I have been listening to the Mel Gibson incident a lot lately and to be honest -- I don't understand why people can not accept an apology any more.
I realize that what he did was wrong. He realizes it. He apologized.
“I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable,” the actor-director said without elaborating. (AP story)
Actually, he's apologized more than once.
But I guess that wasn't enough. Now I hear that the Jewish community is not accepting his apology and they want him to do some service work and speaking engagements.
My question is - why?
Why is it NOT enough? Do they feel he is not sincere?
I think what gets to me is that people no longer know how to accept an apology. It's like, "Ok, yea, I forgive you....IF...." and then the list begins.
Jesus forgave unconditionally. Why can't people do the same?
I totally agree, Esther. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd true forgiveness is actually independent of the offender's act of apologizing.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because he has a history of racism and alcohol abuse. I personally don't believe he is sorry he’s just trying to cover up for his inherent hatred of a specific people because they are of a certain religion. When your in the public eye and the entertainment industry you have to be very carful who you offend. It will take much more that words to mend the chasm he has created. A bigot’s a bigot no matter who they hate.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad I don't have to do any judging of anyone. (Dudeboy! Great to see you drop by!)
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is because Jews have thousands of years of experience with such remarks, that seem to kind of always lead to death, destruction, horrors, pogroms and wanton violence.
ReplyDeleteOr Maybe it is because Mel Gibson has with his father over and over and over again made severely disgusting anti-semitic remarks and has said over and over again how much he hates Jews.
Or Maybe it is because - Jews do NOT believe in Jesus, and we do not accept nor believe in any tenet such as unconditional love. It is kind of an inherent contradicition to say Jesus did.... and then ask why Jews dont follow in his footsteps. Jews do not believe in Jesus. Why then should we accept the tenets of the Christian faith?
Nope. Mel Gibson is an virulent disgusting anti-semite. Period. Sorry is just not good enough in this case. He had his chance. He blew it.
Hi Teddy.
ReplyDeleteI think I finally understand. I don't agree, but I do understand now. True, Jews don't believe in Jesus -- but I had never stopped to think that also means they don't believe in unconditional love. Your response was the only one that finally made me understand why people responded the way they did to this.
I do. It's hard to do sometimes, but I have done it. (like when the daughter of a close friend had an abortion at 7 months, I cried and begged, asking her to let the baby live and finding other options for her - to no avail. A few months later, when I saw her,I hugged her and told her I loved her - I still hated what she did.) That was hard. That was unconditional love.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Teddy.
ReplyDeleteI think I finally understand. I don't agree, but I do understand now. True, Jews don't believe in Jesus -- but I had never stopped to think that also means they don't believe in unconditional love. Your response was the only one that finally made me understand why people responded the way they did to this.
I do. It's hard to do sometimes, but I have done it. (like when the daughter of a close friend had an abortion at 7 months, I cried and begged, asking her to let the baby live and finding other options for her - to no avail. A few months later, when I saw her,I hugged her and told her I loved her - I still hated what she did.) That was hard. That was unconditional love.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.