I had a lot of good laughs at the comments so far. The best for me are moonraven, wcdevins, jagrio, dinelson7, montmerrick, McDee, and koalaburger. And of course, Sally Kohn's great article. Thank you all very much. I have renewed hope. Just want to point out how the mainstream news media including NPR whipped up an amazing number of air minutes reporting on Falwell's contribution to this world. None of them mentioned his hate-mongering, hmmmmm.

I enjoyed the article and the comments. I'm at a loss when I read comments by those who say either I shouldn't hate Falwell at all or I should say sweet things because he died. I hated him while he was alive, and for precisely those pronouncements Ms. Kohn points out in her article. I'm not going to stop hating him now that he's dead. I suppose I can't be faulted for "spewing" hatred, though. I've never really done that. Of course, I don't hesitate to agree with Ms. Kohn that Falwell was, as she puts it, a "rabidly racist, sexist and homophobic asshole." That's simply a brute fact about the man's character. On the subject of spewing hatred, is it okay for me to spew hatred at, for example, Hitler? He's dead, too. And I don't need to hear the "there's no comparison" arguments. Hitler was a racist and a bigot. Falwell was a racist and a bigot. Hitler was a hate-monger. Falwell was a hate-monger. I suppose the difference between the two is that Falwell never actually killed or ordered the killing of millions of folks he hated. But I wouldn't put it past him to have prayed for their deaths.

At the Republican debates support for torture, Gitmo and other appalling disrespect for human rights was clearly on display.

The crowd cheered.

Falwell's is dead and can't hurt us. A smoother supporter of the worst of his philosophy is likely to be the next president.

Arvy said: "Respect is an earned commodity.."
I beg to disagree. All humans are born deserving of respect and should be treated respectfully until their actions cause them to lose the right to be respected. Mr. Falwell and Mr. Reagan do not deserve to be respected by Americans because of their arrogance and ignorance and their disrespect for others who had done nothing to lose respect.

"Bullets and bombs did not come out of Jerry Falwell's mouth. Only words. Low intensity sound waves entering the body through the eardrum never killed anyone"

Really?

Force-fed religion growing up and disgusted by pop evangelists, I'm a self-proclaimed member of the reformed church--that is, I've reformed from going as much as possible. Still, I try to seek truth and a modicum of spiritualuality.
Falwell's death begs some very appropriate verses:

"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Proverbs 6: 16-19

Falwell was ill-informed or outright wrong on many issues but even worse he ignored the very scriptures he espoused. The same can be said of the demagogue in the White House and all his fawning sycophants.

I think that it is good to show public respect to the dead, sneers can be private.

While I agree with your sentiment, it is not only 'bad form' but descent into the trash bin to describe it in these words.

Express the idea without the blatant public sneer.

THANK GOD AUSTRALIA GOT THE CONVICTS AND AMERICA GOT THE PURITANS.

I think it was Mark Twain who said " I've never killed a man but I've read many obituaries with great pleasure"

It almost sounds like you are not in just stating a fundamental disagreement with someone who has chosen a completely different life path from you, but that you actually freely HATE someone enough to mock him after he is dead.

Is it really consistent for some of you to hate Jerry Falwell, and say that you believe in universal rights, universal free speech, etc...

(and PLEASE don't bore me with "but, Jerry Falwell was a baby killer" logic)

It makes me wonder what is really under the cute little teletubbie skin of the liberal progressive community.

TO hate someone simply because they are too far removed from your own standards is immature at best, and very very scary in the worst case.
What is next? Concentration camps or redoctrination of Muslims, Christians, Jews..... or perhaps torture for someone who burns too much fossil fuel?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Jerry Falwell is dead and to listen to the Christo-fascists and too many in the progressive community tell it: "there'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, just you wait and see". Such visceral reaction shows that Falwell was a controversial figure whom most either dearly loved or firmly despised with only those ignorant of his public existence having any neutral reaction.

Jerry Falwell did not do anything more than a mirror. He was not the genesis but rather the revelation of the ugliness that was (and still is) too much a part of the US experience. Racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, WASP exceptionalism, human-led theocracy--all existed before Falwell and continue after him. The only difference is that the masses animated by such visions are looking for a new totem before which they might bow. Make no mistake, they will find that totem—just as the yearning human heart always finds some new vision to worship.

