Mel Gibson in the Fish Bowl

I admit it. I'm a Mel Gibson fan. I don't think I've ever seen a movie of his that I didn't like. Am I racist? Am I prejudice in any way? No, I'm not. Will I continue to watch his movies? Well until his opinions start having an impact on his actual job performance, then yes I will.

What's my motivation? Well, here's what I have to say to that. Raise your hand if you never in your life have done something stupid, never made a statement that wasn't politically correct or have never offended anyone. Ever. That's what I thought.

There are literally so many rumors that almost anyone can be accused of anything. Conviction doesn't even matter. Once an accusation is made, the impact is already there.

Mel Gibson lives in a fish bowl. His every move is potentially a public one. His every statement is something to appear in headlines. Is he not entitled to his own opinions? His films are uplifting and sometimes educational. Do his efforts not add to a positive flow of energy?

Maybe he does have opinions that don't agree with mine. Maybe he offends you personally. Heck, maybe the guy at the gas station I go to is racist. I don't know because I never asked and I don't want to know. That's his business and as long as I don't actually see him being offensive, I'm not worried about it.

What about the car you drive? Do you need to know every thought of every worker who ever put their hands on that car? Would you have bought it if you thought the painter was homophobic? Every time you go to a restaurant, do you ask the waitress how she feels about certain ethnic groups?

My point is that we are all entitled to a personal life outside of our professions. As a writer, sometimes my personal and professional life combine into one and I don't always enjoy that. I have the choice of using a pen name and posting my picture though. This man has a career based on his face. That's his career, not his personal life.

As for what he may or may not have said to his wife, girlfriend, mistress or maid, seriously, that's his business. Maybe she really is a "gold digger". Maybe he was drunk. Maybe Mel Gibson is as entitled to a personal life and mistakes within it without the judgment of the world. My personal reflection on anything a woman might submit against him..."Heaven hath no wrath like that of a woman scorned".