The Aug. 6 Forum section was cut down to four pages from the standard six and "The Blog Watch" was one of the features cut to make the package fit. Below is column that would have run if there had been space. This column should be online at www.sacbee.com on Sunday.

The Blog Watch: A sampling from the regional blogosphere

In defense of Mel Gibson

www.diggersrealm.com

Well first of all, yes, I am going to state a defense and understanding of Mel Gibson's comments. Before I do so I will state that I don't agree with his comments. If you want to think I'm a Jew-hater for defending his comments then so be it, but please read my defense before you slam me on the headline alone. ...

Obviously Mel Gibson was pissed. Also it's quite obvious he was drunk. I'd also suggest that Mel has been under some pressure for some reason. Most people don't just fly off the handle unless the pressure's been building for awhile. Whether this is due to business or personal life issues, I could really care less.

I will only tackle the defense of his anti-Semitic comments though.

Ever since before the Passion of the Christ began filming Mel Gibson has been the continued target of Jewish activist groups. Before the movie was even "in the can" they were calling him an anti-Semite and barraging him, his family and his friends with outrageous comments and inserting themselves into his personal and professional life. They have done this not only with boycotts of his films but picketing and general harassment at every turn. ...

It's hard to ignore having a group in your face without eventually getting a little paranoid and angry at the group targeting you. Gibson has been particularly angry at those who focus on his father, a Holocaust denier. I'm sure the activism against him has only increased recently since Gibson has been working on a movie about the Holocaust.

Now into this we throw some alcohol and personal or professional problems. What you end up with is a Gibson who reaches his breaking point and lashes out at all those he sees bringing these problems onto him, the police, the Jews, the media and the world in general. I find it totally understandable as a man.

Is Mel Gibson an anti-Semite? Does he really hate Jews? I don't think so. I think he sees them as his bane over the past few years with the controversial movies he's been working on and it just came out in an angry tirade at the situation he found himself. ...

Most of us wouldn't last as long as Mel Gibson has in dealing with the constant attention. ... Do I feel bad for him? Hell no! These people have chosen this path. ... They could retire and get out of the spotlight, but they remain in it. ...

So understanding why someone would lash out at the Jews unless they really were an anti-Semite is a hard conclusion to make for most, but when you look at Mel Gibson over the past few years and really put yourself in his shoes -- with the constant attacks on him by these activist groups -- it's just a little more understandable on why he would make any comments including them at all. ...

Apple, Cran, or Grape?

sacramento.metblogs.com

At the downtown 24 Hour Fitness this morning, I was watching Good America and something really disturbed as it came through the Closed Captioning...there was some stock video clips of Mel Gibson and the writing on the screen said he was "very sorry about his despicable remarks about JUICE." Now, I know I was on vacation last week, but when did Mel Gibson start picking on JUICE??? What did JUICE ever do to him? Is it because it's too caloric? Does he really just prefer the simple goodness of water? What is his problem?

Looking forward to a Democrat?

jtruss.wordpress.com

What the heck is this world coming to. With the failing Iraq recovery effort and the Israel conflict, something bad seems to be coming right around the corner. The American economy is in horrible state. The few get rich while everyone else gets poor. Being a Republican I really hate to say this but we almost need a Democratic president again. It seems when the nations economy and war hit the US hard we get a Democratic president and the US prospers again. I'm not very outspoken on politics but it just seems lately that the world is headed to hell in a handbag. ...

Unionizing Wal-Mart

roughstock.blogspot.com

The perverse idea of the communist Chinese sponsoring unions has me scratching my head. The unions are not private, they are controlled by the government, the government is communist, the communists are supposed to be the party of the people. I don't get it.

Why would workers need a union in a workers paradise? If the Chinese don't like working for Wal-Mart, they can go back to the 'people's factory' and get paid in fish heads or something.

Wal-Mart, stop selling goods made in prison factories....... Sorry, never mind.

Wal-Mart, stop selling goods that violate trademark laws.....Sorry, never mind.

Wal-Mart, stop selling goods made in polluting factories.....Sorry, never mind.

Um, Wal-Mart we want to be paid in cash, not fish heads, is that ok?

Revenge, A Dish Best Served Kosher

www.sactodan.com

Hezbollah is responsible for the deaths of 241 Marines in Beruit, and the bombings of the American Embassy. They are on the US list of terrorist organizations.

It should come as no surprise that the US is in no hurry to stop the Israelis from destroying them.

In this case, revenge is a dish best served Kosher.

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The Bee is looking for the best blog in the Sacramento region. Got a blog or know a good one? Contact John Hughes