- Home
- About
- Datebook: Events Calendar
- Women's Philanthropy
- Subscribe to e-newsletter
- Young Adults
- Contribute
- Where Your Money Goes
- Professional Groups
- Community Resources
- Volunteer
- Local Jewish News
- Search
Jewish Community News
Letters to the Editor: April 2004
Gibson on Sawyer - an act?
Mel Gibson’s interview with Diane Sawyer wasn’t his best performance. Inappropriately flippant and occasionally arrogant, he was convincingly sincere on just four points: He repeated that he won’t be split from his father (who does espouse anti-Semitic views.) He insisted that sequences he filmed are literally correct according to the Gospels - though many scholars consider this metaphorical interpretation. He recognized that his religion forbids inciting bigotry, hatred and violence. He refused to amend his work, because he thinks it shouldn’t elicit anti-Semitism.
What he chooses not to see is that: Passion plays have a centuries-old history of creating exactly the hatred and violence he rejects! It’s not just the Hitlers who act, but ordinary people inflamed by what they think they’re witnessing. Without disclaimer, in frightening, angry times this film runs that same risk.
You can certainly film a dramatically inspiring Passion
without resorting to the old Jew blaming - neither direct nor implied.
No argument there.
His own religion admonishes him to tell the story to inspire compassion
and forgiveness as Jesus did. But will his film do that? That’s
the real act by which he’ll be judged.
Bart Charlow
NCCJ – San Jose
My view is simple
Whether Mel Gibson is right or wrong on putting out a film with this much controversy, he has the freedom to express his views. What is great about America is this: I have the right not to watch or listen to the viewable or audible publication of any source.
Thanks,
Gil Maroko
Cupertino, CA
News
Features
JCN Issues
Information
The JCN is Hiring!