Mel Gibson: Deserving of Forgiveness?

A week ago Mel Gibson was one of the most popular actors and directors in the world. Now many folks are saying that Gibson's career is over. Others aren't so sure. I tend to believe that he will come out of this ok.

Sure, his star will never shine as brightly. Some folks will completely turn their backs on him [showing the same kind of intolerance that Gibson did during his drunken rants]. Still, I believe that most people are forgiving to those who deserve forgiveness, and Gibson seems sincere in his efforts to earn his.

Here is a statement Gibson released earlier this week:

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.

I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsibility for my words and apologize directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words.

The tenets of what I profess to believe necessitate that I exercise charity and tolerance as a way of life. Every human being is God's child, and if I wish to honor my God I have to honor his children. But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.

I'm not just asking for forgiveness. I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one on one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing.

I have begun an ongoing program of recovery and what I am now realizing is that I cannot do it alone. 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.

This is not about a film. Nor is it about artistic license. This is about real life and recognizing the consequences hurtful words can have. Its about existing in harmony in a world that seems to have gone mad."

Mel Gibson has struggled with alcoholism for years. Does that excuse his behavior? Of course not. Gibson has admitted his problems and has asked for help in his road to recovery not only from the bottle, but also from whatever demons caused his narrow-minded anti-semitic outbursts. Gibson has even appealed to Jewish leaders across the country to meet with him so he can begin his healing.

While I have no tolerance for bigots, I have even less for those who drink and drive. Still, I believe in redemption and forgiveness for those who deserve it. Time will tell if Mel Gibson does.