By CAROLE ORLIN
I don’t know if Mel Gibson reads the Santa Monica Daily Press. I suspect that someone who knows him personally probably does read our paper. I would respectfully ask you to share my thoughts with Mr. Gibson.
Mel, if you want all of this to go away, start by telling the truth. If you are an anti-Semite, admit it and then you can engage in an authentic dialogue with the Jewish leaders with whom you say you want to meet.Your constant denials, along with some celebrity friends coming forward to say you are not an anti-Semite, is tiring. Do you really think anyone doubts that you are an anti-Semite? The rumors and stories have been swirling for years. Are you denying your anti- Semitism because you are afraid of losing fans? By not taking a stand, you risk losing both your anti-Semitic fans, who are angry with you for your weak apologies, along with your non, anti-Semitic fans, who are turned off by hateful vitriol. Perhaps you have made a careful calculation that overall you have gained some fans and lost some others, with a net effect of evening out in the end. Though, I’m sure you are now the hero of the white supremacists and Islamic-fascists. Hey, a fan is a fan. Money is money. You don’t really need Hollywood anymore.
I have never understood why people in the public eye deny their guilt when the facts point to a contrary conclusion. This reminds me of the Clinton-Lewinsky farce, the Nixon- Watergate scandal and the Ken Lay-Enron debacle. Do these people really think the American public is so stupid? Mel, you know that in AA, one of their very important tenets is: “You’re as sick as your secrets.” If you are serious about getting and remaining sober,you need to admit to yourself and others what irrational hatred and anger does to your soul. Get rid of the hatred and anger, and you will get sober and be able to remain sober. Blaming Jews for all the wars in the world is both ridiculous and dangerous.Unfortunately,the intense hatred of Jews is responsible for many wars and so much suffering.
Do you really want your legacy to be that of an out-of-control alcoholic, anti-Semite? Or do you want to be the hero that so many people used to think you embodied? It is not too late. People love redemption; but genuine redemption, not something your spin-doctors tell you to do. When you feel stressed and you start blaming Jews for everything, read the works of Maimonides, the great 12th century Jewish sage and scholar. His writings are well respected by all religions, including Christianity and Islam. I am drawn to a statement of faith of his that was often among the last words said by Jews as they were marched into Nazi gas chambers.“I believe with a full heart in the coming of the Messiah and even though he may tarry I will still wait for him”. Can you truly hate people who are really not all that different from you? Another quote comes to mind from the great Jewish philosopher, Hannah Arendt:“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil”.
It’s up to you, Mel. I should be angry, but I am sad. I have always loved your movies, your professional persona and now I realize that I have been duped. Although this saddens me, it does not alter my belief that helping others and trying to make this a better, more tolerant world is much of what life is about. If you want to not be filled with hate, it can be done. Let go of your irrational hatred. It’s not too late to be a real hero.Do it for yourself, your family and the millions of innocent people you have harmed.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.