Crispy On The Outside
I was looking for a way to express my feelings about Jerry Falwell............
But as I was looking at stuff this morning I found this little item on Slate and decided that this guy did it so much better than I could.
So here it goes:
God, they say, is love, but the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died May 15, hit the jackpot trafficking in small-minded condemnation.
The controversies Falwell generated followed a predictable loop.
1) Falwell would say something hateful or clownish about some person or group associated with liberalism.
2) A public outcry would ensue.
3) Falwell would apologize and retract the offending comment.
4) Falwell would repeat the comment, slightly rephrased.
For 20 years, evangelicals have chided the mainstream media for treating Falwell's ghastly pronouncements as news; Falwell, they often confide in private, ceased being a significant figure well before he left his signature political organization, the Moral Majority, in 1987.
If so, someone forgot to tell Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., who as a presidential candidate in 2000 condemned Falwell's intolerance ("The political tactics of division and slander are not our values, they are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country") but last year, as a presidential candidate positioning for 2008, made peace with Falwell and gave a commencement address ("We have nothing to fear from each other") to the 2006 graduating class at Falwell's Liberty University.
On news of Falwell's death, McCain said in a statement, "Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country."
Nonsense.
He was a bigot, a reactionary, a liar, and a fool.
Herewith, a Falwell sampler.
On Sept. 11: "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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.' "
On AIDS: "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals."
On homosexuality: "I believe that all of us are born heterosexual, physically created with a plumbing that's heterosexual, and created with the instincts and desires that are basically, fundamentally, heterosexual. But I believe that we have the ability to experiment in every direction. Experimentation can lead to habitual practice, and then to a lifestyle. But I don't believe anyone begins a homosexual."
On Martin Luther King Jr.: "I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and nonviolent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations."
On Martin Luther King Jr., four decades later: "You know, I supported Martin Luther King Jr., who did practice civil disobedience."
On public education: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again, and Christians will be running them."
On the separation of church and state: "There is no separation of church and state."
On feminists: "I listen to feminists and all these radical gals. ... These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of the feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men; that's their problem."
On global warming: "I can tell you, our grandchildren will laugh at those who predicted global warming. We'll be in global cooling by then, if the Lord hasn't returned. I don't believe a moment of it. The whole thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our economic stability."
On Bishop Desmond Tutu: "I think he's a phony, period, as far as representing the black people of South Africa."
On Islam: "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough of the history of his life, written by both Muslims and non-Muslims, that he was a violent man, a man of war."
On Jews: "In my opinion, the Antichrist will be a counterfeit of the true Christ, which means that he will be male and Jewish, since Jesus was male and Jewish."
Rest in peace, you blowhard.
Timothy Noah is a senior writer at Slate.
So there it is..................
I am a very devoted Christian and a man of an unashamed heart. And it makes me sick to my stomach for the Christian "point of view" to be hi-jacked by people like Falwell and Pat Robertson.
I used to laugh at Oral Roberts and his antics but in today's world of media bullshit you just can't laugh at them anymore because they take themselves so seriously and declare that they speak for everyone and that anyone that doesn't agree with them is going to Hell.
Damn Baptists and Fundamentalists.
There is a place in this world for everyone - even people that don't look or act like we do. Each person has the right to live his life as they see fit. We are not called to condemn them because they don't do it like we want them to.
And it seems to me that it's horrible to say "good riddance" to someone that just died. But GOOD RIDDANCE DR. FALWELL.
That's truly all the venom I can spray so I'm going to hug someone.
I wish you Peace today.
But as I was looking at stuff this morning I found this little item on Slate and decided that this guy did it so much better than I could.
So here it goes:
God, they say, is love, but the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died May 15, hit the jackpot trafficking in small-minded condemnation.
The controversies Falwell generated followed a predictable loop.
1) Falwell would say something hateful or clownish about some person or group associated with liberalism.
2) A public outcry would ensue.
3) Falwell would apologize and retract the offending comment.
4) Falwell would repeat the comment, slightly rephrased.
For 20 years, evangelicals have chided the mainstream media for treating Falwell's ghastly pronouncements as news; Falwell, they often confide in private, ceased being a significant figure well before he left his signature political organization, the Moral Majority, in 1987.
