theatlantic.com

I’m still reading through transcripts of our lengthy discussions, and perhaps I’ll post a few more items, but for a fuller discussion of Gibson’s theology, and his motivation, you will be able to read my still nonexistent book on the subject.

However, I would be remiss not to include our extended discussion on circumcision. One of the more brutish aspects of the Hannukah story was the decision by the Maccabees to forcibly circumcise assimilated Jews. Some Jews, who had acquiesced to assimilation before the revolt, had even attempted to “rebuild” their foreskins. In other words, the penis plays a more central role in the Hannukah story than you were told in Hebrew School.

This all seemed like fodder for a discussion with Gibson. Here is a transcript of this part of the conversation.

Jeffrey Goldberg: There are some unpleasant aspects to this story, you know. Some crazy stuff went on. Some of the people were so in love with Greek culture that they would uncircumcise themselves.

Mel Gibson: I know! I read that. That’s weird. How do you do that?

JG: You attach weights to your penis, I think. I think they pull the skin down. Some people have extra skin.

MG: Fuck, I don’t know. I don’t know how you do it.

JG: I think they attach weights. Which has to —

MG: — Damage you.

JG: Well, hurt like I don’t know what. The whole idea was to go and wrestle naked. It wasn’t just in front of your wife that you were worried about. It was in the gymnasium.

MG: With the guys!

JG: I guess they didn’t want to be embarrassed with a circumcised prick.

MG: Dick.

JG: Yeah, dick. It was a war about circumcision in some ways.

MG: Weird.

JG: I don’t know how you dramatize that.

MG: You have to mention it, but you wouldn’t want to make it a thing in the movie. “Hold them down!” Jesus.

JG: Try to convince your actors.

MG: In this scene, we’ll stay away from the disgusting aspects. We’ll stay on the guy’s face. Aaargghhh!

JG: Well, you did that before. You had them pull out your intestines in Braveheart.

MG: Disemboweled. You know, they castrated William Wallace. First they castrated him, then they dragged him through the streets behind horses.

JG. They did?

MG: I softened it a lot. They cut off his dick and his balls and they dragged him through the streets. Then they hung him up and drew and quartered him. He was a real wreck.

JG: I didn’t realize they castrated him.

MG: It was hideous. Yecchhh. You don’t put that in films. I thought, “I’m not doing that.”

Read the whole LOL thing.

One thing Jeffrey forgot to mention is that the Greeks made circumcision a crime that was punished by the death penalty.