Mel Gibson buys personal Pacific island

[Champ]

Australian actor Mel Gibson, flush from the huge success of his religious film The Passion of Christ, has splashed out $US15 million on a private Pacific island, a report said.

Gibson flew to Fiji earlier this month where he bought the 2,160 hectare island of Mago from a Japanese hotel chain, People magazine reported.

"He wants to keep it as an exclusive getaway for his friends and family," the magazine quoted a local source as saying.

Gibson plans to turn the Pacific paradise, that is home to 40 residents, mostly coconut farmers and their families, into his own personal retreat, the US magazine said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1262008.htm

[knowbody0]

1. so he bought the farmers and their families?

[Xithras]

16. He'll probably evict them

I read about him looking at the island a few months back. Apparently the island had no natural population, and the families that live there are all employees of the farm and cattle ranch that cover the island. It sounds like he's going to use it for a vacation spot, so he'll probably shut down the farm and ranch, and lay off the employees.

[UL_Approved]

2. Slavery was in the Bible

And as we all know, if it was in the Bible, it must be justified. Right, Mel????

/sarcasm off

[sandnsea]

3. Guess the Japanese are slaveowners too

Since a Japanese hotel company owned the island first. I don't quite know how you leap from buying an island to being a slaveowner. Weird logic.

[Ruffhowse]

4. Nice to see Mel spending all that money he made off of Jesus' suffering

in such a Christian-like charitable manner. After all, all good Christians must have their own island, right?

[sandnsea]

5. Which has what to do with slavery???

I didn't say anything about the way he chose to spend his money. Just that he isn't enslaving anybody.

[Ruffhowse]

8. That was just a general comment, I linked to your message by mistake.

Although I think Mel does a lot that is hypocritically un-Christian, I don't include slavery in that list.

[BAPhill]

6. May he go there....

and never return.

[Champ]

10. You know...

I have liked him but the more I know about him in the real world I become less of a fan and begining to think he is :crazy:

[progressoid]

33. AMEN

[drhilarius]

7. WWJD?

Apparently,he would buy his own fucking island.

[DS1]

13. and cut down all the trees, then ban the import of nails

:7

[neweurope]

9. The rich get out while the going is good

[Ilsa]

21. Yeah, I know some ex-republicans that were considering buying a

Carribbean Island. They haven't voted GOP in a few years now, but they can see the shit we're in.

[Debbie13]

11. Mel is my hero

He risked it all to bring the story of the last hours of Christ to the world.

[RC]

12. You're kidding, correct?

[Debbie13]

14. No, I'm not kidding at all. I'm a Christian. I think Mel is a hero

He risked his career and has been verbally attacked since then.

Sorry, others took the movie (IMO) in the wrong way, but THE PASSION is about the last hours of Christ's life and not meant to hurt anyone. What's this country coming, too, when a Christian can't make a movie about Christ's life? No one had to go see it that didn't want to so why are others so offended?

I didn't hear of all the jewish backlash that was supposed to happen. That is because this was not a movie against the Jews. All of the people in the film were either Jewish or Roman.

It is a Jewish story.


By the way, I'm a Christian that voted for Kerry/Edwards, love this country, and love the average American that makes this country great. My family has been here before the Revolution and I damn well hate BushCo destroying it in eight years.

[RC]

15. Why are you OK with the excessive depiction of pain, gore and suffering?

That is not what Christ stood for.
How about a movie glorifying helping people less fortunate than oneself instead of glorifying violence as this movie does. Most likly would not make near as much money, that's why.

If you like watching excessive pain, gore and suffering, Join up and goto Iraq. Now those people are much less fortunate than us - Even the still living ones.

[Debbie13]

17. Not the same at all, to me

Are you a Christian? Did you even see the movie? I think it was a phenomenon.

Are you telling me that Jesus dying on the cross isn't a part of his message? (Sure, I'd like Mel to do a movie with more of Jesus's life before and after the resurrection....)

Well it was a crucifixtion, and scourging isn't a pretty sight, however, Jesus could have gotten out of it at any time, but went through with it as his mission from God. (It effected me because I'd generally seen Christian movies where he was basically put on a cross and seemed to die peacefully.)

As for going to Iraq, I was against the war? I don't believe in killing and am a consciencious objector. Bush is not a Christian.

[bettyellen]

22. I had heard from very intelligent people it was anti-semitic as well as

homophobic. Granted, it was from people who are actually care about those things. are you?

[Debbie13]

32. I saw the movie and don't see the anti-semitism

If the movie had some White Christian man crucified and his family members and followers were all Christians I could see that it might seem against Jewish people, but since all of the people in the movie were Jews or Romans I just don't get how you could say the movie was against Jews. And the worst people were the Romans (which I haven't heard any one complaining about.)