If so, someone forgot to tell Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., who as a presidential candidate in 2000 condemned Falwell's intolerance ("The political tactics of division and slander are not our values, they are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country") but last year, as a presidential candidate positioning for 2008, made peace with Falwell and gave a commencement address ("We have nothing to fear from each other") to the 2006 graduating class at Falwell's Liberty University.
On news of Falwell's death, McCain said in a statement, "Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country."
Nonsense.
He was a bigot, a reactionary, a liar, and a fool.
Herewith, a Falwell sampler.
On Sept. 11: "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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.' "
On AIDS: "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals."
On homosexuality: "I believe that all of us are born heterosexual, physically created with a plumbing that's heterosexual, and created with the instincts and desires that are basically, fundamentally, heterosexual. But I believe that we have the ability to experiment in every direction. Experimentation can lead to habitual practice, and then to a lifestyle. But I don't believe anyone begins a homosexual."
On Martin Luther King Jr.: "I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and nonviolent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations."
On Martin Luther King Jr., four decades later: "You know, I supported Martin Luther King Jr., who did practice civil disobedience."
On public education: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again, and Christians will be running them."
On the separation of church and state: "There is no separation of church and state."
On feminists: "I listen to feminists and all these radical gals. ... These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of the feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men; that's their problem."
On global warming: "I can tell you, our grandchildren will laugh at those who predicted global warming. We'll be in global cooling by then, if the Lord hasn't returned. I don't believe a moment of it. The whole thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our economic stability."
On Bishop Desmond Tutu: "I think he's a phony, period, as far as representing the black people of South Africa."
On Islam: "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough of the history of his life, written by both Muslims and non-Muslims, that he was a violent man, a man of war."
On Jews: "In my opinion, the Antichrist will be a counterfeit of the true Christ, which means that he will be male and Jewish, since Jesus was male and Jewish."
Rest in peace, you blowhard.
Timothy Noah is a senior writer at Slate.
So there it is..................
I am a very devoted Christian and a man of an unashamed heart. And it makes me sick to my stomach for the Christian "point of view" to be hi-jacked by people like Falwell and Pat Robertson.
I used to laugh at Oral Roberts and his antics but in today's world of media bullshit you just can't laugh at them anymore because they take themselves so seriously and declare that they speak for everyone and that anyone that doesn't agree with them is going to Hell.
Damn Baptists and Fundamentalists.
There is a place in this world for everyone - even people that don't look or act like we do. Each person has the right to live his life as they see fit. We are not called to condemn them because they don't do it like we want them to.
And it seems to me that it's horrible to say "good riddance" to someone that just died. But GOOD RIDDANCE DR. FALWELL.
That's truly all the venom I can spray so I'm going to hug someone.
I wish you Peace today.
posted by KK at 10:43 AM
4 Comments:
I think what is hard to remember about people like Jerry Falwell is that God - in his infinite mercy - loves them, too. Which is good, because he may be the only one who does! I don't understand how anyone even remotely connected to the living Christ could utter these statements, but you know that old Bible verse - about demons parading around as angels - or maybe that's my Baptist background coming out in me. Dark does masquerade as light - but those of us who know light can see its darkness. This is getting complicated!!
Anyway, as our dear preacher said yesterday - "Finally, God has struck him down!" I don't know about that - but definitely God is the Big Kahuna, and I'll let him deal with poor Jerry Falwell.
Happy Birthday, Keith!!! I know you and yours will have a wonderful time!!
Tina
Do you know what really pissed me off? Well, I'll tell ya. The day he died, ABC news broke in with a special report during All My Children to report his death. I don't wish death on anyone, but hello, I was watching the childrens.
Happy Birthday KK, you radical, sweet, lovable, good smelling, opinionated man you. I hope your day is filled with your favorite things, love, peace and Paige.
This is a great blog today KK, the birthday boy!! What we need in this world is less of this complete nonsense and more love, faith and tenderness - isn't that a song!
The good Book I read is about forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Wonder what book the Rev. Falwell is reading.
Thank our good Lord up above that folks that subscribe to this nonsense will have their day of reckoning and we will be standing on the sidelines saying YES! with a the host of heavenly angels.
This is a blog I just can not read at one sitting, one that I will come to again and again! Thanks for your ever diligent insightfulness!!
Love you bunches! Debi
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