# Mel Gibson **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636 "2006-07-31T00:48:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/1 "2006-07-31T00:48:31Z")
Early reports are that when Gibson was stopped for suspected drunk driving he cut loose with a bunch of profane anti-semitism. Makes you wonder if there was something to the criticism of his portrayal of the Jews in _The Passion of The Christ._ ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/2 "2006-07-31T00:49:44Z")
He’s now apologized for “dispicable” remarks as well as his DUI, which seems to me means that those reports have some truth to them. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/3 "2006-07-31T00:54:26Z")
What was objectionable about his portrayal of Jews in TPOTC? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/4 "2006-07-31T00:56:16Z")
A link to the supposed [police report](http://cdn.digitalcity.com/tmz_documents/gibson_wm_docs_072806.pdf) and a story from [TMZ](http://www.tmz.com/) whatever that is. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/5 "2006-07-31T01:02:14Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > What was objectionable about his portrayal of Jews in TPOTC? [Interview with ADL](http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/gibson_qa.asp) Above is a link to an interview with the anti-defamation league (ADL) that discusses the concerns that many Jewish, Catholic and Protestant leaders have with the biblical accuracy and anti-semetic slant of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/6 "2006-07-31T01:21:40Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > [Interview with ADL](http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/gibson_qa.asp) > Above is a link to an interview with the anti-defamation league (ADL) that discusses the concerns that many Jewish, Catholic and Protestant leaders have with the biblical accuracy and anti-semetic slant of the movie. Good thing that the ancient Romans do not have any connections to the ADL, eh? I don’t think they were portrayed as caring folk either. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/7 "2006-07-31T01:35:40Z")
> [@ASAKMOTSD](#): > > Good thing that the ancient Romans do not have any connections to the ADL, eh? I don’t think they were portrayed as caring folk either. :rolleyes: 😕 Well, that was kind of snide… I think the ancient Romans have a lot less to worry about regarding how they are potrayed than a few million modern day Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/8 "2006-07-31T02:13:22Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > [Interview with ADL](http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/gibson_qa.asp) Well, got something other from the ADL? Criminy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/9 "2006-07-31T02:27:59Z")
> [@](#): > > “The Passion of the Christ” is a visually powerful portrayal of Jesus’ final hours that shares much with traditional Passion plays. Regrettably, this includes much of their anti-Jewish legacy along with more positive aspects. It encourages misunderstanding of the role of Jews and their leaders in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ death; it includes gratuitous anti-Jewish portrayals; and its promotion by Christians has largely ignored the pain and concern of the Jewish community about the film. In conformity with the statements of many church bodies repudiating the “teaching of contempt” towards Jews and Judaism, we call on Christians to be aware of these anti-Jewish aspects and to take active steps to mitigate their influence. First appropiate Google, from [Jewish-Christian Relations](http://www.jcrelations.net/en/?id=2353) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/10 "2006-07-31T02:34:46Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Well, got something other from the ADL? Criminy. Good gracious :dubious: . The original question I was answering was (to paraphrase) “what was the anti-semitism” in TPOTC?" Who better to explain that point of view than the group asserting the anti-semitism? The ADL interview clearly defines the point of view that there was anti-semitism in the movie. That was the focus of the question and that was a perfectly fine answer. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/11 "2006-07-31T04:04:51Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > He’s now apologized for “dispicable” remarks as well as his DUI, which seems to me means that those reports have some truth to them. Actually, Gibson didn’t apologize at all. His PR spokesman read a statement. Alcohol is a mind altering drug and one of the ways the mind is altered is to reduce inhibitions. I once had a guy that worked for me who I thought was a “mean drunk.” He seemed fine normally but after a few drinks he got ugly. After I retired I worked part time for him for a year or so and discovered that it wasn’t the alcohol that made him mean. He was just an asshole when in a position of authority and the alcohol brought it out when he wasn’t. I have difficulty believing that anyone can come out with Jew hating language drunk if they don’t privately think that way sober. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/12 "2006-07-31T04:26:28Z")
For a long time (until 1972, I think), it was the RCC’s official policy that the Jews were collectively guilty for killing Christ. Which justified a lot of persecution and pogroms. I think their sensitivity on that point is understandable. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/13 "2006-07-31T04:46:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > For a long time (until 1972, I think), it was the RCC’s official policy that the Jews were collectively guilty for killing Christ. Which justified a lot of persecution and pogroms. I think their sensitivity on that point is understandable. Isn’t pogrom Russian? That wouldn’t be RCC. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/14 "2006-07-31T06:00:36Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Isn’t pogrom Russian? That wouldn’t be RCC. According to my Merriam-Webster _Collegiate_ it’s Yiddish taken from the Russian meaning “devastation.” It’s now an English word. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/15 "2006-07-31T09:14:42Z")
When inebriated (OK, totally drunk) some of us are happy and others are mean. In the latter case, alcohol brings out the worst in people. The worst is clearly somewhere inside them already. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/16 "2006-07-31T10:39:36Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Isn’t pogrom Russian? That wouldn’t be RCC. Ok. Then it’s the orthodox church that felt the same way. That makes it _much_ better. I’d say that makes it all the more reasonable that Jews are a bit touchy on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/17 "2006-07-31T12:33:51Z")
Oh for God’s sake, we’re still rehashing POTC? Mel just needs to take the core of that movie’s message much more seriously in his life. As for the anti-semitic crap he did spew, alas, there probably is a lot residing in his subconscious due to his dad’s influence. When in completely sound mind, he knows better but when impaired, that junk springs to the top. A comparison- to me, the worst profanity is something on the order of “J\*\*\*\* F\*\*\*\*\*\* C\*\*\*\*\*”, and I’ve never said it, BUT when I’m really mad, guess what profanity springs to mind. The ADL’s opinions on just about anything C’tian or conservative do not hold much water for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/18 "2006-07-31T12:43:02Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > I have difficulty believing that anyone can come out with Jew hating language drunk if they don’t privately think that way sober. I have to agree with this. I had heard the accusations when POTC came out, but I never saw the movie. This comes across as something more entrenched. I will now begin a personal boycott of Mel Gibson. Too bad, because I wanted to see Apocolypto, but I can’t see myself giving Gibson any tacit approval for his words and actions. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/19 "2006-07-31T13:59:52Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Isn’t pogrom Russian? That wouldn’t be RCC. The **work** is Yiddish, as noted, but wherever it comes from, many events fitting the name happened in Latin Christendom over the centuries. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636/20 "2006-07-31T14:01:23Z")
Sorry, I meant the **word** is Yiddish . . . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-gibson/366636.md?page=2)