May 15, 2007
Reverend Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, and a leader of the American Christian right, has died at the age of 73. Falwell was a much beloved, but controversial figure in public conversation. We're going to talk about his legacy; whatever your opinion, he was a potent character in this country. Give us your thoughts on him...
Jerry Falwell should never have bee eulogized on this show, especially by a man like Ralph Reed. Shameful to think that politics, as presented by Falwell, stained the life of Jesus Christ, who was by no means conservative.
It bothers me that "Doctor Falwell" is being given such an overwhelmingly glowing eulogy on a program that is typically so even-handed when looking at people and ideas. To call him "decent and kind" within years of him blaming any number of society's ills on his target of choice (whether it be strong women, gay men, or people who don't share his religious beliefs), he has NOT shown himself to be "decent and kind" in any manner of speaking. When America was down, Falwell KICKED it - in many occasions - on national television and did so while wrapping himself in the flag and waving a cross. This is inexcuseable.
My memory of Falwell is as a hateful man who used God to say who is okay in the world and who is not. I will never forget as a young student, going to "Liberty University" in the 80's and being told that I could not room with a white fellow student because of the rules against black and white students mixing! 'Not to mention all the things that this so called man of God had to say about Gay's and Lesbian's! I just hope the Rock Hudson is there at the pearly gates to slam the door in his face!
Early in my life I did not care for Jerry Falwell. When I realized Jesus Christ was Lord, then my mind changed. When I looked around and saw I was in a world which was fast becoming morally bankrupt, it was a comfort to have someone fighting for the principals and values of the Bible. As a young person I was always trying to go against the grain and be in the minority. It was alarming to see when I changed I was in the fast becoming minority again. Not by will but by faith and knowledge of what is true and good. To have someone like him willing to stand for what was right, gave me courage to stand also.
Dr. Falwell has done more harm to Christianity in this country. To eulogized this man? Kind and decent? This was a hypocritical individual who knew little about our society let alone the world. He demonized us when we were down. Later waving the flag and cross for a crusade against another religion he has no concept. I agree with a previous entry. This is inexcuseable.
Words fail me. All day I've listened to my local public station broadcast show after show eulogizing Falwell. This fawning coverage, this refusal to name hatefulness and ignorance where it exists is why I stopped giving money to public radio years ago: they've moved from the mission of educating the public for the strengthening of democracy, toward complicity with the right wing, whether political or religious. I am so sad and so dispirited; what will become of our country?
I cannot disagree with any of the negative comments about Dr. Falwell who, for the better part of my life as a gay man, has represented hatred and intolerance, wrapped in self-righteousness and the flag. I'm a bit tired of theocrats and 'believers' such as Dr. Falwell shoving their dogma down our throats as if it is impossible to live a moral and noble life unless one is a Christian or religious. Organized religion has caused more strife in this world than anything else. For Dr. Falwell to make a statement such as that 911 was brought upon the US by gays, lesbians, pro-choice people and others who in his belief are immoral, clearly demonstrates what a narrow-minded and naive man he was. Although he later apologized and said that he didn't mean to blame anyone but the actual terrorists, the apology is b.s. and merely done to prevent popular backlash against him and his institutions. If he didn't mean to blame anyone but the terrorists, why would a 'noble" man make such a comment to begin with? Sorry, apology not accepted. In my 48 years, I've gone from being Catholic, to Protestant to agnostic and due in large part to people like Dr. Falwell and his ilk.
Dr. Falwell spoke the truth. He didn't divide people of this nation. The problem with so many people is that they attempt to make God in their image. The bible which Dr. Falwell taught were not his words but God's. People need to take out their anger and frustrations out on God. OH! God is loving and full of mercy but he does get angry and his justice is as great as his love. Check out your bibles people and read about Sodom.
I reread Leviticus after all the anti-homosexual talk from Falwell. You know, it also says God doesn't allow tattoos in the same section, and he wants adulterers stoned to death. If all of the pro-Falwell homophobes want to quote the Bible, they had better follow all of it. I doubt any of them are without "sin", so they really ought to stop casting stones. I think Falwell was a hate-filled, unhappy man, and JESUS would not have approved of him. What God chooses to do with him is His business.
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