What I’d do with Mel
Mel, Mel, Mel. What are we going to do with you, my boy?
I do appreciate your apology and your offer to meet with leaders of the Jewish community. But I think you’ve got it wrong.
But so do the leaders of the Jewish comunity cited by the newspapers who say they first want Mel to go visit some death camps.
Here’s what I would do.
First, Mel, get yourself sober. Do the Twelve Steps. Keep them up. I have trust in your ability to do this. I know you love your family. dlo it for them. (The cited Jewish community leaders agree with this advice.)
Then, skip the death camps for now. If you’re really a Holocaust denier, you won’t be convinced, because you probably believe that some Jews were murdered in the camps, just not six million of us. Besides, the death camp tour is unseemly. Get your ticket stamped at six death camps and you’re cured of anti-Semitism? It don’t work that way. And, frankly, the cited Jewish leaders are confusing being a Jew with being a victim. Your beliefs about the Holocaust are secondary.
The conspiracy theory you use to explain why the rest of the world has been duped about the holcaust is, on the other hand, primary .What’s really dangerous, Mel, is your apparent belief that Jews are diabolical. Your portrayal of us in your pain-porn film did real harm in the world. Even worse is your belief that not only did my folks kill your G-d, but my folks are still the money-grubbing, law-without-heart, unevolved folks your folks outgrew.
So, here’s what I’d have you do, Mel. Screw meeting with Jewish leaders. Put off the death camp tour until it’ll mean something to you other than taking a private jet to a half dozen penitential photo opps. Instead, start going to shul. A little shul like the one my wife and son go to. Hang out there with a bunch of old Yids who wouldn’t recognize you if you came dressed up as Mad Max. They’ll notice you eventually. Explain you’re a Christian interested in learning about Judaism. They’ll half ignore you and half teach you. Maybe stay for some Torah discussion. Definitely try the herring.
Mel, this isn’t the religion you think it is. It’s not Christianity-without-Christ. It’s something really different. And really rather wonderful, even to an agnostic like me and, I’m confident, to a Jew-hater like you. [Tags: mel_gibson judaism anti-semitism]
