Poo-Flinging Monkeys (or "I'm Glad I Quit Journalism School When I Did")
Despite all you may have read, heard, or seen in the MSM, Mel Gibson is very likely guilty of only two things:
1. Negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others in operating his automobile while intoxicated; and
2. Poor judgment.
Based on the coverage, however, one would certainly think that the anti-Semitic remarks made by Gibson were the real crime, and the drunk-driving charges merely minor coincidental mischief. Last I knew, this was still the United States of America, in which freedom of speech is a long-acknowledged, God-given right shared by both citizens and non-citizens alike. Gibson can certainly hold, and even publicly express, unpopular and “politically incorrect” opinions. Truly, there is abundant recent precedent for just such behavior—Michael Jackson’s crude lyrics "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me / Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me," from “They Don't Care About Us;” Jesse “Rhymin’ Simon” Jackson’s “Hymietown” comments, and perhaps most notably Al “Valvoline Pompadour” Sharpton’s incitement of anti-Jewish violence in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in 1991 and in Harlem in 1995. In the latter incident he encouraged the explicitly anti-Semitic boycott and picketing of a Jewish-owned store in which eight store employees were killed in a fire started by a Sharpton follower. Where was the righteous outrage in the media over these obviously bigoted remarks? Unlike the latter two, Gibson generally stays out of politic and policy issues.
Generally, I like Gibson’s movies. Braveheart, The Patriot, and We Were Soldiers are among my favorites. I am very disappointed that he would show such poor judgment and self-discipline that he would both drive while drunk and make such obviously reckless remarks; but in no way would I equate the gravity of the two actions. The Los Angeles County District Court will determine Gibson’s punishment, if any, as to the DUI charges, and moviegoers’ dollars will serve as the judge and jury for the impact of his drunken jabberings. As to the media, why don’t ya’ll go see what Cynthia McKinney, William Jefferson, or Ted "Chappaquidick" Kennedy have been up to lately?
1. Negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others in operating his automobile while intoxicated; and
2. Poor judgment.
Based on the coverage, however, one would certainly think that the anti-Semitic remarks made by Gibson were the real crime, and the drunk-driving charges merely minor coincidental mischief. Last I knew, this was still the United States of America, in which freedom of speech is a long-acknowledged, God-given right shared by both citizens and non-citizens alike. Gibson can certainly hold, and even publicly express, unpopular and “politically incorrect” opinions. Truly, there is abundant recent precedent for just such behavior—Michael Jackson’s crude lyrics "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me / Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me," from “They Don't Care About Us;” Jesse “Rhymin’ Simon” Jackson’s “Hymietown” comments, and perhaps most notably Al “Valvoline Pompadour” Sharpton’s incitement of anti-Jewish violence in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in 1991 and in Harlem in 1995. In the latter incident he encouraged the explicitly anti-Semitic boycott and picketing of a Jewish-owned store in which eight store employees were killed in a fire started by a Sharpton follower. Where was the righteous outrage in the media over these obviously bigoted remarks? Unlike the latter two, Gibson generally stays out of politic and policy issues.
Generally, I like Gibson’s movies. Braveheart, The Patriot, and We Were Soldiers are among my favorites. I am very disappointed that he would show such poor judgment and self-discipline that he would both drive while drunk and make such obviously reckless remarks; but in no way would I equate the gravity of the two actions. The Los Angeles County District Court will determine Gibson’s punishment, if any, as to the DUI charges, and moviegoers’ dollars will serve as the judge and jury for the impact of his drunken jabberings. As to the media, why don’t ya’ll go see what Cynthia McKinney, William Jefferson, or Ted "Chappaquidick" Kennedy have been up to lately?
Addendum (8/3/06 @ 1251 MST): Take everything Gibson said, and replace "Jew" with American. Whaddya got? A new Dixie Chicks song. Replace "Jew" with "Frenchman" (a.k.a. cheese-eating surrender monkeys)--what have you got? A comedy routine. Replace "Jew" with "Whitey," and you've got the Rainbow Coalition's platform. Replace "Jew" with "Catholic" and you have the bottom-line position of just about every newspaper in the country.
I reckon some people's sensitivities are more, uh, sensitive than others.
posted by Beast7 | 8:55 AM
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3 Comments:
I'm still not convinced that Gibson said anything.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your "Addendum".
Glad somebody finally saw what it's all about and wrapped the words around. When I get back to the house, I'll quote this on my blog!
Peace and all good,
the Frog
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