(BTW, all of the people that started the Christian religion were of Jewish origin.)

My guess, is that the message is what really bothers the complainers that Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
Is that it?

(I must have missed the homophobic part, but it's been a while since I've seen the movie.)

[yvr girl]

49. Saving Private Ryan was pretty brutal too

Crucification was a brutal way to execute people. Most of the versions that have been seen of this in movies have been sanitized. I don't think the movie was glorifying violence. Passion in the title equates to the death and suffering of Christ. It's what the term means - it's what the movie was about.

I don't think the movie was anti-Semitic any more than SPR was anti-German. I do understand that Passion Plays in the past have incited anti-Semitic behaviour but you can't throw the baby out with the bath water. The Jewish people were persecuted long before the time of Christ, and it continues to this day.

[Lost4words]

18. Oh puke me out! Mel Gibson is a self serving piece of crap!

you can be christian but dont be so stupid. God gave you a brain, USE IT !

How old are you?

[Debbie13]

19. You're entitled to your opinion of Mel Gibson and I'm

entitled to mine and age has nothing to do with it.

[Lost4words]

28. Mother Teresa and Father Desmond Tutu Didnt buy islands!

Mel is not a philanthropist Debbie13.

The money he made on the film could do allot of good in the world. Pick any issue, pick any place and money can or could help. But he buys himself a playground for his family and friends. Doesn't that seem a little selfish to you?

I am judging the man buy his deeds in life and exploiting religion for personal profit doesn't seem a holly motive.

And yes, you are entitled to your opinion. But age does matter, In my 50 years of life I have had been taught time and time again that the learning and opinion process continue to develop with life's experience.
If you use your brain and really see.

If in 35 years from now you still think Mel Gibson is a great man you will probably be right. I suspect you will see that by his own actions that his desire was for the profit and the profit ain't headed to the poor.

I suspect that if YOU had the money he made from the Passion that it would be going where it is needed, to the poor the sick and the lost. thats what Christian values were when I was taught.

If decadent living is what makes Christan's today, how very sad.

respectfully

jim 8643

[Debbie13]

35. Well, I think give Mel time to see what he does with the money

All I remember is reading somewhere that Mel Gibson although he had everything (success, family, money, etc), was really depressed (I think alcohol was the problem) and he was considering killing himself. He turned to prayer and credited his belief in Christ (and if you're a Christian you know it's more than a belief, but you have to be there to understand that part of what I'm talking about.)

He wanted to do something to repay God for saving his life.

I agree with you that he should use the money for good purposes, but I say give him some time. (I know he's done some things, but I haven't really heard anything big.)

I wonder if he has to move to an island because of all the hate directed at him. Hmmm.

[Lost4words]

40. A time proving test, lets wait and see what MG does

Debbie, I dont hate Mel, but I dont think he is the person you think he is, but i guess I could be wrong. As you say time will tell.

In giving, I am not so impressed with those who have much and give little. I am most impressed with those who have little and give all.

those people are my heros.

what are you doing for the less fortunate this winter?

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

thanks for the exchange :hi:

8643

[Debbie13]

44. Happy holidays to you to, Jim 8643

enjoyed the discussion

[Debbie13]

27. You should examine why you have so much venom about

someone making a movie about Jesus Christ.

BTW,how is it self-serving for Mel to make a movie that is:

1) almost guaranteed to be small-time because it is made in an obscure language.

2) goes against anti-Christian Hollywood which in itself was a big career risk. (You can't deny that, can you, that Hollywood is anti-Christian? I don't mean the actors, but I mean the highest of the head-honchos.

[Solly Mack]

34. Please cite examples of how Hollywood is "anti-Christian"

Names of these "head-honchos" and their actions that caused you to claim they are "anti-Christians"

Seriously...enlighten me, please.

[Left Is Write]

39. I'm interested in knowing also.

[Debbie13]

48. Okay I'll site my own personal views without checking out I'm sure

the large documented amount of complaints I could find on the internet.

1) The last few years when my children have been watching Holiday television shows, I've noticed it is all "Santa Claus this and Santa Claus that". There is no reference to the real reason we celebrate Christmas and I'm talking here about just just a one liner commemorating the event of the birth of Jesus. The Christmas message seems pretty much on the way of being stripped on TV. (Now, I'm not a huge television watcher and perhaps this is just the Hollywood studios belief in what Christmas means to Christians and perhaps you all see those TV Church shows and think it's on enough. I guess it all depends on your viewpoint.)

2) I didn't see Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST (just like many complainers did not see THE PASSION), I'm pretty sure it had a crucifixtion scene. So why was this movie accepted?

