Draw your own conclusions.
As founder of The Warren Report, Warren Etheredge hosts over 250 events every year,
a podcast and television series. The Warren Report promotes "slow culture" through commentary, outreach,
events and education. Our principle: Smarter audiences make a better world!
Here’s a fun game to play at home. Determine who is more at fault for the death of News: “journalists,” celebrities or the viewing public. Perhaps I am guilty for perpetuating the decline by embedding this over-hyped, videotaped showdown between renowned anti-Semite and cop-hater Mel Gibson — just kidding, SugarTits, your comments have been pried from our memories like the gold fillings of Holocaust victims! — and previously unknown Chicago film critic/entertainment shill Dean Richards of WGN.
Did Dean have the right to reference the big-screen Christ-killer’s run-in with the LAPD or should he have just stuck to the publicists’ script and pumped EDGE OF DARKNESS into the morning (show) light? Should Mel have acknowledged his misdeeds or was he right to demean Dean for alluding to this age-old altercation? Does a lame question warrant on-air profanity? Watch the video, then…
Question what you see. Consider what you don’t. Draw your own conclusions… And win valuable prizes! More after this word from our sponsor…
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February 9th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Hi Warren,
While I respect your right to an opinion, I have to say that comparing the prying of comments from memory with the forced removal of gold fillings from victims of the Shoah is just about the most inappropriate thing I have ever read from you. You are an incredibly engaging and intelligent guy – why make the comparison? You can do better than this.
Free speech is a great thing – but self-restraint can be great, too.
Thanks for listening.
Gena Shapiro
February 10th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Dear Gena,
While I can appreciate and understand why you took offense to my comment and am sorry for any pain invoked, I must also acknowledge that was the point. I was not trying to be funny, per se, but draw attention to the ridiculousness of Mr. Gibson’s defense. In addition to his run with the LAPD during which he spouted sexist and anti-Semitic epithets with the alacrity of a Klan member, the actor has a long history of hateful remarks that indicate a deep-rooted intolerance most virulent when turned towards the Jews. And yet, he would suggest we shrug off his past as the past. Well, as a fellow Jew, Gena, I do believe in the Holocaust-inspired credo: Never forget. And, in Mr. Gibson’s case, we should not. His continued assault on the basic humanity of Jews, blacks and women is as loathsome to me as some of the barbaric acts of World War II. Hate is Hate is Hate and it must not be allowed to be brushed aside due to a celebrity smile or slight Aussie accent. We live in a time when normally right-minded folks cling to the childhood adage that “words will never hurt us.” Yet, it is the language of prejudice that eventually allows sticks, stones and gas chambers to be implemented in the service of powerful, poisoned souls. Rodney King had a nice idea but asked the wrong question. We ought all get along, but in order to do so, we will have to challenge those who would relentlessly spit venom to undercut the popular effort. Mel Gibson is not a Nazi, but he may be a fascist. And, if we allow him continual passes for his hate-mongering, are we all, in turn, good Germans?
Thank you for sharing your concerns, Gena, and for taking the time to read and consider mine.
Hope all is swell,
Warren
February 10th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Thanks for your insight, Warren.
It’s really sad to me that Mel Gibson is this way, because I used to just adore him as an actor – his earlier work, in particular, was his best. Mad Max, the Road Warrior, Mrs. Soffel, the Bounty, Braveheart – I loved them all, but now I have no desire to see his films. I saw the trailer for his latest film, and I just kept thinking, sarcastically, “poor suffering Mel.”
What an asshat.
Take care,
Gena