Apologies aren’t enough

There was an annoying sense of déjà vu as details of Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic slurs following a DUI arrest came to light this week. Hadn't we been down this road with the Oscar winner before?

During the controversy surrounding his 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ" Gibson spent much time deflecting charges of anti-Semitism. Despite his embrace of a Catholic sect that rejects the progressive steps of Vatican II, despite the loony Holocaust denials of his father, and despite the film's arguably anti-Jewish scenes, Gibson himself pled innocent.

The man is innocent no more.

As syndicated columnist Christopher Hitchens noted of Gibson's drunken rant, "One does not abruptly decide between the first and second vodka that the 'Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion' are valid after all."

There is no need to mince words: Mel Gibson is an anti-Semite.

The debate over his subsequent apologies and whether they were sincere strike us as beside the point. It doesn't matter if he was sorry or not. For a celebrity of his stature to hold such views, apologies mean nothing, especially when he foists blame for his actions on his alcoholism.

Anti-Defamation League president Abraham Foxman welcomed Gibson's remorse and willingness to meet with Jewish groups. Considering Foxman led the charge against "The Passion of the Christ," we take that as a sign that our community is open to some measure of forgiveness.

But let us be clear. Even after Gibson's now-inevitable tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, after all the coming dialogue with Jewish leaders, all the mea culpas and photo-ops, no one will really know what is in Gibson's not-so-brave heart.

We want to believe people have the capacity for growth and change. With Gibson now in rehab, with his career in serious jeopardy because of his outburst, it is possible this will be a turning point for the better. We certainly wish him well in his recovery.

Nevertheless, much damage has been done and cannot be undone. Gibson's brand of Jew hatred comes at a time when Israel is under the most ferocious military assault in more than 30 years. It comes at a time when anti-Semitic attacks -- such as the deadly shooting at the Seattle Jewish federation last week -- are on the rise.

There is no room for an influential celebrity of Gibson's global stature to spout hatred. It's gasoline on an already raging fire.

If the man is truly sorry, then he will do the deeds -- and not merely put out the press releases -- to back it up. Mr. Gibson, we're waiting.