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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Rivers: 'Gibson should die'
2006-10-14
Jewish comedienne Joan Rivers has launched a scathing attack on Mel Gibson, insisting the actor should "die" for the anti-Semitic comments he made to police officers who arrested him for drink driving in July. The outspoken comic urges people to boycott Gibson's TV interviews with newswoman Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, because the exposure will only help to heal the actor/director's tarnished public image.
Only time and public opinion will tell if Gibson can "heal" his image. Is it tarnished? Without a doubt. Can his anti-Semitism be cured? Most likely not.
She tells Celebrity Week: "He is an anti-Semitic son of a bitch. He should f**king die.
"Anti-Semitic? Most probably. Should he "f**king die" for it? Ummmm ... no. People have a right to their own opinions, no matter how idiotic or vile they may be.
Joan's a good progressive liberal so it's okay to call for someone's death. It's different, ya see ...
"I think everyone should not watch the interview with Diane Sawyer. The hypocrisy is what I hate. You know it's all about ratings and Diane Sawyer has them all when she's married to a Jewish guy - Mike Nichols.
Now she's the one who's mistaken. Attributing ethics or morals to media types? Major blow-it.
"It's ridiculous because she'll get great ratings and (Gibson) will be back in business."
I'll ask that people please do not try and tell me; "Oh, that was just the alcohol talking." Blaming drugs in an attempt to exempt someone from having to take personal responsibility for their own actions is ethically bankrupt. Between Gibson's Holocaust denying father and the less-than-flattering portrayal of Jews in his movie, a pattern does seem to be emerging. It's his privilege if he wants to hate Jews but it'd sure be nice if he just STFU about it in public.
Posted by:Zenster

#33  For centuries the Catholic and Orthodox churches taught that the guilt for Jesus' death lay on the shoulders of all the Jews down through history.

Sorry TW, don't know where you are getting that. We don't have time to argue - but while I'm sure you can find historical examples and Christians living today (Mel's dad) that blame Jews - it's just not grounded in the Christian faith.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 23:57  

#32  In Oberammergau, Germany, they still put on a Passion play every few years in which horn-headed Jews eagerly take on the blame for murdering Jesus for themselves and their decendents. The performances are always sold out well in advance; the script is centuries old, and the locals refuse to adjust it to make it less hate filled.

Dispicable!
Posted by: Zenster   2006-10-14 23:57  

#31  Perhaps this event was a lesson for him to expose to himself the bias that his father instilled in him. By being forced to face it in a very public manner, he may have been able to better understand it and grow from it.

Those who think he should f***ing die because of his sins are the ultimate parody of their own intolerance.


Well said, anon. Let us hope.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-10-14 23:56  

#30  Some photos I took of the Mad Max Car
Posted by: 3dc   2006-10-14 23:54  

#29  and I'm not implying that anyone here was implying that they were perfect. I was just saying...
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 23:54  

#28  Mrs. Rivers is not a lady. What she said was unnecessary and rude. She always did like to shock for comedic effect, which was occassionally funny. This statement was not amusing.

For centuries the Catholic and Orthodox churches taught that the guilt for Jesus' death lay on the shoulders of all the Jews down through history. This was used as justification for incident after incident of mass murder and expulsion, starting in the 2nd century C.E., and ending with the Holocaust. Martin Luther encouraged the rulers who adopted his version of Christianity to kill the Jews in their territories, because they did not convert en masse when he presented them with his new and improved version.

I'm glad y'all appreciate that I am not to blame for the death of your messiah, but even yet there are those who call themselves Christian who do not differenciate. In Oberammergau, Germany, they still put on a Passion play every few years in which horn-headed Jews eagerly take on the blame for murdering Jesus for themselves and their decendents. The performances are always sold out well in advance; the script is centuries old, and the locals refuse to adjust it to make it less hate filled.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-10-14 23:51  

#27  Gibson is human and thus a sinner like the rest of us. He has asked for forgiveness and I intend to give it to him. His life is a journey that is no less difficult than yours or mine. Perhaps this event was a lesson for him to expose to himself the bias that his father instilled in him. By being forced to face it in a very public manner, he may have been able to better understand it and grow from it.

