May 15, 2007
Jerry Falwell Protest Tonight
Jerry Falwell, the founder of the Moral Majority, was found dead in his office earlier today. Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
That said, Falwell was known for his commitment to right-wing causes of all kinds, and in particular, his hostility to civil rights, feminists, and gays made him not particularly well-liked out here in San Francisco. Remember when he said the purple Teletubby Tinky-Winky was gay? Or when he blamed 9/11 on feminists, pagans, and the ACLU? Ah yes.
It's a vexed legacy Mr. Falwell leaves -- which is why a group is sponsoring a Jerry Falwell anti-memorial and speak-out today at 5 p.m. at 18th and Castro. The organizers will be bringing a 3-foot tall Tinky-Winky pinata and encourage participants to bring Tinky-Winkys of their own.
If you go (and there's plenty of reasons why you'd want to sit this one out), send us your pictures! We'd love to share your pictures of a 3-foot-tall Tinky Winky with the world.
We like the Colbert Nation-like nature of this picture, with Falwell in front of a picture of himself.
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What an absolutely terrible idea. I am a gay man, who despises everything that Jerry F stood for, but in our fight for equality, perceptions are everything, and while his family and friends grieve for him, we will be doing our best Fred Phelps impression. Please please please rethink this... (And I have been on the streets for many many demonstrations). This is just a bad idea.
Yeah this is a bad idea. Gas on the haters' flames. Look for it to lead Fox News tonight.
I respectfully disagree. I am a straight man who despises everything Falwell stood for as well. I think it is important that the Falwell supporters know that not everyone mourns the passing of such a bigot. I feel the gay community benefits from headlines that remind the world -- gay and staight -- that not everyone loved the hateful man, that many were offended and hurt by his actions and words. The folks in Peoiria and Peach Fuzz, South Carolina won't consider the idea otherwise.
And it's not Phelpsian, in that the call is not for the gay community to invade Lynchburg.
Go go go. This straight man salutes you.
In this case, I think the strongest statement is no statement whatsoever. Let Fox News and other rightists gather to wait in vain for our no-shows. Screw 'em. The only thing a wicked-witch-is-dead gathering does is feed the mean-spiritness Falwell was expert at generating. And see how fast the counter demonstrations follow if this non-event happens.
I agree with comment 1, 2 and 4...let's not make more news out of his passing. We can quietly look forward to one less voice of hatred without making a spectacle for Bill O and the other hate-mongers to use for their propaganda.
Jeez - typical San Francisco "progressive" asshattery, where acting like a self-indulgent fool masquerades as "fighting the Man".
"Look at me, I have no sense of tact and all I care about is the attention being focused on me, me, me!!!!"
Where's that photo of a guy bent over with his head completely shoved up his ass when you need it?
In the interest of full disclosure, Dave in post number 6 is not the same Dave as in post number 1(that would be me).
I love the phrase "vexed legacy".
Rather a queer thing to do, wouldn't you say?
Falwell does not deserve an ounce of respect from anybody. He was a man that devoted his life to preaching hatred and supporting an extreme right wing agenda. Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, are all busy with their historical revision of Falwell's legacy of hate. I think today's gathering in the Castro at least counterbalances the efforts of the mainstream media to rewrite history.
I couldn't give a rats ass about Jerry F's feelings (anyway he is dead) but it does not help our cause (civil rights for all) to have on the day he died, Michael Petrellis and a couple of twinky winkys (claiming to represent the entire gay community of san francisco)dancing and shouting in front of the local and national media that you know will show up.
