Warning: Rant On.

1. What Mel Gibson said when he was drunk was wrong and stupid.

2. But this is also wrong and stupid, and childish.

Yeah the man was wrong, he apologized. You want to pile on and call him anti-semitic, fine, brand him and get it over with. But as Yeshua said, don’t be so quick to cast the first stone.

You know I work among people of Jewish faith and have for many years and as a Christian I have put up with my share of their stupid and quite frankly offensive remarks made towards my faith by them as well. This was no more true than when the Passion of the Christ was coming out.

Make no mistake, I call other on the their anti-semtic behavior when need be, just as when I see prejudice against any qroup. I find any kind of prejudice offensive to the nth degree.

But to hammer the guy into oblivion over this stupid incident – for which he apologized for twice – is in itself offensive and frankly pissing me off. Seriously, I wonder if this vitrol is at all aimed at the success of The Passion, in spite of efforts of the ADL at the time to “demonize” it. It just seems obvious at this point. Many in Hollywood were NOT happy with the success of the movie. Gibson drunken behavior surely gave them the opening they’ve been looking for. Not that it means that all this is over “jealousy” – people are mad and I understand that – but if the shoe fits, like wear it.

Well you know, to err is human…..forgiveness, as Father Johnathan who actually worked with Mel for two years:

“Yesterday, on FOX News Radio with Spencer Hughes, I applauded Mr. Foxman for his nobility in having accepted Mel‚Äôs apology. Today, however, I was surprised to see Mr. Foxman‚Äôs op-ed in the New York Post which calls into question Mel‚Äôs sincerity:

“I’m still skeptical because these are still words from his handlers ‚Äî the same people who brought you the first statement that didn’t acknowledge his anti-Semitism. I’d like to hear from the man himself. These words are still from his handlers ‚Äî Mel Gibson’s words in the police blotter, we know those are from him.”

If Mr. Foxman thinks Mel’s handlers wrote and distributed the statement without Mel’s full consent, he doesn’t know Mel Gibson. To ask for yet another apology is out of place and, in my opinion, reflects badly on the organization Mr. Foxman represents.

Mel’s deplorable comments came from somewhere. In his inebriated state, he revealed what was on his mind in a given moment. Together with Mel, I condemn his statements about Jewish people and say they are not true. But I praise him for what is on his mind now, in cold and reflective sobriety, as expressed in his first apology and his subsequent letter to the Jewish community.

Now is a time for forgiveness. Mel has asked for it. We should give it.”

Amen.

Rant off.