I’d be surprised if many people are very satisfied with what came out of Mel Gibson’s big interview with Diane Sawyer. You have to give him some kudos for honesty — he could have simply blamed the alcohol and said that his remarks have nothing to do with what he thinks — but the inner person he portrays is not one who seems to have worked out anything in a mature way. He sources his remarks about Jews causing “all the wars in the world” partly to “scars of resentment” left by the reaction of some Jews to his film The Passion of the Christ. He correctly points out that many said the movie would stir up hatred and violence against Jews, and it did no such thing. He indicates that he resented not getting an apology from his Jewish critics. If, as he seems to claim, this led him to curse all Jews after he’d had a few drinks, then it would seem to show an inability to properly distinguish individuals from their race. In other words, just because Abe Foxman doesn’t like your movie, it doesn’t mean all Jews owe you an apology, or that you have a beef with all Jews. Your beef, such as it is, is with Mr. Foxman. Michael Medved, who is also Jewish, liked the film and defended it at the time.

Oh well. Psycho-analyzing Mel Gibson is a futile pastime. But it will go on.

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