Posted by
Steve on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 6:50:53 PM
If Mel Gibson was a high flying left wing nut case, his outburse and apology would be immediately accepted and forgotten. Because Mel Gibson is associated with Christianity, he will not be given a pass.
An example of what I am speaking about is our favorite race-baiter, Rev. Jesse Jackson. A few years ago, he called New York City, "Hymietown", and made other anti-semitic remarks. After being called on his outburst, he made a half apology and was instantly forgiven by everyone. Except for those of us with a memory that exceeds one week, it is forgotten. What he said and did was much worse than Mel Gibson. His apology was half-hearted. Mel Gibson's apology appears to be sincere.
There are other examples of people in public life that have made comments against people of Jewish faith or Israel. If they are considered liberal, the apology, however poorly given is fully accepted. If they are considered right wing or religious or both, it doesn't matter what the person does, the apology will be considered not enough.
Senator Trent Lott went through something like that a few years ago. He praised Senator Strom Thurmond when he was retiring. Everyone jumped on him and after a series of more heartfelt apologies, he was forced to resign his position as majority leader of the senate. A short time ago, a liberal senator praised the only current member of the senate that has been a member of the KKK. Even Strom Thurmond never stooped that low. This person gave a half-hearted apology and now nobody knows who the senator even was.
This just shows the double standard that exists in the media today. A left leaning person can say or do almost anything, apologize and nobody remembers it. If a right leaning person does something much less, the person is hounded from office. This is even after the person shows true repentance for their transgression. Life is not fair.