Like Cinderella's mirror his "magic" was nothing more than a reflection of the world in which he existed. Many of his followers and detractors were the ugly step-sisters either enchanted or revolted by his reflection of their world, those with Cinderella beauty used (and continue to use) his reflection to examine their own imperfections rather than the ugliness of what surrounds them.

i totally agree. this fat creep supported raygun. if he had sided with jimmeh carter, the actual born again christian......well, he made his choice. bye jerry. uh-oh,'splain yourself to the Almighty.

I'm not the one to rejoice at the demise of anyone, but I honestly think the best place for extremists and fundamentalists of any kind is six feet under.

I think it is good to show respect to the dead when they deserve. Otherwise, it's continuation of evil deeds of bastards, and continuation of mistreatment of their victims.
There is no reason for monsters and innocent victims be in the
same category of the respected.
It only means the highest disrespect for those who deserve
respect.

It is a sad thing, to celebrate the death of a human being. The death of any one makes us all less.

That being said, I find it (incredibly) difficult to mourn the passing of this particular person. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Falwell gets to meet his Maker......

In a dynamic universe, we have many opportunities to learn. That who yesterday was Falwell and today is something different is doing some quick learning now, I'll bet, about the power of fear. As I suppose we all will, either now or later.

There are personalities who become the focus of this kind of ugliness, and Falwell was up there with the worst of them. But they would just be fat people blustering in the wind if we didn't give them any credence: objects of pity, not scorn. I wonder why we keep listening?

Jerry Falwell preached hate in Jesus name.

Yes, and we need some pleasure in these crazy times.

sfbarbary wrote: "I think that it is good to show public respect to the dead"

Respect is an earned commodity, and that doesn't change upon one's demise. False shows of "respect" are mere hypocrisy -- not that America's current "leadership" is likely to be discouraged by any such consideration.

It is one thing to forgive your enemies or speak respectfully of the dead.....

But very wise to never forget their names.....

Lest one gets CONNED, EMOTIONALLY or SPIRITUALLY ABUSED by some bastard acting very similar.......

Auberon,
"The death of any one makes us all less."

I am afraid that the lives of the bastards make us all less.

But, then again, I am reality-based.

"It is a sad thing, to celebrate the death of a human being." What a hypocracy!

Why, would not we celebrate as we did the death of human being named Hitler? Neither Jerry, nor Hitler killed anyone, both of them just spewed hatred, sermons and books, and issued orders. The only good hatredmonger is a dead one.

Goodbuy, Jerry! Alas, he is immortal. Closed small minds are still the baseline of our species.

so, for some odd reason I woke up feeling lighter yesterday and I couldn't figure out why? until I read that "HE" was dead... the universe seems a little more right today than yesterday... kind of like when in star wars the death star exploded...

now tell me this... I live/work in the NW near the Canada border and people told me yesterday that when they crossed back into the states at the border, they noticed the flag at half staff. when they inquired as to why, the border staff said; "no clue..." but that they had recieved a telephone call and been ordered to fly the flag at half staff...

I wonder why? anyone hazard a guess?

Falwell is just another in a long line of haters who used Jesus's name to rake in millions while preaching intolerance in the Savior's name.

Upon his arrival at the city of light, I'm sure he was asked, "how much did you love?"

And he answered, "I loved all the white people, and all the Christians, that ummm, gave to my cause..."

And the Savior stated, "They are all my children, the white, the poor, the non-believer, the gays, the blacks, the Muslims, the Jews, the Liberals, the sick, the wealthy, all of them. You did not speak words of love and forgiveness for my beloved, even in their hour of darkness and confusion, did you? THEY are my CAUSE."

"Love and forgiveness for the GAYS!??" Jerry laughs....

Eyes filled with divine love, the Savior puts his arm around Jerry's shoulder, and walks him over to a great hall.

The Savior now explained that Jerry must choose whether he will go to Heaven or to Hell. "But before you choose, I will show you both." The Savior led Jerry down the great hall at the end of which was two great doors. "Which would you like to see first?" Jerry took a deep breath and asked to see Hell first, thinking to get it out of the way. The Savior opened the doors to Hell and led him through the door. A great banquet hall stretched away from them, fading into the distance. On it were all manner of wonderful foods and drinks. Sitting on either side of this banquet were the residents of Hell. Everyone had a board tied to each arm extending from shoulder down to their wrists so that they could not bend their arms at the elbows, and thus could not feed themselves. As far as the young man could see were bodies: People dying from hunger and thirst, and corpses interspersed with skeletons. He backed out of the room in horror pursued by the screams and moans of suffering and shut the door behind him.

