Mel Gibson? So? What's new?

by

Gerald Plessner

August 7, 2006 - Jerry Bamberger is a high school buddy back in Missouri who writes often to comment on my articles. Jerry has a very successful law practice in St. Charles, now a suburb of St. Louis, where I will be speaking to the Noonday Rotary Club on October 5.

When I was a kid, St. Charles was half-a-day's ride out of St. Louis on a Sunday with my dad. Now it's a major suburban city with its own steamboat casino. But that's another story.

Jerry has been bugging me for a response to the Mel Gibson incident but I haven't been eager to respond, mainly because of a feeling of, "So? What's new?"

But Jerry is a dear friend and a great guy, so here are my thoughts on Mel Gibson and that subject of great national importance.

So? What's new?

Racial and religious prejudice are ingrained characteristics of human nature. Every human being has some of it, whether benign or virulent.

As I have written before, prejudice against the "other", including African American slaves, Germans who were the first immigrants after the colonists and other newcomers, is the skeleton in our national closet. It is as American as apple pie!

By adding sexism, hatred of homosexuals and immigrants, we have created a special confection of modern American bigotry.

Most Jews my age grew up being called a Kike, Sheeny or Christ-killer. As kids, we each dealt with it in our own way. For us, success in education, love, life or career became the best remedy for any residual hurt. But don't think for a minute that the memories aren't still there!

To my generation, the Holocaust and the emergence of Israel changed everything. The Holocaust gave us a weapon of pure righteousness with which to combat, stifle and ostracize those who would attack us.

The nation of Israel, and the valor of its people --- at its founding, in all the years that followed, and even today --- gives us the confidence to speak out and confront those who would attack our people.

Current events and our steady progress toward complete and unquestioned "Americaness", enable us to look at the Mel Gibsons of the world with contempt and respond strongly to their attacks.

So? What else is new? The residual bigotry of our society's upper classes has gone a bit underground, yet it still thrives in many communities. But it is tempered because --- let's face it --- almost every bigot's fortune has probably been enhanced by a Jewish lawyer, accountant or MBA graduate. And thus our progress and self-confidence has grown and become stronger.

But the bigotry against Jews, blacks, recent immigrants and almost anyone of color or lower station, is still alive and much too healthy.

Still, there is one difference between Mel Gibson and the rest of us. Actors are less likely to have gone beyond high school because the career requires youth, its enthusiasm and good looks. When actors attain great wealth so soon, they seem to have fewer social skills in dealing with their money and their fame.

I know I am going to be accused of bigotry here --- especially by our nephew Kevin Spirtas, who is a talented and successful actor --- but I believe that the lack of extended education makes some actors vulnerable to saying what is less than politic.

Add to that the acknowledged residual bigotry in the Gibson family, mix it with alcohol, and you have one explanation for the words and actions of Mel Gibson.

But there is still one thing about Gibson's conduct that I do not understand.

If Jews control business worldwide, and if it is accepted as fact that Jews control the entertainment industry, why would an actor --- even a drunk actor --- say such stupid things to an arresting officer in Malibu, California?

Go figure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gerald Plessner is a Southern California businessman who writes regularly on issues of politics and culture. He would be pleased to hear from you and may be contacted at gerald@geraldplessner.com.