The Falwell Thread on the Home Page is Offensive

[Stephanie]

I'm sorry that he wasn't a good guy, but there's no call to speak ill of the dead minutes after his passing on the front page of DU. That's not right.

[SteppingRazor]

1. So was Falwell n/t

[SecularMotion]

49. I agree

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I agree.

n/t

[Beelzebud]

3. If you are never offended, you aren't living in a free society.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Awww...

:nopity:

[YDogg]

41. I hadn't thought about "frothy mixture" in quite a while.

:-)

[murielm99]

61. Why do you keep posting this picture?

It has nothing to do with Falwell's death.

That little girl was sad because her father lost. She can't help who her father is.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

63. because it's a good one.

And it perfectly sums up freeper sentiment.

[Missy Vixen]

77. Actually, it's victimizing a child

whose father didn't have the common sense to remove her from a situation that was upsetting to her.

The photo has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

Just a question -- how would YOU feel if that was your daughter, your niece, your sister?

We are no better than they are when we use the same tactics. The young girl in question doesn't deserve this.

Julie

[DefenseLawyer]

127. Victimizing?

I suppose that picture might be unflattering, but victimizing? Just what is your rationale to throw around a word that that? Victim of what? Has it been photoshop to misrepresent how she looked? Is it inaccurate that she was sad or at least made a sad face for a camera? There is no shame in crying. If Rick Santorum was my dad I would cry to. Having one's picture taken when one is ON A STAGE IN A PUBLIC FORUM doesn't make one a victim. It's a funny picture, but I don't think it reflects negatively on the child. Kids cry. There are literally millions of children in this world that truly are victims. I humbly suggest that you channel some of your self righteousness to a more worthy cause.

[Missy Vixen]

128. The child is obviously a minor

To continue posting a photograph that has nothing to do with the subject at hand and shows the young lady obviously upset is victimization, whether or not you agree. The posters here went into white-heat meltdown over Rush Limbaugh's comments on a thirteen-year-old Chelsea Clinton, for instance. How is THIS different?

>Having one's picture taken when one is ON A STAGE IN A PUBLIC FORUM doesn't make one a victim.<

Did she have a choice about being there? Considering the fact she was there because her parents obviously required it didn't give many choices, did it?

I don't think the photo's funny at all. I think it's sad that her parents care more about their political aspirations than about an obviously upset and distraught child.

>I humbly suggest that you channel some of your self righteousness to a more worthy cause.<

I have three words for you: Pot. Kettle. Black.

Julie

[CreekDog]

111. Guess you're happy that Falwell's family is crying now

If you like that picture.

[motocicleta]

115. A) I don't believe they are crying.

B) If they are crying, then yes, I am happy they are crying. Those pigfuckers (and I mean that with all due respect for pigs) were close to the great evil and did nothing to stop him. I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? Puhleeze.

Not that I believe anyone close to him is crying over his death, may I reiterate.

[CreekDog]

121. Just like you're happy that Santorum's daughter was crying

You know, she wasn't responsible for his actions.

Oh, but I guess since the roof over her head and food in her mouth was paid for by her dad's salary as a senator, she was a willing participant in everything he did and deserves to cry.

You have gone off the deep end.

[motocicleta]

132. Indeed I have.

Shoved off the edge by Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, Bush, Cheney, Rove, Gingrich, O'Reilly, etc, etc, etc. Not my fault, but guilty as charged.

[cboy4]

68. ...

:spray:

[MissB]

5. I'm sure it would be better to alert on that thread than start a new one

complaining.

He was a pitiful excuse for a human.

[Stephanie]

7. I'm complaining that it's on the home page.

Folks can post whatever they like, but I think that was a poor choice for the DU home page.

[BurtWorm]

26. I agree. It's a poor choice for the home page.

[TankLV]

33. Get over it - WE have...

would you like some cheeze with your whine?

[Enthusiast]

85. Yeah............?

Yeah, Democrats are soft! When will Democrats stop being so soft on evil? Falwell would have sent you to the gas chamber for being a non-believer.

[Stephanie]

86. Democrats are civilized.

And humanitarian.

[Parche]

9. Human

He was a human???? :rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[RedEarth]

6. I agree...but this is DU.....

[Raven]

8. Death does not confer legitimacy, kindness, decency or honesty

on someone who didn't practice it in life. The man was very destructive. I didn't respect him when he was alive and I'm not required to do so now that he's dead.

[smoogatz]

65. Amen.

Heh.

