WORLD STORIES/UPDATE

 

Mel Gibson defends film on Leno

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mel Gibson said Thursday his film The Passion of the Christ was unfairly prejudged for a year before its release -- but he forgives his critics. Gibson told Jay Leno on NBC's The Tonight Show that he would try to adopt a loving attitude "even for those who persecute you." "For a year, it's been nothing but nasty editorials and name-calling," he said. The movie, which grossed $23.6 million US on its opening day Wednesday, is based on Gospel accounts of the last hours of the life of Jesus. Some have praised Gibson's commitment to his subject, while others have called the movie excessively bloody, obsessed with cruelty and unfair in its portrayal of Jews. Gibson acknowledged the movie is violent and said it is R-rated for a reason. "The Bible is R-rated. I mean, look at that book...That's a hot book," he joked. But he noted many other films are violent, mentioning Kill Bill: Vol 1, the Quentin Tarantino martial arts bloodbath. "Why am I being picked on for this? There's far more violent movies," he said. Gibson alleged a copy of the script was obtained "nefariously" before the film was completed, leading to "all these accusations of anti-Semitism," which he denied. "That's not what the film's about," he said. "It's about tolerance." Gibson said he never considered changing the script because of protests. "I don't know any director, any artist who would bow to this kind of pressure. It's un-American," he said. In his opening monologue, Leno joked the movie, which cost Gibson $30 million to make, is doing so well "there's now talk of turning it into a book."

Photo: Ms. Monica Crowley.

PARIS (WACJ): A survey conducted by World Art Celebrities journal in 65 countries revealed that Ms. Monica Crowley, a political commentator in the United States was chosen was one of the most admired and trusted media personalities in America. Furthermore, the international polls indicated that the radio show "The Monica Crowley Show" along with "Jazz Piano" hosted by Ms. Marianne Partland of the National Public Radio were selected by listeners and international audiences as the two best radio programs in the United States. Ms. Crowley crowned the WACJ February issue cover and was interviewed by Valerie Constand. An insider told the Herald, webstats of the WACJ showed 42,305 hits in the search word of Monica Crowley, 2,712 hits for "Monica Crowley age" and 12,765 hits for  "Monica Crowley Show". Ms. Crowley hold a doctoral degree in international relation. She appears occasionally on the FoxNews Channel as a co-host and a political commentator. She is highly admired in the United States and widely recognized as one of the most brilliant political analytical minds of her generation.

Photo: American tube personality and author, Sean Hannity.

Sean Hannity, the co-host of the well-respected American television debate show "Hannity and Holmes" on the FoxNews Channel released his second book "Deliver Us From Evil". The book is quite informative and to a certain degree explosive in the manner Mr. Hannity discussed issues pertaining to American leading political figures such as Senators Ted Kennedy and Mrs. Hillary Clinton. However, Hannity's book is a great addition to the American political library. It encompasses a wealth of information tempered with a polite approach to political sarcasm. The book shed lights on the difficult moments and passages of past and current political events of the domestic and international foreign policies of the United States.  One of the dominant characteristic features of Hannity's book is the wisdom provided and lessons learned from past political experiences. Mr. Hannity's brilliant analogy of world leaders and in-depth analysis of the psyche of American politics deserve a warm accolade and a great admiration. "Deliver Us From Evil" is a monumental socio-political work. Highly recommended. Rating: 5 stars.

 

Photo: Professor Noah Feldman, author of "After Jihad".

Worth mentioning "After Jihad" a most remarkable book written by Dr. Noah Feldman of the School of Law of New York University. A great emphasis was placed on the possibility and reality of democracy in the Arab and Muslim world Among the most interesting topics discussed in the book were the issues of Islamic democracy, the diversity of the Arabs and the puzzle of Egypt. Dr. Feldman is an international expert on Islamic civilization and socio-philosophical thoughts. He earned his doctorate degree in Islamic thought from Oxford. "After Jihad" is a splendid book at many levels. No socio-philosophico-political library is complete without it. Rating: 5 stars.