3) Why was Mel so vehemently blocked from making the movie THE PASSION????
WHY? WHY? WHY? And in that answer I think is the answer of anti-christianity.

4) There is a lot of mud slinging allowed at Christians of all denominations, however, everyone has to be kind and not hurt the feelings of other groups.

Anyway, I didn't mean to get into a big discussion on my religion, but have joined the group to oust the imposter and save our country.

[mondo joe]

51. You know how it is - anyone not overtly Christian is "anti christian"

You're wth us or against us, yadda yadda yadda

[Lost4words]

41. Debbie 13, do you think George Bush is a good Christain?

do you support his presidency because of his stated faith?

[Debbie13]

43. I think George Bush is a "Faux" Christian

And has only tapped into the religion of a large mass of people whom he has fooled to get re-elected. IMO he went to Iraq for the Oil and the contracts. Although he might have thought Iraq was going to be a cake-walk, he was wrong and has the blood of thousands of innocent victims on his head. (He can't be a Christian and not have a problem with killing innocents.)

IMO his judgement is destroying our country and in four more years I'm afraid there won't be much left.

By the way, I think a large amount of Christians voted for Kerry/Edwards so I wish people would stop trying to alienate them and make them feel like the only party they can belong to is Republican. Why not be more inclusive of all people? I think Jesus was probably Moderate/Liberal, don't know, but that would be interesting to discuss.

[Bridget Burke]

42. Many of the head-honchos in Hollywood are, indeed, Jews.

Back at the beginning of the last century, Jewish immigrants & their sons were blocked from many professions & industries because of anti-Semitism. So they invested in the new medium of film & made it a success. Many WASP's lacked imagination & just preferred to accept that position at Dad's bank.

I can, indeed, deny that Hollywood is anti-Christian. And I do. Do you have any specific examples to prove your case? Or are you just spouting more of that anti-Semitism?

Mel had a big PR network--mass ticket sales, free publicity, etc. Of course, some of his allies would be shocked if they realized how much Catholic mysticism he added to the Gospel accounts. You know--those people who loudly proclaim themselves "Christians" but don't include Catholics.

[mondo joe]

50. "Anti Christian Hollywood"? Does that mean Jews?

Or Gays?

[Misunderestimator]

29. I saw the movie, and it was absolutely a movie against Jews.

Did you actually see the movie? "Not meant to hurt anyone"... uh, ok... since Mel didn't MEAN to hurt anyone, it's ok that he did. I see.

[Debbie13]

30. And how was "The Passion" a movie against Jews?

Also could you please explain for me also how this movie hurt Jews?

[sonicx]

23. 80% of the nation is Christian. Mel is no hero.

all celebrities are verbally attacked.

[mitchum]

25. That's right, he made "The Greatest Story Ever Told Again and Again and...

Again and Again and Again and Again"
not much risk is involved when there is such a readymade built-in audience

[Sabriel]

20. Damn! So that's who beat me out on the bid! n/t

[FizzFuzz]

24. 15 mil so he and his family and friends can relax.

Aren't there numerous references in the gospels to love of money and greed being barriers to entering heaven?

15 mil $$$$ for a private retreat. I can't imagine using that much money for something entirely self-serving. I just don't get it.

And I don't understand self-described Christians not seeing it. Aren't there words in the bible about seeing deeper than appearances, that "by their fruits (actions/consequences) shall you know them, about keeping one's faith a private matter and not proclaiming one's piety? Just because Mel made a movie equivalent to bashing us all in the face with a nail-studded baseball bat labeled "JESUS" doesn't absolve believers from looking critically at his actions.

[kodi]

26. ah, the fletcher christian disease, marlon brando did the same

.

[SidDithers]

31. As Tina Fey said last night...

Your own private island in the south pacific: $15 million

No Jews anywhere: Priceless.

Sid

[HEyHEY]

36. How the fuck can you buy an island peopel live on?

[Left Is Write]

37. Hmmmm. On one of these exclusive getaways for friends and family...

will they be drinking Kool-Aid en masse?

[tjdee]

38. Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando BOTH bought islands.

So what?

They're trying to get away from Jews too?

Oh no, just crazy Mel, right?
:eyes:

[SmileyBoy]

45. That South Park ep "The Passion of the Jew" was the best one ever made.

"Jesuuuuuuuusssss... How-I-love-ya-how-I-love-ya Jesuuuuuuuuuuuusssssss......"

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Deja Q]

46. Can't stand a free country? Buy your own! Sad. Just another reminder that

money is the dumbest concept ever made.

[twenty2strings]

47. When the ocean levels rise...

Goodbye real estate...But then again maybe he can walk on water.:evilgrin: