The Story That Wouldn’t Die

The left, particularly will not let the Mel Gibson scandal. My Anti-blogger Radical Russ shows why.

First, he’d very much like to discredit the passion of the Christ. Russ implies the passion is a three hour movie full of Jews beating up Jesus. He writes very much like someone who never saw the two hour movie, where the grisly torture was done by the Romans. Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s view of the Passion of the Christ was that it was not anti-semetic, and that has not changed, even in light of recent events. He points out even, “In fact every poll revealed an increase in philo-Semitic feeling among viewers of The Passion.” Liberal film critic Roger Ebert said the film wasn’t anti-semetic. Not enough for Russ and other liberals who’d like to subtlely suggest the whole New Testament is anti-semetic.

Second, Russ has some other beefs with Mel:

It’s not like he’s a first-time offender. Pam’s already blogged about Mel’s homobigoted comments from the 90s.

Yes, and homosexuality has what to do with anti-semetism? Nothing, but it’s a great opportunity to get someone. Of course, this has little to do with an aversion to anti-semetism. As Lapin writes:

I have no way of knowing what is in Mel Gibson’s heart, but I do know that he has no need to act obsequiously towards Jews or curry favor with us. If Gibson never makes another film, he will still be able to buy gas for his Lexus. He is not a politician trying to win an election after an imprudent remark, like Georgia State Rep. Billy McKinney, who blamed “J-E-W-S” after his daughter, U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, was defeated in a congressional primary in 2002.

By the way, there was virtually no Jewish criticism of that remark for which there was little apology and which was not made while Billy was drunk. More cynical observers than I suggest it might have something to do with the McKinneys being Democrats.

The same explanation could probably be advanced for why Marlon Brando’s infamous outburst on Larry King Live, about the “kikes” running Hollywood also received pretty much of a free pass. And Brando was sober.

Film maker and Democratic propagandist, Michael Moore has made the most preposterous statements about Israel for which he has never apologized and for which the Jewish community has never criticized him. For instance he has identified Israel as one of the epicenters of evil in the world, and he has explained how “..Arabs came up with the idea that Americans are supporting Israel in its oppression of the Palestinian people when a Palestinian child looked up in the air and saw an American Apache helicopter firing a missile into his baby sister’s bedroom just before she was blown into a hundred bits.”

Yet, Gibson publicly apologized and the Jewish response was so beyond ungracious that one must ask what exactly would Gibson have had to do or say in order to win Jewish absolution? Furthermore one would have to ask why would any rampant bigot even bother to do this?

I don’t expect the much-beloved Michael Moore or Cynthia McKinney to be repudated by Russ or Pam Spaulding (for whom he currently blogs). Can Russ say with certainty that Michael Moore wouldn’t “blame the Jews” in a moment of drunkeness, after four or perhaps (due to his weight) six beers making similar comments to Gibson’s?

If you want to see leftist bigotry in action, witness Pam Spaulding’s nickname for Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Ct.) “Holy Joe”

This is not because Lieberman takes radical pro-life stances (he voted against banning partial birth abortion,) or is anti-homosexual. No, Senator Lieberman gets the nickname because he’s an Orthodox Observant Jew and doesn’t fit the paradigm of unserious self-hating anti-Israel Jew that liberals have come to expect. You see, liberals will be tolerant as long as you hold to their party lines. From their viewpoint, if you’re a minority, you’d better be grateful for all their work to deliver you from intellectual and material oppression, so you better walk the party line–or else!

Brandi Swindell had a far more relevant observation on her blog today. She writes

Mel Gibson is being attacked publicly when other movie producers have not been held to the same standard.

Director, producer, and actor Woody Allen married his adopted daughter. Roman Polanski fled to France after he had sexual relations with a thirteen year old girl to avoid jail.

Both these men are still celebrated and acclaimed directors.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have both made harsh anti-Semitic comments and are still respected public figures.

It is important to make it clear that Mel Gibson’s comments were wrong and go against the teaching of Scripture. But we must remember that Mel Gibson is very apologetic and embarrassed. The heart of Christianity is forgiveness and healing the wounded.

My father has battled alcoholism for 20 years. It is a very bad place to be. I understand first-hand the process of recovery and how important it is to pray. Mel Gibson’s decision to check himself into rehab and meet with Jewish leaders shows this hit home, and he is willing to take personal responsibility for his actions.

Forgiveness is particularly key in racial matters. If, as Russ suggests, someone being racially insensitive is reason not to “forgive” racial insensitivity, a barrier is placed up between the offended and the offender. If the offender apologizes, he knows he’ll get lorded over. So why apologize? No repentance, no pennance, will be good enough to satisfy.

Now, if you’re a political party that thrives on Blacks and Whites and Jews and Christians being at each other’s throats, this isn’t a problem. It’s only a problem if you care about the type of country you live in and you want healing of racial and ethnic wounds to occur.

Linked to Stop the ACLU.

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