[Individualist]

91. Perfectly said, Raven

:thumbsup:

[Raffi Ella]

10. To be free of one of the most miserable

hate filled mean spirited and despicable men to have ever walked the planet is a day to rejoice.If you are offended by the atmosphere that surrounds his passing...so be it.

I personally cannot get enough of the euphoria;Let the celebration begin!Free at Last,Free at Last,Thank God Almighty we are free at last!

[buff2]

11. Oh,like the rightwing trash never speaks ill of

one of ours. :sarcasm: This is DU,not FR. Get over it.

[Moderate Dem]

16. Aren't we supposed to be BETTER than that?

Are you happy to be just as shameful and cruel as the Freepers?

[buff2]

34. Yes

We have lost too many elections BECAUSE of "being better than they are". I say it's about time we stand up for ourselves and quit worrying about "what the republicans think".I'm tired of our party being a bunch of cowards.

[Moderate Dem]

12. I agree

There will be pleny of time to trash Falwell for all of his many wrongs and prejudices. The Home page content is shameful, and embarrassing.

Grow up, people.

[Lex]

13. I agree, Stephanie.

nt

[Syrinx]

14. it's disgusting that we have a party here everytime some bastard dies

That is all.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Why not?

The world's a slightly better place than it was an hour ago.

[liberal N proud]

27. That is an uplifting thought

Thanks

[Squatch]

15. The dude used Jesus Christ to spread the most vile hate.

He can burn in hell.

[karlrschneider]

17. I always say something good about the dead. He's dead, good.

...

[Frosty1]

74. You just made my day brighter

I am going through a very difficult time right now. Your comment made me laugh. Thank you

[Kelvin Mace]

19. To quote the DFH:

Finally, someone has shut that vicious gas-bag of hate down. I know some folks believe that it is not decent to speak ill of the dead, but I when a rabid animal dies, it is a cause for celebration.

Yes, there were people who loved him and cared about him, but then every vile person in history has people who loved him.

If he was truly doing "God's will" as he liked to brag, then why is he dead? The answer is "God" really had nothing to do with it. He ate himself to death, his gluttony like his arrogant conceit something he could never control.

Perhaps "God" will get to work on the rest of his "spiritual kindred".

www.dirtyfuckinghippy.com

[Old Vet]

20. Lest not forget his comments on 9-11

God did this because of NYs culture, And deserved it. Somehow find it terribly hard to find any compassion for this man who spewed so much hate!

[scarface2004]

21. it s not offensive enough!!!!

falwell promoted hate his whole life..screw him!

[Madspirit]

Right On Scarface!...n/t

[CreekDog]

112. A winning formula: repay hate with hate

Let me know how that works out for you.

[Missy Vixen]

22. Stephanie, thank you, I agree

I didn't care for Jerry Falwell, but we are no better than they are if we condone this kind of stuff.

Julie

[sharp_stick]

23. I'll happily speak ill of that prick forever

alive or dead, I hate him and have no cause to speak other than badly of him.

[Madspirit]

24. Cry me a fucking river

That's like saying..."boo hoo hoo Hitler is dead." As a lesbian and a leftist and someone who has been tortured and tormented and who's very life has been affected by these idiots....I am throwing a little dance around the room party. I don't give a shit how it looks. I can't wait until all the nazis die off.
Lee

[buff2]

46. I'm with you

I never will forget the time that homophobe said that the Teletubbies were "gay". God,he was evil to the core.

[Lars39]

76. I laughed and did a little dance in the kitchen.

My 80 yo dad who hates Falwell with a passion broke out into a big grin and clapped when he read the news.

[riverdale]

100. 3 cheers for madspirit

Do your best Tinky Winky dance!! I like your spirit.

[KennedyGuy]

25. I agree..I disliked the man, but I pray that he finds

that some of his rhetoric was hurtful. What many here do not seem to get is that these hateful threads will be used for the next 3 days on Faux and will then creep into MSNBC and CNN and will be used to identify mainstream Democrats.
I am a gay male..I despised everything this man stood for, but I take no delight in his death, preferring instead to pray that he is shown a better way in the afterlife.

[TankLV]

28. Screw him - he was EVIL - he would see ME dead!

Tough shit if you don't like the TRUTH...

I could care less about your "feelings" when this man PERSONALLY persecuted Gays and helped nurture the climate of HATE that prospers BECAUSE OF HIM!

Would you mourn Hitler's passing?

[devilgrrl]

29. Nor was there any call to blame 9/11 on gays and women.

:nuke:

[rhiannon55]

97. Or on Pagans

like me.

[spoony]

30. Grave-pissing is sport here.

How does that kids song go? You ought never laugh as the hearse goes by, for you may be...

