Liam Neeson reveals some ugliness...

Before you read this post listen to his comments. Please. People deserve to be judged on what they said.

So what do you think?

Me? Well I loved Neeson before, but honestly… This confession both humanized him to me and was endearing… …at first; but in the end he’s an actor/public figure so… I don’t trust it. I feel he could be using a dark period of his past for publicity… God. This is highly cynical but that is what I feel.

Alright, what’s your opinion?

I think he is being genuine. And I think his reaction to the rape is not uncommon at all. People go through the ‘stages of grief’ after their loved ones are victims of violent crime & that sounds like he was in the ‘anger’ stage (which can be quite irrational), but he moved past it.

I’m not sure. I love Liam and his movies. If it’s true, he really dodged a bullet. If it’s a publicity stunt it’s reprehensible. I don’t think I believe he actually went looking for some guy to kill. I think maybe he thought it and fantasized he would get revenge.

In an effort to provide more context and understand to his story Liam Neeson went on GMA this morning.

Assuming he’s being honest, bigoted feelings like that in response to terrible things are deplorable, but still very common and even human, when living in a profoundly bigoted society. Admitting that one has had bigoted feelings in the past is fine, as long as one recognizes that those feelings were and are terrible, as Neeson seems to.

Sure, he’s an actor. But I can’t really see any reason he’d lie about this. What would such a lie accomplish?

He seems to be genuinely horrified by the bigotry and hatred of his youthful self.
Considering where and when he grew up it is hardly surprising that he, or his contemporaries would be capable of such thoughts towards a real or imagined “other” group. It happened all the time along sectarian lines rather than skin colour.
Taking time to think for a minute, it should be obvious that this is a hopeful story. People are capable of learning and changing and that should be celebrated. There’s no need to punish Neeson for the thoughts of his younger self. How will that help?

I think this acts as decent litmus test for those who would discuss race-relations. If you cannot interpret this in anything other than a negative light then you are clearly not arguing in good faith.

I think anyone who says that they have never harbored a bigoted thought or feeling is lying to themselves and others.

I did some racist things in my youth I’m not proud of. I grew out of it. It’s unfair and judgmental to assume Neeson didn’t.

I heard Piers Morgan’s condemnation of what Neeson said before I heard what Neeson said, so I automatically assumed it wasn’t that bad. Because if Morgan’s for it, I’m agin it.

Having now heard Neeson’s remarks… he openly admits why he felt the way he felt, that it was a short-term emotional reaction and that when it passed he was and remains horrified by it. Assuming all that is true and not merely an excuse for broader racist feelings (and I have yet to see evidence for that), I can’t really condemn him for it.

Would there have been any comment at all if the colour had been white instead of black?

Given the current political mood I suspect less but certainly you can insert any “other” group or minority into his scenario and he’d probably be getting a degree of publicity.
I don’t know which side of the sectarian divide he sits but I can easily imagine him telling the same story of a home-town experience where he sets off with the intent to murder catholics/protestants and that’d probably garner more attention in NI and less in NY but the story remains essentially the same.

I really wish he hadn’t used the words “black bastard.” I know he was describing how he felt at the time, but the way he said it made it sound like that’s how he currently feels about black people. His wording could have been better. Still, he made it clear that after some time passed and his head cleared, he was ashamed of himself.

I’ll give Neeson credit for honesty. I’m sure many people have had similar thoughts and feelings, but few ever confess to them, even years later. There’s little to be gained from it.

Neeson has made a specialty of revenge stories. I’d like to see him make a movie showing how revenge can go horribly wrong, and how twisted it is to blame a group for the actions of an individual.

John Barnes: ‘Liam Neeson deserves a medal’

I thought Mr. Barnes comments were interesting and on-target.

There’s nothing unusual about wanting to lash out at a group that severely harmed someone you care about.

The feeling passes and life goes on.

Liam did nothing wrong. He’s a human being with normal emotions.

Can we be clear that a group didn’t harm Liam Neeson’s friend? A single person did.

A group? It was an individual that caused the harm.

Liam saw it as a group. A black guy raped his friend.

It could have been a Hispanic, Irish, Italian, or Arab.

It’s natural to initially blame the group. But, the feeling of hatred passes quickly.

It’s called being human.

I’m surprised Liam ever said anything publicly. That sort of intense anger is better left unsaid.

The right answer, ace, was “I’m sorry; I phrased that poorly. Thank you for pointing out my error and giving me a chance to correct myself.”

I’m not saying anything different from Liam.

We all want to lash out when a loved one is hurt. Who we blame doesn’t make sense in the heat of anger. This kind of anger is primal and deep within our dna.

What matters is we don’t actually carry out those feelings of rage. It’s what makes us civilized.