Radiofree West Hartford -- The Crow's Nest by Tom Evers

THE CROW'S NEST

Mel Gibson deserves a break;

"The Passion" challenges anti-Christian bias

By Tom Evers

August 05, 2003

Although several months before premiering in theaters, the new Mel Gibson movie The Passion is already stirring up heat among Hollywood and elitist Jews. The new blockbuster stirs up the age-old question of "who killed Jesus" or "who sold out Jesus," --depending on your flavor.

If you read your Bible, the issue is pretty straightforward. Jewish leaders turned Christ over to Pontius Pilate for execution. Jesus Barabbas went free as part of the trade, and the Romans crucified Jesus at Mount of Olives. The rest is history.

Ok, so what's the big deal about a great feature film about the life of Christ?

The big fear from the Jewish lobby is that when films like this are released it resurrects anti-Semitic views and violent acts against Jews. I guess the same argument could be made about French fears of retaliation when movies about Napoleon's merciless march into Eastern Europe are released, or perhaps Anglo-Whites should hide in their homes when movies like Roots are shown on network television.

I'm sure African-Americans view movies depicting our forefather patriots as slaveholders creates some level of rage and contempt. But history is history, and history is not always kind. History shows our faults and failures, as well has our high points as human beings. The recent movie Gods and Generals, while very disappointing to the average civil war buff, correctly showed some southern slaves as affectionate toward white southern soldiers. For example, a teary-eyed black female, Martha, is shown defending her master's home against union soldiers and declaring, "this is my home." And in another scene - a black slave named Jim is talking and praying with General Stonewall Jackson.

The Jesse Jackson crowd become enraged at the notion that southern slaves weren't depicted as abused or beaten victims, or exhibiting the same hateful hostility toward whites that he and his followers do today. Liberals engaged in revisionist history to forward their own agenda. None of which is about equality; it's about power and lining certain individual's pockets with cash.

In the past I've been quick to criticize how graphically violent movies are in this day and age. Ripped body parts and brutal murders seem to be what eager audiences are demanding for their nine-dollar ticket. I admit, I've seen some of these movies and have been intrigued by the realism associated with some scenes. Was I better off viewing the gory detail? Probably not. But you're reading an article by someone who prefers some movies on American Movie Classics channel.

And what does this have to do with the Jews? Apparently, Gibson's film depicts Christ's suffering at a whole new level - Christ is shown as beaten and bloody, and -- the film depicts the Jews of the time, correctly, as conspiratorial, money-hungry, cruel oppressors of the Savior. I mean let's face it, Jesus came along and upset the status quo and threatened the way Jewish leaders were conducting their business. He was a serious threat to their power and way of life. So, they reacted by turning him over to Pilate for execution.

But from a Christian viewpoint, I suppose the new graphic depiction is good. The concept that Christ died on a cross for our sins in this day and age doesn't carry the same entertaining visual and emotional impact of say - Arnold Schwarzenegger firing machine guns at killer robots in order to save the world. So retelling of the "greatest story ever told" in modern terms to compete with fictional adventure stories makes sense. Christ dying for our sins is, in fact, a big deal.

The fact that Jews played a role in the Crucifixion is a historical fact. The Bible also tells us that the Jews are God's chosen people. Jesus was Jewish, and the traditions and practices of much of Christianity is founded in the Old Testament and Jewish tradition. Christians and Jews in the United States coexist nicely. Both faiths have a shared, deep-rooted history and need each other for preservation. David, Moses, Abraham and others are revered characters in the good book by both groups in their respected "faithful".

So what's really behind all of this? Many Hollywood Jews (who so happen to own a majority of movie studios and media outlets), and many in the Hollywood atheist establishment have always had an anti-Christian bias. Moreover, Hollywood generally produces movies with liberal undertones, so at the heart of this issue is the same old story: Mel Gibson is under attack for his conservative political and religious views. Gibson fell under similar attack for his fabulous movie - The Patriot. Not so long ago, liberals from the anti-war, anti-gun, anti-conservative movie attacked The Patriot for its patriotic and accurate portrayal of the horrors of the American Revolution.

Gibson's talent as an actor and screenwriter bothers Hollywood liberals; like most liberals they can't separate the person from the politics. But at the end of the day, the product will sell and moviegoers will be treated to a movie of epic proportion. If they get a little religion as a part of the deal, then so be it.

But don't look for the Hollywood liberals to reward this movie at the Oscars. Gibson will have to look to great ticket sales for real acknowledgment of his work. And if the stories are true about the powerful, inspiring emotion reaction to the early premieres of The Passion, then Gibson will have done God's work, and we all should be grateful to him for his effort.

Until next time.