[Greyhound]

31. Like both Hussein and Raygun, the world is a better place without them.

It is only too bad that with their deaths, the damage they did is not undone. Other than that I couldn't care less either way.:shrug:

[burythehatchet]

99. yup

[mudesi]

32. Why are there always people who hold your opinion?

The man was scum. What is it about the death of a horrible person that deserves any sort of respect? "Speak ill of the dead"? What does that even mean?

[DeepModem Mom]

35. That, IMO, is one of the downsides of the new homepage --

the most inflammatory, bad taste, profane, etc., often end up highlighted as our best here. That said, I wish news coverage of this man's death could be somewhat "balanced." Under the guise of a man of God, he often represented evil.

[Hubert Flottz]

36. Jerry Foulwill, will do anything...to get his freakin' name in this...

Friday edition of Jeff's DUzy awards...anything!

[opihimoimoi]

107. I, for one, am glad the toad has left us behind.....screw his style of Hate and Deception...

[libnnc]

37. He blamed me and mine for 9/11

The tsunami that killed thousands, Katrina, and every other natural and not so natural disaster the world has suffered.

Not much sympathy here.

[Quixote1818]

38. I agree

I am afraid the Cat is out of the bag however. There is no way the Mods will be able to control what is hitting the boards.

[eShirl]

39. I agree

Can we wait until he's in the grave before we piss on it? He's going to be dead forever, folks.

[mudesi]

40. Why?

Did he do something in his life to deserve any of my respect?

[eShirl]

because you're a decent human being?

[LostinVA]

56. I think not mourning his passing makes you a decent human being

He used a religion based on love and compassion to spread hate, mainly against gays and African Americans. I'm very glad he no longer walks on the same Earth as me.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

96. Amen... so to speak.

:hi:

[IntravenousDemilo]

80. Just being helpful by softening the ground before they start digging. n/m

[dogday]

42. He is with God now and I am sure

God is kicking his ass.... This man was a deceiver in the worst way.. He injected politics into the church... He is just as responsible for the bloody mess in Iraq as Bush is... He pushed and promoted shrub's policies and my Son fought in Iraq last year because of all of this...

The man might of thought he projected a front of good and God, but in essence, he was the epitome of evil in my book....

[dolo amber]

43. THIS is fucking offensive

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x889908

[BurtWorm]

58. That would actually be a better choice for the home page.

The one that's presently there is a touch moranic. But Falwell's words are the best tribute to what his life meant. They speak for themselves.

[LostinVA]

59. Agreed

[dolo amber]

62. Exactly

:patriot:

[tigereye]

66. Billy Graham is an agent of Satan????

:wow:


:wtf:

[underpants]

72. Forum and headline?

Having some trouble with links

[RestoreGore]

44. It's the way of the world. So many are what they hate

As much as they deny it. Sure, he was a hateful man, but he is now gone. No need for me to stoop to his level, and I won't.

[pgw]

45. The truth is

Falwell was offensive

[NYC Liberal]

47. Why does him dying earn him any "respect",

even for a little bit?

What he did when he was alive doesn't change now, so why should anyone's attitudes towards him change?

[Stephanie]

73. I didn't use the word respect, so don't put it in quotes as if I did.

I just think the thread's in very poor taste for the home page.

[CreekDog]

113. NYC why do you here and in other threads equate respecting his death

with respecting the man?

Are you that stupid that you cannot tell the difference?

[devilgrrl]

48. It is not good to speak ill of the dead. Unfortunately for Falwell, he wasn't a human being...

therefore, the rule does not apply.

[dbackjon]

50. Falwell was an asshole - evil to the core

He was conviving, arrogant, and evil. He cause much pain and suffering in this world, and the world is brighter with his death.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

51. I agree 100%

and it's one of the reasons I so rarely post here anymore.
I don't know what else to say, except God have mercy on his soul and wish his family well.

[tishaLA]

52. Normally I'd agree with this

But we're talking about Jerry-Fucking Falwell here, not someone with the remotest bit of respectability. I won't be saying anything bad about him here, though, cuz I already did it on my myspace page and others here can do the work for me.

[ourbluenation]

53. I agree. he had a family that cared about him. i think it would make them sad to see it.

we're better than this.

[rasputin1952]

54. I found Falwell a miserable creature, and while I post some

things about how degrading and miserable he was, I can not, in good faith revel over his death.

I can think of worse people, but most of them are dead as well. I am not saddened by his demise, one iota, just as I wold not shed a tear over the Hitler, Stalin or Mao. He was an evil man, but rather than take a moment to dance in the street, I feel that he missed out on a lot of life because he was driven by hate and bastardized a religion that holds as it's chief tenets, understanding, compassion, patience and love. Maybe, just maybe, before that last heartbeat, he relented and knew how much hatred he fed, and repented, at least for one moment.

