In memory of Jerry Falwell
You’ll have heard by now about the death of Jerry Falwell. Yesterday, CNN's I-Report asked for comments on his life: “The Rev. Jerry Falwell has died at the age of 73. What are your memories of him? What do you think his legacy will be? Send us your thoughts, photos and videos.”
Today’s posting is a longer version of my own I-Report submission, which is highly unlikely to make the air in the next few days' inevitable wave of hagiography:
I have many vivid memories of Jerry Falwell. I will always remember, as who can forget, his accusing his fellow Americans - those who happened not to agree with him on some Biblical issues - of bringing God’s wrath on America in the form of the 9/11 attacks: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’ ” I remember, as well, the “apology” in which he reiterated that “the ACLU and other organizations ... created an environment which possibly has caused God to lift the veil of protection which has allowed no one to attack America on our soil since 1812.”
I remember, as many seem to choose to forget, that he was once an outspoken segregationist and that Lester Maddox and George Wallace were guests of his on the “Old-Time Gospel Hour” show. I remember that he wrote, “I hope to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we don't have public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!” I remember that he called the Metropolitan Community of Churches “a vile and Satanic system” and said there would be “a celebration in heaven” when this Christian fellowship was “utterly annihilated”. (Amusingly enough, both Larry King and his guest James Dobson agreed tonight that they’d never heard Falwell say anything hateful.)
I remember that his only objection to George W. Bush’s “Faith Based Initiatives” program was his fear that Federal funds might someday be distributed to people who didn’t agree with him.
I remember his selling a videotape accusing President Bill Clinton and Vince Foster of various criminal activities - a tape funded by an organization later caught bribing Arkansas state troopers to make wild conspiratorial allegations about Foster. I remember Falwell’s later admitting that he had no idea whether anything in the tape he'd sold was true or false.
But most of all, I think, I remember the pseudo-tolerant smirk he displayed in public appearances whenever anyone dared to disagree with him. The smirk that said, "If only you knew it, by disagreeing with me, you're really disagreeing with God. But aren't I being open-minded by allowing you to express your sinful, Satanic notions?"
No, I won’t miss Jerry Falwell.
Today’s posting is a longer version of my own I-Report submission, which is highly unlikely to make the air in the next few days' inevitable wave of hagiography:
I have many vivid memories of Jerry Falwell. I will always remember, as who can forget, his accusing his fellow Americans - those who happened not to agree with him on some Biblical issues - of bringing God’s wrath on America in the form of the 9/11 attacks: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’ ” I remember, as well, the “apology” in which he reiterated that “the ACLU and other organizations ... created an environment which possibly has caused God to lift the veil of protection which has allowed no one to attack America on our soil since 1812.”
I remember, as many seem to choose to forget, that he was once an outspoken segregationist and that Lester Maddox and George Wallace were guests of his on the “Old-Time Gospel Hour” show. I remember that he wrote, “I hope to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we don't have public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!” I remember that he called the Metropolitan Community of Churches “a vile and Satanic system” and said there would be “a celebration in heaven” when this Christian fellowship was “utterly annihilated”. (Amusingly enough, both Larry King and his guest James Dobson agreed tonight that they’d never heard Falwell say anything hateful.)
I remember that his only objection to George W. Bush’s “Faith Based Initiatives” program was his fear that Federal funds might someday be distributed to people who didn’t agree with him.
I remember his selling a videotape accusing President Bill Clinton and Vince Foster of various criminal activities - a tape funded by an organization later caught bribing Arkansas state troopers to make wild conspiratorial allegations about Foster. I remember Falwell’s later admitting that he had no idea whether anything in the tape he'd sold was true or false.
But most of all, I think, I remember the pseudo-tolerant smirk he displayed in public appearances whenever anyone dared to disagree with him. The smirk that said, "If only you knew it, by disagreeing with me, you're really disagreeing with God. But aren't I being open-minded by allowing you to express your sinful, Satanic notions?"
No, I won’t miss Jerry Falwell.