Gideon MacLeish Gideon MacLeish

Dancing on Jerry Falwell's Grave?

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Dancing on Jerry Falwell's Grave?

from JoeUser Forums

I was busy wiping computers for the end of the semester much of the day, so the first I heard of Jerry Falwell's death was when I logged onto JoeUser. And I must say I am disappointed.

There's a lot of celebrating going on of the wrong kind. A lot of people making judgements on Jerry Falwell's life that did not know the man in any way, shape or form. While I don't know the man either, I have known many like him, and almost every Falwell "type" I have known has been a kind individual if you truly got to know them. For many, Jerry Falwell and people like Fred Phelps are interchangeable, when from all accounts I have heard (and I have heard plenty), nothing could be further from the truth.

The amazing part of it all, the truly astounding and unbelievable part is that so much celebration comes from the "tolerant" left. The same people who demand we be "tolerant" of gay lifestyles, and a whole host of other lifestyles that many Christians do not consider Godly, is entirely INtolerant of people like Falwell, people who spoke their mind even when it was unpopular to do so.

I am not saying I agreed with Falwell all, or even MOST of the time. I am saying that if you demand tolerance, perhaps you should start by offering some. By living the example you hope to see others live, and by realizing that even when they are disagreeable, people like Jerry Falwell have as much right to their opinions as anyone else.

Jerry Falwell was a man who lived what he believed. And I can't fault that, even when I felt he was wrong. He was a man who truly tried to make his world, his country what he perceived to be a better place. Was he right? Was he wrong? I don't know if we'll ever know in this time. But I DO know this: if more people in this country put forth the effort that people like Mr. Falwell did to make their country a better place, we would certainly be much better off.

4,591 views 37 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pardon my ignorance, but who? And why should I be concerned or supportive (or not supportive)??


Fred Phelps. The man who celebrated Matthew Shepard's death long before he went around protesting soldiers' funerals. I did not believe his celebrating Matthew Shepard's death was in any way appropriate, and I don't feel celebrating Falwell's death is appropriate. Especially since most people only know him by sound bites.

Was Falwell a good man or a bad man? Yes. That's the only answer I can give. Like anyone, I'm sure there were elements of both in him. But I look at the people around him, the people who loved him and respect him, and they weren't mind controlled drones.

Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
I can pick and choose who I think is a douche bag and who isn't. I don't abide by the "don't talk ill of the dead" thing. If you were an asshole and you died, you're still an asshole.

I don't have to support Phelps because it's not about "time of mourning" to me. His message disgusts me and that's why I have a problem with him.

Big diff between text on a blogging site and shouting at a funeral, too.


I'm totally with you here. They're dead; they don't care, and even if they do, well, suffer. We shouldn't have to claim to like someone just because they did the decent thing and karked it.
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Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top

i really wish that people would stop using the democratic underground, a fringe group of radical loons, who represent no one except their small ranks. they hardly are the "voice of the DNC" or anything.

Dont forget Elizabeth Edwards.  Hardly a non-mainstream person, either now, or in 2004. And with a bit of luck (and hair spray), she WILL be the DNC.

Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top

Gid, I saw Terp's article, but until this morning, none of the others on JU.  And I try to avoid du.org as anyone with half a brain could ghost write their stupidity and hatred.  But unfortunately, I do listen to radio, and the talking heads they have had on have been almost as bad as du.org.  I know he was a very polarizing person.  And many do not like him.

But I would wish that these partisans (talking about the talking heads, not the JU comments), could at least keep the hate and glee out of their commentary as they are SUPPOSED to be non-partisan.  But then using non-partisan when speaking of Professors or reporters is an oxymoron.

Sometimes talking about intelligence and the former groups is one as well.

Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
btw...olbermann was pretty respectful last night in his report.

And I try to avoid du.org as anyone with half a brain could ghost write their stupidity and hatred.


exactly.

Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top
btw...olbermann was pretty respectful last night in his report.


I am surprised, and pleasantly impressed.
Reply #32 from JoeUser Forums Top
I did not believe his celebrating Matthew Shepard's death was in any way appropriate, and I don't feel celebrating Falwell's death is appropriate. Especially since most people only know him by sound bites.


I don't feel Phelps' actions are appropriate. But do I feel he's in his rights to do so? Yes.

Would I defend his right to do so, even though I think he's a scum-sucking-son-of-a-bitch? Yes. Very yes.

It's the problem with you wanting people to be respectful, Gid. You may not agree with their words, but they're more than in their rights to do so. You may not feel it's appropriate, but I'd defend their actions to the end.
Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
do listen to radio, and the talking heads they have had on have been almost as bad as du.org. I know he was a very polarizing person. And many do not like him.


Check this out and weigh it with what you've heard.

WWW Link

His love for his family and the thousands of Liberty Students and their love for him in return says it all in my opinion. It all starts at home. How many celebs and politicians do you know out there that are adored by the public while they leave their families in the fray?

Also, consider looking at who hates him and who speaks well of him. For instance tonight I heard Rosie say something nasty and I heard Dr. Phil say something nice. The gays are planning a celebration while many respectable religious leaders are celebrating but in a much different way. This funeral will not be a somber one. It will be one of celebration and joy. What is considered a loss for Liberty is gain for Falwell.

Reply #34 from JoeUser Forums Top
Also, consider looking at who hates him and who speaks well of him. For instance tonight I heard Rosie say something nasty and I heard Dr. Phil say something nice. The gays are planning a celebration while many respectable religious leaders are celebrating but in a much different way. This funeral will not be a somber one. It will be one of celebration and joy. What is considered a loss for Liberty is gain for Falwell.


LARRY FLYNT speaks well of the man. And Flynt had as much reason as anyone to dislike him.
Reply #35 from JoeUser Forums Top
LARRY FLYNT speaks well of the man. And Flynt had as much reason as anyone to dislike him.


Flynt was interviewed the other day and i found it really interesting. apparantly, he and falwell would talk on occasion. the latest being when falwell went after the tubbies. flynt said he told falwell to forget that. that he was the biggest religious leader in the world and he should concentrate on the good stuff he was doing. the way flynt described it, i wouldn't call them friends, but they seemed to be colleagues with a mutual respect.
Reply #36 from JoeUser Forums Top

LARRY FLYNT speaks well of the man. And Flynt had as much reason as anyone to dislike him.


hahahaha you probably picked the ONLY pornographer that actually likes Jerry. I'm really familiar with this whole thing. For one thing Jerry mailed us his autobiography and he mentions the whole thing in there. Falwell sued Flynt for libel and they were bitter enemies for a quite a while but later Flynt said this:

"I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends. He would visit me in California and we would debate together on college campuses. I always appreciated his sincerity even though I knew what he was selling and he knew what I was selling."

The difffence here between Flynt and those on the "other side" is that Flynt got to know him personally and saw the other side of Falwell the media DOES NOT tell us.

What happened between the two of them speaks very well of Jerry. What Larry Flynt did to Jerry in his Hustler magazine was disgusting especially way back then. Who could blame Jerry for bringing this lawsuit? I think even Larry understood this and couldn't believe that Falwell could let that go for the sake of the gospel.

Reply #37 from JoeUser Forums Top
In theory I really like KFC's attitude of looking at the real human being behind the public persona, instead of getting het up about ideological differences...

... and the day she writes a blog about being charmed by the 'inner person' of a gay, atheist, communist abortionist that she met in the supermarket, I will actually take it seriously...