[Dukkha]

55. ummm HELL NO! I will enjoy this.

NO tolerance NO respect for the king of hate and intolerance. Any words of respect for that slimy piece of shit is unwarranted and unjustified.

[DemGa]

57. Exactly

I expected the response on here, but not on the Home Page.

[shaniqua6392]

60. We will not turn someone into a martyr or hero because he died.

He was a horrible person who used the name of God to influence politics. And now we will have to listen for days on end how wonderful he was. And don't forget the televised funeral service. Look back at some of the horrible things he said about victims in NY after 9-11, etc. Most of what came out of his mouth was not God-pleasing, in my opinion. He mixed politics and religion on a daily basis. I would not want to be him at pearly gates trying to explain what his life stood for. I am not speaking ill of the dead. I am speaking truth and death does not absolve him of scrutiny. He acted like he was God, not like God wants us to act.

[monobrau]

64. I dance on the graves of my enemies

People die every day. When evil people die it is a time for celebration.

[DearAbby]

67. ::crying fake tears:::

piffffffffffft. Lets be hypocrites, for what purpose?

[Duer 157099]

69. Being dead does not change the facts of his life

And the evil hatred he spread for decades.

He's no better than the likes of Saddam imho.

[IronLionZion]

70. God is great.

God is wonderful, awesome, almighty, powerful, and merciful. Who are we mere mortals who shall question the will of our lord and savior?

God chose to take Jerry from us for a reason. The world is always changing. But for we, ourselves, the change must come from within. This is all for the best.

[sarge43]

71. Sorry, but this man publicly stated that AIDS was God's

punishment for not only homosexuals but this society for 'tolerating' homosexuals.

He didn't deserve the good will or good thoughts of good people when he was alive. Why should he deserve them now?

[Stephanie]

75. Thanks, EarlG

:hi:

* Edited by Admin because this post is on the homepage

[La Lioness Priyanka]

78. sorry you are offended. i am just happy he's dead!

:woohoo:

[sniffa]

79. oh, i just assumed this was going to be about

a thread praising the man, or just not making him Look that bad. that wouLd be offensive.

[bullwinkle428]

81. Whoever tries to compare this to the way the Freepers

reacted to, say, Paul Wellstone's death is completely off the mark. Falwell was a professional hate-monger, cloaking himself as a man of God while giving his followers scapegoats to blame for all of the "ills" of society. He was nothing more than a modern-day Goebbels...

[ScreamingMeemie]

82. It was not right for him to spew hatred under the guise of Christianity.

That is what was not right, Stephanie. Sorry. I usually agree. But not this time.

[Stephanie]

87. What's on the home page has been cleaned up.

I don't know if you saw it. It was innappropriate.

[Javaman]

83. ill of the dead! ill of the dead!! zippity do da zippity ay!!!

ding dong jerry is dead!!

Now where are those dance shoes? I'm off to his grave!

[Deep13]

84. Explain why it isn't right.

Explain what difference it could possibly make to anyone.

[MadHound]

88. Home page, front page, shout it from the rooftops!

A GREAT EVIL HAS DIED TODAY! REJOICE FOR THE DEATH OF SUCH EVIL!

[gravity]

89. It's called respect

It's just wrong to speak ill of someone when they just died, especially when their family is mourning at this very moment.

[sarge43]

90. And what respect did Farwell give to the people dying of AIDS and

their families? Why should he receive what he was unwilling to give? Did his family ever say he was wrong?

[whopis01]

101. If you want to continue his cycle of hatred, go right ahead.

If you want to be a better person, that is your choice as well.

[sarge43]

105. Just where is my post expressing any hate for the man?

And you still haven't answered the question as to why he deserves any respect, dead or alive.

[gravity]

130. I think the line is drawn when you dance on someones grave

I believe that the world is a better place without him, but I will still allow his family to mourn his death in peace. It's not the time or place for politics.

[mondo joe]

106. Falwell declared war on my family. I'm supposed to respect him?

I don't think so.

[KurtNYC]

92. Falwell was the one who said regarding 9/11/2001 and within days of the attack:

"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." - Jerry Taliban Falwell

He portrayed the 911 attacks as being the will of an angry God. I will not stop calling him wrong in those actions simply because he is dead. He sought to cash in on terrorism

[Stephanie]

95. Well this thread was specifically about the thread on the homepage, now edited.

Because I did not think it was appropriate to have Jerry "Fartwell" etc. on the DU home page. I do not disagree with you that he was a bad guy, and we have the right to say so. I just thought it was in very poor taste to have juvenile comments (now removed) at the top of the DU homepage minutes after his death. YMMV.

