Why is such a big deal being made about Mel Gibsons remarks about Jews?

Question

I ask this question because when anyone makes the same types of remarks about Roman Catholics, it's just laughed off and Catholics are told to lighten-up and get over it. I'm not sticking up for Mel Gibson and I do believe he was wrong but I don't understand the acceptance of bigotry when it is applied to Roman Catholics. Why is one minority considered fair game and even an accepted American past-time and another minority held so sacred as to totally trash someone who says something bigoted about them?.

Answer 1

Because Mel Gibson is a celebrity - and claims to be a devout Catholic - so he's held to a higher standard.

Answer 2

I too am baffled by this. I do not know why this is getting so much press. I do agree that it was not a Christian statement to be made and it was uncalled for; however, I feel it is being blown out of proportion. I also think that the out cry against Passion of the Christ was completely uncalled for. It was an excellent film that did not receive the notoriety it deserved. Mel Gibson may be a bit of an extremist, but he is a good man and should be left alone. He has apologized. In Christianity forgiveness is the first step to healing.

Answer 3

Unfortunately ppl read a quote and first of all: have no idea what he said before or after this quote, second of all: have any idea what his tone or demeanor was when he made the quote. In order to make an educated decision on how to judge someones opinion you must know what you are talking about and get the whole story. Rushing to judge is a problem all to prevalent now-a-days. And lastly...WHO CARES!

It is his problem if he is spouting incorrect information. It is also his business what his opinions are. Someone down the block from me could have said something similar and guess what? NO ONE WOULD CARE BECAUSE THIS PERSON DOWN THE BLOCK FROM ME IS NOT MEL GIBSON!

Answer 4

Interesting.....I have not really thought of it in that light. I do think you are correct, however----that does not make Mel's comments any more acceptable than the anti-catholic garbage that gets thrown around.

It is never correct to stereotype an entire group of people based on the few.....

As for **why** this is being blown out of proportion---it is all about the movie "Passion of the Christ" because he went against Hollywood in making it, because he used some writings by a mystic who was anti-semetic for inspiration on some points....and because his father is well known to be a 'Far Right' Catholic who has a history of anti-semetic remarks......

Answer 5

That's the way the world works, If you're not a minority, you're fair game. And I'm not even saying this is wrong.. minorities get the short end of the stick all the time. They deserve some kind of protections. The majorities, on the other hand, can afford to take it.

Answer 6

Well, people like to watch big stars make a**s of themselves and it's also a distraction (news coverage) from the middle east carnage.

Anyone in the public eye should know better really - it's a no-win situation. And many Catholics were up in arms about the DaVinci code, so I think all groups can get a bit touchy. I think it's an overreaction and it will fade away.

Answer 7

Well for one thing, the Holocaust has made people very nervous about joking or insulting them. For another, you know the media, there's all kinds of good things they could say about celebs, but bad things get more viewers. I'm not sure why that is. Personally I am sick of the NewS. Right after we found out N. Korea had a missile that could reach Cali, the news stations were talking about a bay that had NO defense against it, and there was NOTHING they could do to even try to prevent it. They said it would be and IDEAL place for terrorists to attack... my GOD I live here don't tell them to blow my state up! How stupid can they be? Why not just send them a postcard. "Hey, N. Korea, this is the best place for you to attack right here. It would DEVASTATE Cali's economy."

Answer 8

Because certain ethnic groups have been through ugly histoical traumas, and had to overcome excruciating amounts of bigotry just to get an ounce of the respect that has been taken for granted by white people in this country for generations. It's too bad, because nobody should even be focussing on this stuff. it's what's on the inside that is what makes a person who they are. Anyone who is goig to make remarks about someone based solely on ethnicity, religeon, or sexual orientation, is most likely missing a piece of his or her self.

Answer 9

Will you stop feeling sorry for yourself.
If Mel Gibson had publically peed on Catholicism, there's have been a big stink about it.

Catholics have earned the ire the world feels towards them.
But they're no worse nor better than the Judeo.

Answer 10

well, it is a mixture of several different reasons depending on what opinion(s) you subscribe to personally...but I'll try to give my best stab at running the gamut and letting you decide:

1. Because his celebrity status demands that he keep any prejudicial opinions to himself, because the ppl he is offending aren't simply fellow citizens/humans but they are his bread and butter movie goers who supply him with a salary

2. His not-that-long-ago involvement with Passion of the Christ and the huge hullabaloo over his overtly publicized religious standing still rubs some ppl raw who feel that religion and mainstream media should be kept strictly separated...therefore many are looking at a way to make a point against him and therefore against the entire stance of unsecularized society

3. Quite simply, it is a headline that brings a name and face to the screen that everyone is familiar with in one capacity or another, and therefore appealing to all news stations and viewers who don't like to feel ignorant in their own living rooms

4. Knowing that Mel Gibson says these things gives every American in the country a way of making themselves feel better; be it by justifying their own prejudices with his example or something along the lines of "Well look at him, even his millions can't make him as GOOD a person as I am!"

5. (and my personal favorite)...ANY news segment, be it several minutes or a few seconds, cuts out that much more of the available broadcasting time that could be better spent talking about the ongoing war overseas that all of the media stations seem so bent on ignoring...maybe nobody will notice that we're trying to erase all signs of international chaos and political responsibility if we offer them a distraction so..."Here, look at THIS guy!"

Well, there's my two cents, hope it helps!