Those who think he should f***ing die because of his sins are the ultimate parody of their own intolerance.

I don't have to like or dislike Mels films -it's unrelated to his own personal journey. But if I can't forgive him for his shortcomings, why should I ever expect forgiveness for my own?

I'm sure those of you who are perfect would not understand.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 23:47  

#26  I'm Jewish and have already implied that Joan's mouth works faster than her brain. And has for a generation.



Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 23:42  

#25  Oh, and for a JEWISH person to declare that someone deserves to die for merely what they said, is probably resurrecting a world that once declared that Jews deserved to die for being jewish.

I look forward to TW's take on this...
Posted by: Ptah   2006-10-14 22:44  

#24  Many people have been blessed and transformed by "The Passion": just because some have not been blessed by it, and MOUTHS OFF about it leaving them cold, does NOTHING to prevent that blessing from occurring to others.

I think its one of those works of art that, in the end, will be recognized as being the kind of art that you do not judge, but which judges YOU.
Posted by: Ptah   2006-10-14 22:40  

#23  I saw her in concert about 20 years ago and nearly busted a gut laughing so hard for so long.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-10-14 20:45  

#22  We KNEW she was crazy.
MEl G. by dint of volume is a fixture in our entertainment universe.
Many of us invested a certain trust in him. At least to entertain us or pique our interest. At most to influence ouur political (Conspiracy Theory) or religious views.
Now he has Tainted his own good work. ( The Patriot)
Crazy Eyes what's her name is easily avoided. We have no vested interest in her.
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 20:32  

#21  What Gibson said was odious. But what I find more interesting is the amount of media coverage of an antisemitic remark by an actor, versus the coverage (or lack thereof) of similar remarks by, say, a Democratic Congresswoman from Atlanta.
Posted by: DMFD   2006-10-14 20:21  

#20  I liked "The Island" in a Logan's Run kind of way.
But seriously even on a recent trip to B;lockbuster I was surprised at the competeing Bush/9/11 propaganda lining the shelves and decided I willl see this : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433116/
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 20:06  

#19  Last Samurai WAS good.
Zen, I have a young daughter and have seen all those movies.
Thanks.
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 20:01  

#18  btw - Mel rocks - you don't have to agree with his drunken slurs, but Braveheart, We
Were Soldiers, etc. are well made movies. Hell, even Tom Cruise in Last Samurai was excellent. Gotta divorce the personal politics from the film
Posted by: Frank G   2006-10-14 19:00  

#17  saw "the Departed" - excellent, but violent
Posted by: Frank G   2006-10-14 18:38  

#16  I also avoid movies that employ actors who mouth off rubbish, which means I don't watch a lot of movies.

Recently watched Terminator 3; great car chase and Arnie does this hilarious, laugh out loud, self-parody.
Posted by: phil_b   2006-10-14 18:06  

#15  Zenster,
Let me second you on the W&G flicks - they are just like the old Rocky and Bullwinkles, funny enough for kids and some great in-jokes for the adults. 'Chicken Run' especially sends up every 'escape from the Nazis' movie ever made, especially 'The Great Escape."

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2006-10-14 17:21  

#14  Mad Max will always rule.
Posted by: 3dc   2006-10-14 16:58  

#13  Is there anyone whose cinema work I can watch without having to wash down a bad taste in my mouth?

I find myself asking the same question

Permit me to suggest anything by Aardman Animation. "Curse of the Wererabbit", with their beloved characters, Wallace and Gromit won an Oscar as have some of their shorts, like "The Wrong Trousers". Nick Park is the heir apparent to claymation's throne, producing sophisticated, articulate and engaging humor that somehow remains almost squeaky clean while appealing to young and old alike. Mel Gibson even provided the voice of Rocky in "Chicken Run". If you have not seen any of this material, run out and rent it right away. Their three shorts, "A Grand Day Out, "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave" belong in every home library.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-10-14 16:46  

#12  I actually refused to goo see CSNY this summer.
And that sucks.
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 15:33  

#11  I find myself asking the same question as I switch off the formerly entertaining Jon Stewart.
There's still Bruce Willis.
And the now Profoundly Disturbing Battlestar Galactica.
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 15:31  

#10  still will be avoiding Mel Gibson's work on GP.

so will I.

