Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

Agree with you that assholes using this film or anything else as an excuse to target those they deem 'not quite like us' is seriously bad karma. 'Course, most random assholes don't need much of an excuse.

And I've already had my first unpleasant confrontation with a student on Wednesday who seemed to be adding "the Word according to Mel Gibson" (things he's said about his intent or what he was portraying in this film, gathered from interviews, etc.) to the long list of texts she regards as infallible, unquestionable, and literally true in every detail. My views on the film (which another student asked me for) didn't agree in every detail with what she thought Mel had said about the film or what she thought she had seen in the film, and this was upsetting her greatly (in the sense of causing her to become ever more pugnacious and rigid). But I think she was already upset with me for not confirming all her preconceptions about the Bible in this course and for having the gaul to keep pushing her to think critically.

As for Mel's therapy -- I agree he could use some, as well as a return to the classroom (and a professor who'd push his buttons and require him to back up his prejudices with evidence).