After some time Jerry regained his composure and asked to see Heaven. The Savior opened the doors to Heaven and led the man through. A great banquet hall stretched away from them, fading into the distance. On it were all manner of wonderful foods and drinks. Sitting on either side of this banquet were the residents of Heaven. Everyone had a board tied to each arm extending from shoulder down to their wrists so that they could not bend their arms at the elbows and thus could not feed themselves. BUT some of them were dancing, while others sang, and everyone was talking and laughing as they fed each other at arms length.

The story of Jesus teaches us that individuals are destroyed by a combination of organized government (Rome) and organized religion (temple system) working together. Funny that Jerry never caught that. Maybe now he does.

your beliefs will determine whether you think falwell is gone or just moved. yolanda king just died at age 51 (daughter of martin luther king, jr).

now, poet, think again. if an idea exists but you push it, surely you have an effect. falwell pushed hard against love and forgiveness all his adult life, and he died rich having founded a law school that something like 150 graduates of (liberty university) served in bush's justice department. do you still care to believe that this jerk had no influence?

Jerry Falwell, "a rabidly racist, sexist and homophobic asshole"??!!!!...
AMEN!!!!!!!!

God to Jerry: Jerry! You got some 'splainin' to do!

Poet, Jerry Falwell was NOT a mirror. He was an instigator, a lightning rod, a person around whom mindless sheep who live their lives out of fear could gather. If not for Jerry Falwell, these sheep might have gathered around someone else, perhaps someone who could have led them to true salvation instead of fear and hate.

Pearly Gates my ass...

"...but that they had recieved a telephone call and been ordered to fly the flag at half staff…

I wonder why? anyone hazard a guess?"

Another American needlessly dead in Iraq? Shouldn't every American flag be a half-staff every day in their honor?

Jerry Falwell is dead... Thank God!!!

Perhaps Mr. Falwell's true legacy will have been to have lived his life as a negative example to all but the meanest of spirit.

Yellow Horse

I happen to agree with Poet that Jerry Falwell's life was indeed a mirror that reflected the views of some portions of the society. Yes, he was also, as KayWrites says, an instigator, and as others claim a bigot, etc.

The reason I feel a little happiness at his passing is that there is a chance, however small, that whoever takes his place may be less virulent and more open to diversity than he was in his lifetime.

Mary Lou writes--

now, poet, think again. if an idea exists but you push it, surely you have an effect. falwell pushed hard against love and forgiveness all his adult life, and he died rich having founded a law school that something like 150 graduates of (liberty university) served in bush's justice department. do you still care to believe that this jerk had no influence?

****************

Jerry falwell's "influence" was that of a sparking flint in a lighter in a dark room. Without the volitile fumes of hatred he ignited he would just be a pointless sputtering distraction.

To indulge the metaphor just a little further: His final disintegration only means that his users will be lookling for another flint to keep the raging inferno of vileness from which he drew sustenance raging. (What do you think all these colleges that he and others of his ilk keep founding are about?)

Kaywrites opines:

Poet, Jerry Falwell was NOT a mirror. He was an instigator, a lightning rod, a person around whom mindless sheep who live their lives out of fear could gather. If not for Jerry Falwell, these sheep might have gathered around someone else, perhaps someone who could have led them to true salvation instead of fear and hate.

********************

If not for Jerry Falwell they will seek another conduit for their insecurities, hatred, superstitions, and legends.

It's like hallucenogenic, or other addictive drugs. There will always be a supply and those seeking the "high" that such substances promise but only deliver briefly at a terrible cost to their users. We must deal with this on the "demand" side much more than the "supply side".

In other words care for and about the collective spiritual public health more than going after the "pushers" of such nostrums.

If you must, enjoy your exuberant celebration but know that the christo-fascist mafia knew this day was coming and have prepared for it long ago. (The uiversities, the media, faith based initiatives,etc.)

Soon enough there will be someone as bad if not worse than the likes of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, D. James Kennedy, James Dobson, etc. rising up like so many poisonous mushrooms feeding off the dark, putrid stinking hatreds of the human souls from whom they derive power.

The spores are always in the air seeking fertile soil in which to grow.

Funny huh ! What we are saying about Jerry on here is exactly what he use to say about us.Imagine that little butter ball Falwell actually made Liberals dispise their enemies.
It seems we can no longer turn the other cheek either.
I wonder how he likes his just rewards In Hell?
No No The Jesus I know would never do that.
If in that very last second of Falwell's life he asked for forgiveness He got his ticket to the Pearly gates. Of course when he meets gays in the Great Beyond What will he do?
and him to just sitting there worshiping God ,when he was so use to being praised himself. and if his Mansion is right next store to Liberace's
Our little Jerry just might have a problem.
GoodBye Jerry Falwell.
You gave this world much more hate then love.
genaman

If AIDS is God's way of punishing homosexuals, then by Jerry's logic, Cancer must be God's way of getting Christians to smoke pot!

