Falwell spent a career demonizing others. Upon his death, what else could he expect in return?

[kpete]

The stone is cast



Jerry Falwell spent a career demonizing others. Upon his death, what else could he expect in return?

By Alan Wolfe


Photo: AP/Stephen J. Boitano

The Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks during the Christian Coalition of America Road to Victory 2000 conference in Washington on Sept. 29, 2000.

May 15, 2007 | One never wants to speak ill of the dead, but in the case of Jerry Falwell, how can one not? Falwell will always be remembered for his "700 Club" comment in the wake of Sept. 11: "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.'" Even though Falwell later apologized, the damage had been done: A sacred moment had been used for profane purpose.

And that, really, is Falwell's legacy. To the religious life of the United States he made no significant contribution. But to the political life of the country, he made one: He founded the Moral Majority. In so doing, Falwell managed to take something holy -- one does not have to be a Christian to admire the life and teachings of Jesus Christ -- and turned it into something partisan and divisive. Falwell, the quintessential conservative Christian, was always more conservative than Christian. To the extent that history will remember him, it will be as a politician, not as a preacher.

.............

Instead of pondering Jerry Falwell's legacy, we would be better off asking how this man ever become a public figure in the first place. America has had more than its share of religiously inspired demagogues -- Dr. Fred Swartz, Billy James Hargis, Carl McIntyre come to mind -- but they are forgotten figures, marginal even to the times in which lived. One would like to believe that the United States has become a bigger and better country since the days when men like them preached about captive nations and denounced the pernicious influence of rock 'n' roll. But then there is Jerry Falwell. In death, as he did in life, he reminds us that demagoguery never dies; it just changes its form. Jerry Falwell expressed great hate for a lot of his fellow Americans. It is no wonder that so many of them will greet his death with something less than love.

more at:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/05/15/jerryfalwell/

[kiki]

1. Y'know, in a way, he's lucky.

We all know that if you open the closet of your average rabid anti-sex evangelical "Christian", an avalanche of dildos, crystal meth and the most degrading pornography known to man falls out. Jerry was at least lucky to have taken whatever nasty, hypocritical little secrets he had to the grave with him.

Ted Haggard probably can't help but feel a pang of jealousy. "You won the game, Jerry... you fooled them all."

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Jerry will come back as a baby in Baghdad, if there is really any

supernatural justice.

[Iris]

3. Since I don't really believe in hell, I like to imagine his dumbfounded look

as he's greeted by a group of flaming homosexuals or outrageous drag queens or MARGARET SANGER!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. But he also caused things to happen that have helped us

People for the American Way by Norman Lear was started to counter Falwell's venom.
Falwell's suit against Larry Flynt resulted in a victory not only for Flynt, but for all those who cherish the First Amendment.

Perhaps the best thing we can do is to list all the positive things like this that were the fruit of the negative behavior of Falwell.

[seabeyond]

5. this might be what he expected but i really dont want to live to falwells expectation

mine are so much higher and chose to live to my expectations.

[ananda]

6. Falwell was a disgusting, hypocritical preacher ..

.. but it's the people who follow that kind of preaching
that I find to be the real problem.

People here in America just don't know how to think.

[mcscajun]

7. This really *does* say it all...

about the man who, as Alan Wolfe said, "used a sacred moment...for profane purpose."

To the religious life of the United States he made no significant contribution....Falwell managed to take something holy...and turned it into something partisan and divisive.

-snip-

In death, as he did in life, he reminds us that demagoguery never dies; it just changes its form. Jerry Falwell expressed great hate for a lot of his fellow Americans. It is no wonder that so many of them will greet his death with something less than love.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/05/15/jerryfalwell/?source=newsletter

[Madspirit]

8. k&r...n/t