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This Issue's Letter to a Star! |
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Dear Mel Gibson, In this issue, one of your movies is featured and although it’s not a work of art it provided a vehicle for the introduction of Jet Li to North America. I just spent the weekend watching a couple of the Mad Max movies and I am impressed by how your career has evolved. Yet, the successes of late have been tempered by poor personal decisions and inopportune moments before the paparazzi. Now some might say that you’re a prime target as a celebrity while others might say that all that has happened to you is deserved for the views you hold. At this point it doesn’t matter who’s right; the public perception has already been formed. Your drunken ramblings on that fateful night were not simply the liquor talking. Nor were they evidence, in my opinion, of any deep-seated bigotry or racism. Rather they were endemic of a society that is experiencing frustrations at every turn and like most societies looks for a scapegoat. For the poor it’s the rich; for the rich it’s government; for government it’s other countries; and for many ordinary citizens, it’s their Muslim, Jewish, Greek, Black, Chinese, Latino (et.al) neighbors who are to blame. Being color blind has been supplanted by a willingness to hold differences under a microscope and this has resulted in an America that is more divided today than it was decades ago. Your ramblings, as misguided as they were, reflect the character flaw that runs through the American culture like a plague. So what can you do? Owning up to it was a great first step. Addressing your alcohol problem was a great second step. But quite frankly I don’t buy celebrity apologies. No matter how contrite and abashed you may be, you will always appear insincere. Meeting with community leaders, most of who are out to push an agenda is questionable to me. A general apology, followed by ACTIONS is more effective in confronting our inner hatreds. The idea that everyone is a victim is repulsive; it makes us lesser beings. The solution, Mr. Gibson, is for you to continue doing what you do. Make movies, star in them and continue giving us the entertainment you always have. But on your journey treat your crews, costars and bosses (the odd time you have one) with the respect they deserve, not as representatives of ethnicities but as individuals. Forget about world conspiracies and hateful propaganda. Judge each person on their own merits and if that person is a jerk, it’s perfectly acceptable to dislike him/her. Just don’t let their culture or race be a determiner because ultimately it never is. Sincerely Peter Katsionis Editor |
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www.bookstandpublishing.com/m/peterkatsionis www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm Also available at Barnes and Noble |
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The exciting new novel: Patrida, is now in PRINT See the above link for more info!! Order at the links below: |
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