With Jewish Forgiveness Secured, Christians Finally Letting Mel Gibson Off The Hook
If there's one lesson that we can all take away from the Mel Gibson incident (besides the obvious one about not chugging a bottle of Cazadores before driving home at 90 mph on a twisting, well-patrolled stretch of beachside highway, and all the stuff about not blaming a failed Breathalyzer on the microscopic Jews hiding inside it), it's one about the importance of forgiveness in a moral and tolerant society. After a week spent personally calling each individual of Jewish extraction in the 310 area code to beg for, and eventually receive, absolution for his sins, it's time for Gibson's fellow Christians to finally embrace their flawed brother. And embrace him they will after reading this press release's eloquent plea for forgiveness, in which the actor is very aptly compared to the protagonist of the iconic feel-good movie of the talkie era, It's a Wonderful Life. Excerpt via The Reeler:
Good News Holdings Asks, Is Mel Gibson the Modern Day George Bailey and Is This His 'Wonderful Life'? LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7 — Good News Holdings, a Christian entertainment company, spoke out in support of Mel Gibson's statement of accountability and apology following his arrest last week.
"The American Film Institute named It's a Wonderful Life the most inspiring picture of all time," said David Kirkpatrick, Co-Founder of Good News Holdings and former Production Chief of Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures. "In that movie, while drunk on Christmas Eve, decent man George Bailey chastises his wife, reduces his children to tears, and destroys the living room of his home with his own hands. Suicidal, Bailey prays to God for help, seeks his family's forgiveness, and finds redemption. AFI voted George Bailey one of the top ten movie heroes of our time."
"Mel Gibson is the gifted film-maker of both Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ," added Kirkpatrick. "Sometimes when the gift shines brightly, we overlook the raw reality of our humanity. Like each of us, Mr. Gibson struggles with personal challenges, but his journey is highly visible. We cannot condone the behavior or language that led to his arrest. But in the aftermath, what more could a repentant person do than acknowledge his wrongdoing, sincerely apologize, ask for forgiveness, seek medical help for his disease, and initiate dialogue with those whom he has hurt?"
Finally, a plea for compassion that speaks Hollywood's language without resorting to crass discussion of Gibson's bankability, as George Bailey's human flaws easily make him a much more relatable character than the guy from The Passion of the Christ.
Bonus Mel Link! Page Six says that Gibson's children are kayak-demanding brats who use their status as the Princes of Melibu to terrorize daddy's fiefdom.