[Kelly Rupert]

93. What, we should pretend that hateful men were good guys once they die?

Will we have a candlelight vigil for David Duke too?

[RevCheesehead]

94. It's certainly not very good PR.

But it may very well be "truth in advertising."

sigh.

[progressoid]

98. WHAT? We talked ill of him when he was alive so now we should show him reverence?

Paaaleeze.

[whopis01]

102. There is a difference between not celebrating death and showing reverance. n/t

[progressoid]

103. Well, everybody dies eventually. And he had 73 years.

73 quite comfortable years I might add.

So how am I supposed to acknowledge the natural passing of a man who during his entire life was an abscess on this nation?

[whopis01]

116. That is for you to determine for yourself.

I was not telling you how you should acknowledge his passing. I think that you are reading too much into people's posts and feel that they are trying to tell you what you should do. You seemed to think that the OP was saying people should be showing reverence for the man. I don't believe that was his point. I believe that he was commenting on the profound amount of hatred coming out of DU (not from your posts, from the posts of others) for Falwell. I was merely pointing out that it is possible to neither celebrate nor mourn his death.

If you feel the need to acknowledge his death in someway, that is of course totally up to you and you should figure that out for yourself.

[BeHereNow]

104. I could not agree more- it makes us no different than him. N/T

bhn

[dflprincess]

108. Being dead does not erase the evil and hate that man spewed

nor does it entitle him to any respect.

[Gelliebeans]

109. Sorry but Falwell is being judged by

his own words and his deeds. He was not concerned about those actions being misrepresented in life.

[Vidar]

110. A devil in human form has perished. Dance commences now.

[alcibiades_mystery]

114. Why not? What's the big prohibition about "speaking ill of the dead"

It's obviously not a universal assumption. Nobody here will post a similar thread if Osama bin Laden ends up dead.

So what is it?

Why shouldn't we speak ill of the dead? We spoke ill of them when they were alive, when it actually mattered to them. So what's the big prohibition. It sounds like uncritical nonsense to me.

[greyghost]

118. It is...

nonsense.

The only sad part is, that Pat Robertson remains alive.

[Skittles]

117. boo f***ing hoo

Falwell has been offending me - has been OFFENSIVE TO AMERICA, as long as I can remember

[greyghost]

119. The weak , tree hugging Dem's...

need to wake up to the fact the Falwell and his ilk play for keeps.

They have already succeeded in doing a great deal of damage to this country, damage that may never be undone.

All they understand is a punch in the face and a kick in the ass!

Fuck them all!

[MLFerrell]

120. I disagree...

See HERE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x897136

[OneBlueSky]

122. I never knew there were so many hateful people on DU . . .

I'm shocked and dismayed . . . maybe it's time for me to move on . . .

[whirlygigspin]

123. karma's a bitch

hate filled people? get real. IT IS the consequence to what HE said and did all his life.

Preach hate all your life and that's what you get--why act surprised?

By his own measure, by his own words, nothing else.

Oh beautiful day!

...sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

[greyghost]

124. It is...

his karma, pure and simple.

May he rot in hell, along with Pat Robertson and the rest of his ilk!

[GeorgeGist]

125. Jerry chose to follow his ego ...

and lost his soul. His ego is dead, his former soul is home free. May his legacy be short.

[Cobalt Violet]

126. When do we have your permission to start speaking ill of him?

How long do we have to wait. His body must be cold by now. :party:

[durrrty libby]

129. Well I am extremely offended that you are offended

So now what?


:freak: :freak: :freak: :nopity: :hurts: :spank: :wow:

[greyghost]

131. Priceless n/t

[Stephanie]

133. I posted thsi thread minutes after his death was announced -

At that moment the LBN thread had gotten so many recommends it hit the top of the homepage. The thread was titled Falwell Dead or something, but the post itself was just juvenile insults, something like, I call him Fartwell, or Fuckwell. Whatever it was it was innappropriate for the homepage of DU minutes after the announcement of his death, IMO, and evidently the mods agreed with me because the post was edited for content so it included the actual news story instead of the poster's crude editorial comments. That said, I think everyone should be free to say whatever they like about the man, as he felt free to spew hateful words about US. I just thought, at that moment, that that particular post was in very poor taste for the homepage of DU. I've never seen you around here before but check my journal if you think I am some kind of enabler. I think you'll find we are on the same team. :hi: