Meltdown in Mellywood: Mel Gibson repents anti-Semitic 'tude while sporting his first prison tat

Being drunk is no excuse for Mel Gibson's spouting of hatred and lies--right? Would those alleged words have come out of his mouth if he didn't hold them at some level, deep down? The reaction in the media and from Gibson's fans seems mixed, with many people offering some form of forgiveness--if he acts upon his own words:

"Gibson announced Monday that he is participating in an 'ongoing recovery program' to battle alcoholism. On Tuesday he said he wants to meet with Jewish leaders to help him 'discern the appropriate path for healing... I am in the process of understanding where those vicious words came from during that drunken display, and I am asking the Jewish community, whom I have personally offended, to help me on my journey through recovery... Again, I am reaching out to the Jewish community for its help. I know there will be many in that community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable. But I pray that that door is not forever closed.'" (From CNN, August 3, 2006)

Offering Gibson an opportunity to speak at the Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills, Rabbi David Baron said, "Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the Jewish year, is a time of reflection, fasting, forgiveness and healing." Members of Temple of the Arts include "leading members of the film, television, music and media sectors."

Although Mel Gibson might be too currently occupied with rehab to speak to religious and civic groups, that's exactly what he'll need to do to actively rebuild his reputation with many, many people. And, he should greenlight his own recent proposal to create a mini-series based at the time of the Holocaust, despite the pre-emptive cancellation by a major network. He clearly has enough money in the bank from his twenty-plus years of mega-success to educate the next generation about the pitfalls of dangerous and ridiculous racist beliefs. Respectful penance and reparations might slowly begin to help him atone for and nullify the poison spewed into him by his own father, a holocaust denier.

For the record, I'm not Jewish, but I did study the history of the Holocaust (while a student at the University of Iowa) and have read dozens of first-hand accounts by survivors. One thing I've learned is that it takes great individual acts of courage to put an end to ignorance, hatred, and violence--especially when powerful forces in society are in opposition. Especially then.

Mad Max would do the right thing.

So should Mel.

The very cool t-shirt used in the above parady-photo can be purchased at Jewcy.com.