably chastised.