[Update — 0758 — There was a much more important death noted in the news this morning.
Private First Class Christopher E. Murphy, 21, of Lynchburg, Va. gave his life in Iraq.
As I do everyday, I thank PFC Murphy, and all those who have died, for his service and his sacrifice. May his family come to find comfort in his honorable actions and their memories of their loved one.]
Driving home last night I had to listen to the accolades from Jerry Falwell’s admirers and sycophants on, of all feckin’ places, NPR. Sure, they shot a few questions in there about his bigotry and hate, but it was still stomach churning. This morning Slate’s Timothy Noah does an excellent job of reminding us of the true legacy Falwell has left us.
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.
The soundbites spewed by Falwell have become classics of ignorance.
Speaking after the attack on 11 September 2001:
“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.’ “
Speaking about another prominent Christian minister:
“I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and non-violent 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.”
Speaking 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.”
My heart goes out to the only people who matter right now in all of this, his family. They will have their private memories and their private grief.
The rest of the world should let them have that, and move onto important matters like the continued destruction of our government and the senseless slaughter of our men and women in Iraq.