Jerry Falwell is Dead; There's Not a Wet Eye in the House — Page 2

I was raised to never speak ill of the dead. That being said I never cared for this man, and never could stand his politics. I only hope and pray taht in his final moments he saw the many errors in his past and asked forgiveness (I know I am a pollyanna)
I hope he is at peace.

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I was raised to never speak ill of the dead.

What do you have to say about Sadam Hussein, Hitler and Idi Amin?

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I no longer read NAMOS posts (especially those about me)

And Roxy, this makes no sense. Either you read them or you don't. How do you know they are about you if you don't read them?

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The hardest thing about the death of Jerry Falwell is that my initial gut reaction was one I'm absolutely not proud of. The first thought that went through my mind was, "And don't let the doors of hell slap you on your way in."

As Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen said, "While our hearts go out to his family. we can't help but to reflect on his life and think about all of the families he's torn apart and teenagers that committed suicide because he made them feel inferior. He never missed an opportunity to kick our better angels to the curb and capitalize on our lesser demons to advance his career."

The gay and lesbian people in this country, in Jerry Falwell, had a vicious opponent who claimed that AIDS was "God's punishment," who fought vigorously to make sure we were denied any kind of legal standing with our loved ones, and who betrayed us when we approached him for a face to face meeting in Lynchburg -- withholding a promised meal (because he decided he couldn't eat with "sinners") and shoving the hateful Michael Johnston in our faces, the so-called exgay who was having unsafe gay sex orgies on the side despite his HIV+ status.

And yet, people who I respect, who were close to him, said he was actually a man of strong principles who did what he genuinely thought was right, and who wasn't simply a hypocritical shill. At the very least, I can hold some respect for people who say what they mean and mean what they say.

Sadly, from his beginnings as a confirmed segregationist (who later recanted) to the man who bitterly tried to cheat us of our civil rights before the law, Rev. Falwell mixed politics and religion and created a nasty stew of homophobic bigotry and hate.

Their side always said that they could "love the sinner but hate the sin." The question that I confront, as a person dedicated to non-violence of thought, word or deed, is whether I can do the same to a man I've alternately despised and outright loathed during his time here on earth.

I don't know if I can. And that's my burden to bear.
Living in the Bonus Round

I was raised to never speak ill of the dead.

"What do you have to say about Sadam Hussein, Hitler and Idi Amin?"
That they have met their maker, and that is for the maker to decide.
I also believe in karma Sueleen, and with a son about to be commisioned as in officer in the USAF, I would speak ill of no one.

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Break out the champagne! This vile, homophobic piece of vermin is no longer polluting our world. Jerry Falwell finally did something for the environment!

Updated On: 5/15/07 at 06:55 PM

Well Mom, if you believe in all that divine retribution and heaven hoo-haa I guess you can't burn your bridges. But for us Atheists, I get tired of having to live by the standards of those who have been brainwashed. I do wish your son, and everyone involved with the war the best. Seriously, I hope he will be safe, but if something should happen to him it will be through no fault of yours.

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I happily quote the Addams Family crest:

We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Oppress Us

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When people die and we mourn, we are grieving for ourselves...death unites us in a way that no other human experience can.

However, I must confess I feel no remorse over this man's death whatsoever. I was not able to identify with him on any level while he was alive, so I'm certainly not going to be able to in death.

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<---gonna make a pilgrimage to the grave site so i can dance.

Life is too short for anyone to hate anyone else

Sorry, but the "reverend" preached hatred so he is getting what he deserves.

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Sueleen- It's people like you who give atheists a bad name. My mom should belive what she wants to belive and you should not attack her for it or any other person who belives in somthing. That belive of "not to speak ill of the dead" was taught by her mother. As Anne Frank once said "In spite of everything I still believe thst people are really good at heart."

That being said. I NEVER agreed with anything this man said. However we all should keep in mind that his family just lost someone very close to them and when you lose a loved one it is the worse feeling and I would never would wish that kind of pain on anyone. So I am sad that his family is in mourning.

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Updated On: 5/15/07 at 08:08 PM

I don't think Sueleen gives atheists a bad name. Sueleen speaks for Sueleen only, and never claimed to be a spokesperson for any group or way of thinking.

Falwell was spokesperson for many in his cult-er-church. Many people stood behind the man and his way of thinking (and were hidden by his gluttonous figure).