In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four a Two Minutes' Hate ritual served to galvanize popular rage among the denizens of Big Brother's Oceania, and direct it against his alleged arch-rival Emmanuel Goldstein.
It seems Mel Gibson is to be our stand-in for Goldstein for the time being. As a lapsed Catholic and raging alcoholic prone to ranting with racist, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic language, as a poster boy for all that's politically incorrect, Mad Mel is perfect for the role; and now the object of daily dishing, adding up to what looks like an orchestrated campaign of virulent hatred, from those very people who profess to hate hate. A decade ago our "Goldstein" of the moment was Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker who, you'll recall, stumbled badly when he bluntly listed reasons why he found New York City's diversity repellent.
Sincerely,
Orest Slepokura
Strathmore, Alta
