Mel Gibson and The Holocaust - Match Made in Hell

Arnold Kramer
Scale model of crematorium II at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sculpted by Mieczyslaw Stobierski based on contemporary documents and the trial testimonies of SS guards. Museum Exhibitions

"Controversy's publicity, and vice versa." Quinn Taylor, ABC senior vice president in charge of movies for television

"I know his [Mel Gibson's] father doesn't believe in the Holocaust - but maybe when there's money involved, maybe they don't care." Flory A. Van Beek, Holocaust survivor and subject of proposed miniseries

While browsing casually through my New York Times daily email, a headline suddenly stopped me cold. Mel Gibson Plans TV Miniseries on Holocaust. For a minute I just stared at it, my brain buzzing. A few choice expletives came to mind, but were drowned out by one word echoing through my head: NOOOOOOOOO.

The Passion of the Christ and all its attendant provocative marketing didn't stir up enough anti-Semitism, now this jerk wants to take on the Holocaust? And ABC's going to let him -- more, they're willing to support and pay him?

Chutzpah to the 10th power. But that's just it, power is the operative word. Star power. Drawing power. Publicity power. All trading on the power of entertainment to stir controversy and hatred.

From what I've read so far in the Times and the Phila Inquirer, it's Gibson's production company, the aptly named Con Artists Productions that's putting the project together -- Gibson may have no direct involvement in it. As if. His name, his money, his twisted beliefs guide that company. And are ultimately responsible for the damage it does.

Let's remember, Gibson is the guy whose father believes the Holocaust never happened. Why? Because the Nazis didn't have enough gas to kill six million Jews. Jeezus! And when asked about such idiotic reasoning, Gibson said, "My dad taught me my faith, and I believe what he taught me. The man never lied to me in his life."

What, history and scores of Holocaust liberators, scholars and survivors lie, but Mel's daddy doesn't? It's beyond ludicrous. Let them browse through here United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and spew that garbage. Let them learn why we say Never Again.

My sister-in-law is the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Her mother is gone, but her brave, remarkable father is still with us at 95. Thank god he's in a nursing home in Israel and will never know how Mel Gibson, or the sick, bigoted Hutton Gibson dishonor the memory of his family--of all families--who perished in the Holocaust.

ABC wants to do a series on the Holocaust, great. It's vital that we continue to remember--and teach the next generation--what unspeakable horror comes out of organized hatred and anti-Semitism.

To allow a twisted racist like Mel Gibson to present the story is a grievous mistake, a slap in the face to millions and a total disgrace.