Harry has a humanity and depth that no Gary Stu could ever possess and still fall within the acceptable limits of Gary Stuism.

And by the way, yeah, Mel Gibson's a bigot. Duh. When The Passion came out, the ADL said they had serious misgivings about the guy, and everyone waved them off. There were even articles that suggested parallels between Gibson and Christ, two men done to death by angry mobs of Jews. So the whole thing kinda pisses me off, not because Mel Gibson is a filthy anti-semite, which is not news to me, but because people who loved The Passion and pooh-poohed concerns over the portrayal of Jews in it are acting shocked, shocked, that he could be a bigot. That...and that I've been accused of anti-semitism (by people whose only stake in the Middle East is trying to bring about what they refer to as The End Times, like fast-forwarding to the good parts where all the heathens burn in hell, and they couldn't care less about the Jewish people) because I don't support Israel's actions against Lebanon right now. Honest-to-Yahweh bigotry right in front of your face and all they require of Gibson is a heartfelt apology for getting caught being a gigantic prick in public, but criticizing Israel is tantamount to screaming the K-word in a synagogue.

Anti-Defamation League. Jewish group specializing in litigation and activism against anti-semitism, I think is the short version.

The idea of Jews-as-Christ-killers has a particular bent appeal for anti-semites and is centuries old. The idea of blood-guilt is still very popular with the Stormfront crowd. Obviously that's not how the Jewish people see their role in the crucifixion of Jesus. In the movie...basically, it's a dog-whistle. Like when Bush mentions Dred Scott as an example of bad judicial decisions, it's code for the pro-lifers and, of course, pro-choicers, because they understand that lingo, but people who aren't attuned to that cause don't hear it. In The Passion, the Bloodthirsty Christ-Killer Meme surfaces under the story of Jesus's crucifixion, and it isn't subtle. Those Jewish folks, they are the bad guys, period. That doesn't hit the people who aren't truly anti-semitic, but the skinheads in the crowd received the message loud and clear.

Funny that this comes up as I was talking to a Jewish friend of mine about this today. Though, not much coincidence because it also came from the MEl Gibson story in the news.
In the movie, Pontious Pilot or however you spell it, lets the people (Jews) decide Jesus' fate. Pontious Pilot is Roman or whatever but ultimately, it was his decision. I don't think he polled the people on the decision in real life but don't quote me on that because i don't know the whole story.
But, I'm with you.. i didn't really get all the drama when I saw the movie. I just thought it had gross parts and I wasn't especially inspired to go to church like some people were.

sorry to get away from the subject but, Tara, does that mean i have to deal with Patty when i get home? maybe we can ban together and kinda be anti-patricia. Bob refuses to ever talk to her again. But you know your brother. Does she think she can just get back into our good graces? No way! I'll be cordial to her face...but behind her back, i'll be stabbing. :)

denial!!! we should remind her everyday that she is a cheating ho bag. poor mark. i can't imaging being in that situation.