Buying into Mel Gibson
A young man who frequents our congregation when he comes out to visit his parents was recently discussing his new employment with an investment banking firm. He acknowledged the validity of my observation that "investment banking" is nothing more than financing high-risk business ventures, and taking the appropriate measures to limit the risk factors (not to mention charging higher than usual interest rates).
This latest incident with Mel Gibson has caused a media mania, which I will now attempt to cut through and analyze the issues rationally. There are those who condemn Gibson, those who defend him as a troubled alcoholic who needs help, and some who take some sort of middle of the road attitude.
Having been raised in a household where the paterfamilias was a holocaust denier, Mel Gibson has serious problems acknowledging the severity of what the Nazis did and what the terrorists are doing. He also has a faith rooted in the Catholic Church as that organization existed before John XXIII and John Paul I and II were able to even begin to shake its image and connections with the Crusades and the Inquisition. His "Passion of Christ" film and his failure to adequately repudiate his father's holocaust denial did little for his goodwill among the Jewish community.
He has asked for help in dealing with his personal problems associated with ethanol abuse. I, for one, am willing to tentatively accept the notion that Mel Gibson is a suffering alcoholic who needs help. I, for one, would like to see him overcome the evil inclinations which no doubt torment him day in and day out, because he has such great potential to do good.
Given Mel Gibson's background and track record, the simple and naïve acceptance of his explanations, though appropriate for many others who have misstepped or misspoken, is not prudent when it comes to Gibson. Mel Gibson is a high-risk investment, and while I personally am willing to buy into the notion that he needs our understanding and empathy more than our condemnation, it would be irresponsible for me to take such risk a risk on behalf of the entire Jewish community, just as it would be inappropriate for me to invest the funds of an orphanage in high-risk business ventures or junk bonds.
I wish Mel Gibson the best of luck in dealing with his alcoholism, and hope that he can control his problem and go forward to excel in his good works.
This latest incident with Mel Gibson has caused a media mania, which I will now attempt to cut through and analyze the issues rationally. There are those who condemn Gibson, those who defend him as a troubled alcoholic who needs help, and some who take some sort of middle of the road attitude.
Having been raised in a household where the paterfamilias was a holocaust denier, Mel Gibson has serious problems acknowledging the severity of what the Nazis did and what the terrorists are doing. He also has a faith rooted in the Catholic Church as that organization existed before John XXIII and John Paul I and II were able to even begin to shake its image and connections with the Crusades and the Inquisition. His "Passion of Christ" film and his failure to adequately repudiate his father's holocaust denial did little for his goodwill among the Jewish community.
He has asked for help in dealing with his personal problems associated with ethanol abuse. I, for one, am willing to tentatively accept the notion that Mel Gibson is a suffering alcoholic who needs help. I, for one, would like to see him overcome the evil inclinations which no doubt torment him day in and day out, because he has such great potential to do good.
Given Mel Gibson's background and track record, the simple and naïve acceptance of his explanations, though appropriate for many others who have misstepped or misspoken, is not prudent when it comes to Gibson. Mel Gibson is a high-risk investment, and while I personally am willing to buy into the notion that he needs our understanding and empathy more than our condemnation, it would be irresponsible for me to take such risk a risk on behalf of the entire Jewish community, just as it would be inappropriate for me to invest the funds of an orphanage in high-risk business ventures or junk bonds.
I wish Mel Gibson the best of luck in dealing with his alcoholism, and hope that he can control his problem and go forward to excel in his good works.
posted by Expatriate Owl @ 2:08 PM
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