Quotes du Jour

Arianna "Huffington Post" Huffington on Mel Gibson's first apology:

In the same way that ordinary Muslims need to separate themselves from the blood-drenched ideology of Hezbollah, Hollywood needs to separate itself from the odious racism of Gibson. And I don't make that connection lightly. Remember, during his DUI tirade, Gibson claimed, "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." That kind of thinking makes him psychological soul mates with Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who has said, "If we searched the entire world for a person more cowardly, despicable, weak, and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology, and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew." Gibson's no-longer-deniable brand of bigotry has led to the extermination of millions -- and continues to fuel much of the strife and suffering in the world today. Which is why Hollywood cannot sit this one out and wait for the reviews to come in.

More from Arianna on Gibson's second apology:

Apology 2: Oh, Yeah, About the Jews -- is the first time since Godfather II that a Hollywood sequel has so outshone the original. Only time will tell whether it reflects the most stunningly fast and vast transformation since Saul became Paul on the road to Damascus or the work of a PR genius -- but, for now, it has to be said: Mel gives excellent apology when his back is shoved up against the wall and he gets a do-over. If the apology truly reflects Gibson's feelings, then let me be among the first to welcome him back to the land of the sane. If it's the work of a publicist, I want his name and number.

And this from Gibson syncophant Michael Medved, who should stick to his day job:

Rather than driving this tormented, self-destructive, deeply disturbed but vastly talented artist into the arms of active Jew-haters (like his father), wouldn't it make more sense to try to reach out to him at a moment of vulnerability and disgrace? The Jewish community need not approach the tarnished star with a message of "poor baby, all is forgiven" but it makes sense to offer at least some ladder to help him crawl out of the dank pit he has dug for himself. At a time when Israel finds herself isolated as never before, imagine the impact of Gibson announcing a supportive trip to Jerusalem in the company of selected Jewish leaders - with a reverent, remorseful stop at Auschwitz on the way.

Well, I'm trying to imagine such a trip, but somehow it's just not coming to me. Too bad that Rabbi Bengelsdorf from Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America" isn't available to chaperone.