Alcoholism and Mel Gibson
Sometimes, I wonder where certain expressions originate and one of them is "demon rum." I suppose it's because of all the pain and the personal and collective harm that has been perpetrated while someone was under the influence of alcohol. This drug, which is served to celebrate births, marriages, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and so many other happy events has brought so much heartache when used to excess.
One of my professors once said, "The super ego is dissolvable in alcohol." The super ego, of course, is our control center which adheres to the rule of family and culture and helps us toe the line. When bathed in alcohol, the brain loses this control and, in response to this poisonous level of any alcoholic beverage, the demon runs loose.
Mel Gibson has a problem with alcohol abuse and, by his own admission, it has gone on for much of his adult life. It has caused him and his family difficulty, but recently, it unleashed the worst demon of all, verbalized hatred and bigotry aimed at those of the Jewish faith. The fact that we are in a time of spreading warfare in the Middle East and violence against Jewish places of worship and individuals here in the United States makes his remarks all the more incendiary.
Mr. Gibson is now apologizing for his remarks and wants to meet with members of the Jewish community to rebuild bridges. His first task, however, must be to build a bridge for himself that allows him to avoid the abyss of alcoholism and this he must know will be a daunting task.
What do we know of alcoholism? Many alcoholics suffer from depression, anxiety and insecurity. Alcohol is a mild anxiolytic, but when used excessively, it promotes depression, insomnia and poor physical health in addition, in chronic cases, to certain types of dementia, seizure and a most unpleasant death.
We all wish him well in his recovery and remain thankful that no car or pedestrian crossed his path that night on those winding Malibu roads he took at 85 mph while legally drunk. He has been given another chance.
Related Topics: Americans Drinking Alcohol More Often, Anxiety Linked with Alcoholism Relapse
Technorati Tags: Mel Gibson, alcoholism
One of my professors once said, "The super ego is dissolvable in alcohol." The super ego, of course, is our control center which adheres to the rule of family and culture and helps us toe the line. When bathed in alcohol, the brain loses this control and, in response to this poisonous level of any alcoholic beverage, the demon runs loose.
Mel Gibson has a problem with alcohol abuse and, by his own admission, it has gone on for much of his adult life. It has caused him and his family difficulty, but recently, it unleashed the worst demon of all, verbalized hatred and bigotry aimed at those of the Jewish faith. The fact that we are in a time of spreading warfare in the Middle East and violence against Jewish places of worship and individuals here in the United States makes his remarks all the more incendiary.
Mr. Gibson is now apologizing for his remarks and wants to meet with members of the Jewish community to rebuild bridges. His first task, however, must be to build a bridge for himself that allows him to avoid the abyss of alcoholism and this he must know will be a daunting task.
What do we know of alcoholism? Many alcoholics suffer from depression, anxiety and insecurity. Alcohol is a mild anxiolytic, but when used excessively, it promotes depression, insomnia and poor physical health in addition, in chronic cases, to certain types of dementia, seizure and a most unpleasant death.
We all wish him well in his recovery and remain thankful that no car or pedestrian crossed his path that night on those winding Malibu roads he took at 85 mph while legally drunk. He has been given another chance.
Related Topics: Americans Drinking Alcohol More Often, Anxiety Linked with Alcoholism Relapse
Technorati Tags: Mel Gibson, alcoholism
11 Comments:
AMEN!
That which can bring pleasure, can also bring pain and suffering when misused or abused. When proper medication is used for people with severe pain, it's a good thing. But when people obtain pain medication and abuse it, misusing it, like certain public personalities we've heard of lately (Rush Limbaugh and oxycontin), then it's bad for those who need it because laws get tougher and when meds ARE needed, doctors are less eager to prescribe it. Abuse hurts in many ways.