If God hates gays so much, why did he not include them in his most important list of rules..the 10 commandments?

I also dont see "Thous shall not smoke dope" either

Unfortunately for Jerry, It DOES say "THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS"..and that was Jerry's stock and trade..may he burn in hell forever

Actually, if AIDS is God's punishment of homosexuals, then by that logic, lesbians, with their far lower than heterosexual-female rates of sexually transmitted diseases, have God's special blessing. For the scientifically inquisitive, the common denominator in the easy spread of STDs is male sperm. I guess God is a male bashing feminazi. Poor Jerry..........

Days like these I wish god existed so he could say, "Falwell, you were completely and utterly wrong. You now get to receive anal from Liberace for the rest of eternity."

Beware the man with the bible in his hand. He's nothing but trouble.

The creep was not a mirror, he was a teacher, a teacher of hate. People do not come into this world believing that crap, they are taught it! Every time one of this sort passes on we are better off. Denigrating this type should be lauded, they should be held up as examples of what are the most base and undesirable of human frailties.
to tech2, I don't think you get it, this isn't hate, it's joy that this particular font of hate has finally run dry. I would also guess that you are not queer. In amerika queerness is the last bigotry that is still OK, and it is because of criminals like this one.

If there is justice in the hereafter, God slammed the gates of heaven in Fallwell's face, and sent him south.

andrewr -

Liberace had far too much taste. How about a few pedophile priests in shifts? LOL

When Jesus said that there would be many who said, "Lord! Lord!" but they would be rejected because He didn't know them, I think He was probably talking about Jerry falwell and his ilk.

I would like to hear what it was he died from. It would be interesting to know if it was a drug induced death or even possibly AIDS. When people are that rabidly homophobic, you can be pretty sure that they are gay themselves, or at least think they might be.

The hell with showing respect for that miserable excuse for a human being. One good thing about even the most evil men, they eventually die...nobody has to even lift a finger. A hundred years from now he will have left no more mark than your finger dipped into a bucket of water.

Do you think that Jerry might be wondering why he isn't hearing any harps or hosannas in his new home?

Ya know when I read about this monstrosity of a human I get upset that I even know about him,and that he is even relevant in our realm of consciousness. Why in America must we make icons out of monsters? Taking joy in his death? Are you kidding?..ya know It would have been one thing if he died in the 80's or something but he made it ALL the way to 73. Look at how many people he poisoned. The fact that evil lived so long takes away any "joy",it's more like an angered relief because he died and humanity still lost. But no need to fear,the next batch of indoctorinated zombies are ready to "fight the good fight" in the name of the holy one.

When it comes to evil like Falwell or troglodyte Cheney who play with lives like toys. Death is a minor issue in the whole scope of things. They ceased being "human" a long time ago. What joy is it to not see the monster's eyes anymore when we are drowning in it's carnage?

tech2 is merely indulging in the right wing tendency to play with words and distort opponents' positions. He knows that what Falwell did was most definitely NOT just "choose a different pathway." He knows that what Falwell did was create a community of hate worse than anyother demagogue. Trying to excuse that behavior by asking people not to hate it is sick.

He knows that it is not only consistent, but to "believe in universal rights, universal free speech, etc" REQUIRES you to hate Falwell. That man, and I use the term advisedly, was one of the biggest enemies that universal rights ever had and if you support Falwell, then you are against the American traditions that were written into the Bill of Rights.

Tech2 is fully aware that Falwell is not "far removed from your own standards," but spent his adult life fighting against and to a large extent succeeding in destroying the tolerance and the glue that held our multilineage society together.

But the kicker that shows tech2's fealty to the reactionary mindset is accusing the liberals of planning the very things that the neocons are doing even as we speak, concentration camps (Halliburton has a contract for several of them), reindoctrination (the be-all and end-all of fundamentalist thinking), and torture (something that the right wing really gets high on.)

There is no joy in the passing of another person. But someone who is challenging a Teletubbie because they that being is gay is a sad commentary on the person and the people who follow that person. If could quote the Teletubbies for a moment, (it was a program my daughter liked to watch) "bye-bye."

I'll miss him like a bleeding hemhorroid. From bullshit to blackness--seems fitting for Jerry.