Following his drunken anti—semitic outburst, Mel Gibson is now apologizing  profusely and even asking the Jewish community to help him get over his problems. He feels very bad, he claims, to have offended anybody. But ultimately the question is not whether he has offended a group of people, but whether or not what he said is true.

I am sure many terrorists are offended when we call them cold—blooded murderers and child killers. They would much rather be called freedom fighters or some such pretty thing. Similarly, most liberals are offended when told that most of their policies are abject failures and that they produce far more harm than good. It should be a matter of no concern, however, when those in the wrong are offended when confronted with the truth. If we let feelings rather than truth guide our discourse, it becomes meaningless.

Have Jews started every war? Hardly. How could they? How could the most oppressed and persecuted people in history have that kind of power?

During his Malibu arrest, Mel Gibson was spouting sheer nonsense. That's his real transgression. He does not need Jews' help to straighten himself out. He just needs to get his history straight.

Vasko Kohlmayer  8 02 06