I personally don't care how much or often people drink. That includes celebrities. My only concerns are driving under the influence, abuse towards others, both physical and verbal, and financially failing to be responsible due to excessive drinking. The medical, social agencies, psychologists etc. are simply getting rich with all this behavior modification etc. As for speaking out against a particular religion, nationality, race etc.it is OK with me. Go ahead and say it;freedom of speech has been so watered down, it doesn't even exist. I was Polish and Catholic but grew up in a Lutheran, Scandinavian neighorhood. I heard most the Polish and Catholic jokes around and and I survived. And I'm still FRIENDS with some. Grow up folks. See some humor and fun out of it all.Freedom of speech is more important than a little hurt feelings.n
I think Mr. Gibson should focus on recovery and worry about making amends later. Been there, done that.
alcohol does release the "demon", the real undisguised "you", with what you really think and how you really feel about things.
in the case of mel gibson, alcohol unleashes his hate fo jews.
he is not only a sick person (an alcoholic), which i am really sorry for, he is an anti-semite, and being one he is simply not a worthwhile individual and one of very low moral intelligence.
trying to be an optimist,i believe that if mr gibson has the understanding of both of his problems and the will to do something about them, he can battle and overcome these two maladies that make him a lesser person. it would be a "win win situation": mr gibson would become a healthier and a better person and the world would gain another worthwhile individual and not merely a good actor.
Mel Gibson did something stupid. Drunks are notorious for doing stupid stuff - like driving, arguing with cops, and spouting off. Some people get crying drunk, some get viscious drunk, and some get verbal. GIVE IT A REST! He was wrong, totally wrong, and he will be paying a price. But, if he had said something derogatory about Muslims or Iranians, it would have just blown over as the ranting of a drunk. Why is it that you're a bigot only if you malign black people or Jewish people? The American Indian was the most persecuted people in recent history - they were virtually wiped from the face of the earth; their culture and heritage taken away, and to this day, most are living on "reservations". They are not screaming from the rooftops what a raw deal they got. They do not scream "bigotry" when people make remarks about them either being a drunken, worthless race, or they are taken to task because they finally are coming into their own with their casinos.
Americans need to just get over it. People say and do stupid stuff, even when sober. Is it right? NO. Is it the end of the world? NO.
Mel Gibson is trying to make amends. LET HIM!
He knows he was wrong, he apologized, so give him a break! Nobody is perfect, not even Mel Gibson.
Mel said what he thought...what he really thought. Alcohol just brought it to the surface. Gibson has a lot of amends to make before anyone believes him again. I've known actors and alcoholics whose whole life is an act. Gibson seems to fit that description. Hope he gets better but that requires rigorous honesty. Does he have it in him or are his apologies just one more acting job for him.
Please, like no one else has thought of sterotypic phrases! Give him a break, look how he was raised AND is it easy to get into the entertainment business in Hollywood? Remember how it started? Who runs it? Listen, I am half Jewish and I have to say........
I believe what Mel Gibson said while intoxicated was not anti-semitic but a statement of the origins of sin dominating in this world.
He is learned in theology and knows quite a bit about the bible. Christians know that God chose the Jews as his select people but on numerous occasions they rejected him. Christians believe that is why God sent Jesus into the world to save the Jews and to engraft the Gentiles (other nations and nationalities). God's grace towards the Gentiles is to cause God's chosen people to return to Him and to accept his Son as Lord and Savior of their lives. One just has to read and believe the inspired written words of God in the Holy Bible to understand what was behind what Mel Gibson said. In no way was what he said in hatred of our Jewish brothers and sisters. My heart goes out to Mel in his addiction. There is no perfect person in this world. We all fall short of God's grace. My prayer is that he comes to believe that Jesus can deliver his soul from sin just as he did his spirit. He is the only one that can break the power of sin in the lives of his people.
Alcoholism & drug addictions are the saddest disease I have ever seen. I've experienced drug addictions w/my brother when he was in his 30's, we helped him then, but now it's alcohol in his 50's. It has torn down a wonderful loving adorable man and his family (his children who also have the same problems). I comfort his wife and how she has remained sane married to my brother for 39 years remains a mystery to me. Her only sibling, a sister, is also a hopeless alcoholic. Makes me want to empty every bottle of wine I have in my house & take a stance to never allow it under my rood again. Then again, something tells me these addictive personalities would only find a different addiction.
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