On the topic of Forgiveness
I guess there are many views on forgiveness. I've tried to research what Christians have to say on the topic. But, just today, the Jewish community has been faced with an opportunity to forgive. Mel Gibson gave a very detailed apology today. Here is the reaction as documented in the Baltimore Sun. Some are quick to forgive, others want to see some action.
Arthur C. Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said
he was not satisfied with Gibson's apology but described it as "a beginning of a process of forgiveness.""Words come easy," Abramson said. "A few years ago, he spoke of his love of the Jews and said his movie [The Passion of the Christ] did not have anti-Semitic overtones, but we see his words now ... so why should anybody forgive him? But I'm willing now to watch the long road he has to travel."Abramson said that Gibson's vow to meet with Jewish leaders would serve as a good beginning but that meaningful acts must follow."Mel Gibson's a very wealthy man," Abramson said. "I'd like to see Mel Gibson do something that displays himself as a human being who actually cares about other people and doesn't preach hate."He suggested that Gibson take trips to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and to Israel. He also said Gibson would be well-served to study Jewish history."Let's see him do something good for humanity, rather than for himself," Abramson said."
This is finally an apology," said Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "We're glad that he owned up that what he said was not only offensive, but bigoted. When he's finished with alcohol rehabilitation, we will be ready and willing to meet with him and to help him get rid of his other addiction, which is prejudice."
Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, also offered to meet with Gibson but cautioned in a statement that, like substance abuse and alcoholism, anti-Semitism "cannot be cured in one day and certainly not through a press release."
Arthur C. Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said
he was not satisfied with Gibson's apology but described it as "a beginning of a process of forgiveness.""Words come easy," Abramson said. "A few years ago, he spoke of his love of the Jews and said his movie [The Passion of the Christ] did not have anti-Semitic overtones, but we see his words now ... so why should anybody forgive him? But I'm willing now to watch the long road he has to travel."Abramson said that Gibson's vow to meet with Jewish leaders would serve as a good beginning but that meaningful acts must follow."Mel Gibson's a very wealthy man," Abramson said. "I'd like to see Mel Gibson do something that displays himself as a human being who actually cares about other people and doesn't preach hate."He suggested that Gibson take trips to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and to Israel. He also said Gibson would be well-served to study Jewish history."Let's see him do something good for humanity, rather than for himself," Abramson said."
This is finally an apology," said Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "We're glad that he owned up that what he said was not only offensive, but bigoted. When he's finished with alcohol rehabilitation, we will be ready and willing to meet with him and to help him get rid of his other addiction, which is prejudice."
Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, also offered to meet with Gibson but cautioned in a statement that, like substance abuse and alcoholism, anti-Semitism "cannot be cured in one day and certainly not through a press release."
posted by Sandee | 9:49 AM
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