But it's getting really hard to avoid every single damn Hollywierd producer and self-absorbed hypocrite. Is there anyone whose cinema work I can watch without having to wash down a bad taste in my mouth?
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 15:28  

#9  Joan is well past her prime.
Always said more than was necessary.
Got thrown off Ed Sullivan like 4 times.
And her long suffering husband Edgar ended his own life.
I still will be avoiding Mel Gibson's work on GP.
Posted by: J.D. Lux   2006-10-14 15:23  

#8  that's true.

The point I'd like to make on this Mel Gibson thread is that Christians see it like this: Mel is human. He's a sinner - like me.

People like Joan Rivers see it like this: Mel Gibson is a sinner - unlike me. STONE HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 14:29  

#7   The SCRIPTURAL point about Christ's spiritual and physical deaths were that ALL humanities sins were paid for by Christ. My sins were as responsible as an Pharissee Jews in AD 33.

THAT is what The Scriptures tell us and if we in Christ only maximized them over tradition,men, our own brothers in Christ would make less errors such as blaming Jews. Jesus' destiny was to pay for our sins,it didn't matter if Pharisee Jews wanted Him dead or pagan Romans or us.
Posted by: Phenias Hupineter8498   2006-10-14 14:18  

#6  and even Pilate was forgiven.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 13:40  

#5  I think that South Park nailed it. Gibson just an actor. He's human, he's probably crazy. He got lots of money and fame by doing something so outrageous and daring: He actually made a movie about Christianity. Broke a Hollywood taboo and the people came to see it.

Personally, I didn't like the movie. I know the point was that we were supposed to feel Jesus' pain. Ok. But I'm not sure what I gained by watching man's inhumanity to man. That was not what Jesus was about.

In retrospect, maybe Gibson was hoping to inflame Christians over the fact that the Jews killed Jesus - something that I think Jews and non-Christians love to get all excited over.

In one of life's ironies, it is mostly non-Christians who are the ones who insist that Christians blame the Jews for Jesus' death. There is even an entire room in the Holocaust museum that sets forth the premise that Martin Luther set the stage for the Holocaust because he fired up those nasty Christians to hate the Jews for killing Jesus and thus it was the hate-filled Christians who made it possible for Hilter to kill so many jews.

I often wonder if the Holocaust museum curators can now see the bigotry in that display when it is easy to see today that it is the culture of blame in the liberal and islamist cultures that makes such evil possible. Christianity is about forgiveness, liberalism and Islam is about blame. It doesn't matter who is chosen as the scapegoat - it simply needs to comprise a group of "others".

I know from previous posting that pointing this out inevitably causes cog dis with non-Christians. But the reality is that Christians have always blamed Pontius Pilate for Jesus's death. The act of Pilate washing his hands is of far, far, deeper significance for Christians than the actions of the Jews.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 13:25  

#4  Well Joan, I guess we know without doubt where you stand on this issue.
Posted by: SpecOp35   2006-10-14 12:42  

#3  Joan Rivers is one of those past her prime plastic surgery freaks with bleached blonde hair who doesn't talk, she yells in a whiney, nasal pitch that is obnoxious. She was funny for a short time, decades ago. She's more likeable than Cindy Sheehan, but not by much. Somehow, probably by sheer grit and intestinal fortitude, she still manages to to grapple the limelight and thrust it upon herself.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 12:34  

#2  Never heard of her. OTOH, I do like Mel, his movies, and his characters, regardless of his relationship with joooooooooos.
South Park's take on Mel, hé hé hé.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-10-14 12:22  

#1  hhmmmmm .... seems to me that having Joan Rivers wanting you to fu**ing die would actually be a positive thing in the world of Hollywierd. Mel's publicity agents gotta be pleased with that one.
Posted by: anon   2006-10-14 12:16  

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