The Mel Gibson controversy

I haven't listened to "the tapes" of Mel Gibson launching a profanity-laced tirade full of disgusting racist and sexist epithets. I do not think it is "okay" for people to vent like this in the heat of anger. I do think, however, a double standard is at work. I also think Mel Gibson is showing signs of mental illness and/or alcohol addiction, which also does not make it "okay" for him to spew this kind of thing. Here is some interesting commentary on the sad affair:

Damian Thompson explains first of all a very important point:

He’s not a Catholic.

In fact, Mel Gibson is in some respects the opposite of a Catholic, since one of the themes of his fake Catholicism is that the Pope isn’t the Pope. Admittedly, Mel’s own theology tends to morph like a shape-shifting lizard, depending on how hung over he is, but in so far as he’s anything he’s a sedevacantist like his father, Hutton Gibson.

Sedevacantists regard the Second Vatican Council as so obviously evil that it must have been the work of Satan, and therefore the Pope who called it and his successors aren’t really Popes. Gibson Senior once reportedly described John Paul II as “Garrulous Karolus the Koran kisser” and has put about the notion that the last real Pope was secretly elected at the 1958 conclave but forced to resign in favour of anti-pope John XIII. But then old man Gibson never met a conspiracy theory he didn’t like; hence his well-documented Holocaust and 9/11 revisionism.

This is par for the course on the loopy pseudo-Catholic Right. You can find creepy historical revisionists in the Society of St Pius X, which sort of recognises Pope Benedict XVI and these days is only semi-schismatic – but the moment you join one of those sects that regards the SSPX as happy-clappy, then you’re instantly presented with your own DIY conspiracy theory kit. (Includes Jews, Masons, homosexuals, Illuminati, Marxists, Nazis: feel free to slot together in any configuration so long as you remember to blame them for 9/11. And remember to stash your rifle under the pew when you attend “Mass”.)

I’m not saying Mel Gibson subscribes to these theories, though he does have a bit of a thing about Jews, but this is the wild frontier on which he grew up.

The Binksmeister comes to these conclusions, with which I totally agree:

Crazy Gibson

~ TO ANYONE familiar with the signs, Mel Gibson is mentally ill. Probably needs Lithium, counselling, and support along with detox. Mel is a deeply sick but amazingly talented man who has probably suffered manic depression and some psychoses for decades, but whilst his crazy entertained us, who cared if he thought he was a chicken?– we enjoyed the eggs.

Now, ever since he defied Hollywood and liberal wisdom with the very Catholic and unforgivably successful movie The Passion, it’s feeding-frenzy time. Since he’s not a gliberal, there’s no Roman Polanski-ish chorus of sympathetic defenders banding together to plead mercy and understanding.

Make no mistake– he’s said and done some horrible things if recent reports are accurate. But if Teh Binks is also right about the illnesses involved, then he needs treatment as well as opprobrium and criminal consequences. Otherwise, you’re just battling the symptoms.

Is there anyone who can convince a billionaire Hollywood bigshot to get on his meds, and to stop self-medicating with booze and bimbos? After all, Mel is a human being, and obviously in deep personal crisis. Are we our brother’s keeper, or not?

In any case, the gliberal and media hate-fest makes this culture-watcher boil. ~

Ezra Levant writes:

Gibson might say racist things to hurt someone when he’s mad, and that’s not OK. But the bulk of his life’s work speaks of cross-cultural understanding.

But what about the menacing aspects of his calls? Is he violent? If so, the man should be charged with the serious crime of spousal assault.

But Grigorieva never made such a complaint to police or the public until the custody hearing.

Gibson’s reputation is tarnished by these tapes, as it should be. But the establishment denunciation of him seems stronger than for other celebrities in a similar position.

Alec Baldwin left abusive phone messages directed toward his daughter; he’s the toast of the Emmys. Christian Bale was recorded freaking out on tape; he’s never been hotter in Hollywood. Again, that’s just about shouting and swearing. What about real violence?

Director Roman Polanski drugged and raped a teenager, and fled the U.S. to avoid trial; Hollywood has made him a saint, and given him no end of prizes and tributes. Charlie Sheen shot girlfriend Kelly Preston in the arm, threatened wife Denise Richards with assault and was charged with assaulting third wife Brooke Mueller.

But Baldwin, Polanski and Sheen are perfect liberals; Gibson is a Christian conservative. So Sheen was signed to do two more seasons of Two and a Half Men at nearly $2 million per episode. Gibson’s agency dropped him.

Gibson doesn’t need expensive rehab or anger management to get his career back. He just needs a $10 membership in Obama’s re-election campaign.