Mel Gibson, Michael Moore

Interesting contrast, no?

Gibson had already attempted a public apology for his loathesome private remarks, declaring that "I acted like a person who was completely out of control when I was arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable.I am deeply ashamed of everything I said."

Compare this contrition to the unapologetic, and ceaselessly repeated attacks on Israel by another controversial Hollywood director, Michael Moore, who declared in Liverpool (quoted in the New York Times, June 26, 2004) that the embattled Jewish state represented one of the modern world's centers of evil: "It's all part of the same ball of wax, right? The oil companies, Israel, Halliburton." Ironically, Michael Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel (brother of a Democratic Congressman from Illinois), is one of the entertainment industry figures leading the charge to demand that the show biz establishment blacklist Gibson.

Let me see, now. Could the difference have something to do with Gibson's well-known faith-beliefs? Hmmmmm? Or maybe that Gibson did NOT slam Halliburton and Bushitler?

Finally:

Once again, the most visible leaders of the Jewish community are in the process of horribly mishandling this latest incident with their indignant denunciations of Gibson's initial attempts to apologize, and their profoundly ill-considered calls for ostracism and banishment of one of today's most influential and successful filmmakers. After Gibson's comments on the incident (which included the abject line "I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry") Abe Foxman of the ADL officiallly categorized this apology as "unremorseful and insufficient."

Aside from obvious questions about who appointed Foxman as the ultimate judge of Gibson's damnation and possible redemption, doesn't it seem patently unfair to describe a statement that includes the words "I disgraced myself" as "unremorseful."?

Abe Foxman is the living definition of "chutzpah", in case you never noticed...

Ari Emanuel calls even more unequivocally for a new industry blacklist that focuses, for now, on Mel Gibson alone: "People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line."

Ari is Rahm Emanuel's brother. Rahm was X42's Chief Apologist...

Oh--the author of the quoted segments?

Michael Medved.