Today Jerry Falwell had the biggest surprise of his life today. After his consciousness left his body he was waiting around to fly off to some geographical location called heaven, get instantaneously perfected on the way and then get all of the fullness of God’s blessings dumped in his lap. After all, this is what he’s been teaching all of his life! His easy way out/get rich quick/vicarious atonement teachings that were based on a book that was compiled for political reasons in 325 AD by 318 Catholic bishops under the supervision/coercion of the pagan emperor Constantine who didn’t give a hoot about inspiration but rather content. Many of the rejected books were written by Apostles whose other books WERE canonized. Were these guys all having “bad days” on these rejected books?? The “Sayings of Jesus”, which had been considered inspired and read by churches for generations were also rejected. My goodness, if Jesus can’t speak inspired words who can?? Obviously inspiration was not one of Constantine’s concerns. Constantine had just declared Christianity to be the official state religion [although he never embraced it himself] as a last ditch attempt to unify his crumbling empire and needed a canon to represent it. He knew what he wanted it to say and not to say. Consequently much editing took place such as the doctrine of reincarnation and universal reconciliation. Hey, you can’t scare people into the pews and, thus, control them if they know they will have more chances. Revelation passed by ONE vote after heavy and savage editing. Now don’t get me wrong - God [the Great Cosmic Consciousness] has blessed this book in spite of its impure and unholy compilation motives. So, getting back to Jerry, he is waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and WAITING and WAITING!!! Finally he will realize that what he has been preaching all these years has BEEN IN ERROR!! This is GREAT because NOW he is finally TEACHABLE AGAIN!! My prayer for him in his next incarnation is that he will have a hunger for TRUTH rather than answers, be slower to judge and every once in a while take a little peek over his theological glasses.
I think you guys are all wack. None of you guys knew Dr. Jerry Falwell personally. What you guys knew was from the media and how they distorted things. Yes, Jerry did say some off the wall things, there is no denying that. But Jerry has done so much for this country that you narrow-minded people cannot see but for your heads being shoved so deeply up your asses. Jerry is a person who is to be respected for all that he stood for and for living what he believed to be the truth. he was steadfast and did not waiver on any of his beliefs, no matter how unpopular it was with anyone. He was true to himself which is more than a lot of people, can say or do. As someone who knows Dr. Falwell, I mourn. As for all you haters calling Jerry a hater, you guys truly are hypocritical, as you are essentially being haters.
Magda, please accept my condolonces, it is always tough to lose somebody close to you.
Having said that, no I did not know JF. But I did hear him speak, write and act upon very vile disgusting bigoted intolerant views. He was not a nice man to me and mine, and that is how I judge him. As he takes the long trip downstairs, I am sure that he realises the error of his ways. Also Magda, if I may say, you have a very similar writing style to the poster in post number 6, who signed their name differently. Again, my condolonces..
Regardless of your views on Falwell, no one should be celebrating his death. Granted, he offended just about every single one of my sensibilities, but I'm reminded of an old saying that goes a little something like this: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it all. I know it's a bit of a juvenile approach, but seriously, what good is going to come from having an "anti memorial?"
Pat yourselves on back, Progressives. You've once again managed to employ the same type of hate as your opposition, essentially positioning yourselves as simply the opposite end of the spectrum. Same vitriol, different ideologies, and not an ounce of decency.
Truly pathetic.
One less terrorist to fight for our rights to be treated better than dogs .... may God be more forgiving of him than I ever could be for the effects his fund-raising vitriol had on the lives of many LGBT persons like Matthew Shepard.
Dave (poster # 14),
Thank you for your condolences. However, I have only posted twice on this page, counting this post as well. Please do not imply that I am the other poster.
I am sorry that you judge Dr. Falwell that way based on what you have heard through the media or through recordings of Dr. Falwell. Please be assured that although you believe he is taking a long trip downstairs, I firmly believe that he is already in Heaven, rejoicing that he is in the presence of the Lord.
I also want to apologize for any hurt you may have based on other Christians judging you, and your lifestyle. Although you do not know Dr. Falwell, but dislike him based on media coverage as well as any other source, you would be suprised to learn that although he condemned the act of homosexuality as well as other sins, he never took it out on the person. If he knew you, he would embrace you and lovingly pray for you.
I know this b/c I am a sinner. I am one of those people who's actions he preaches against. I am an immoral person. But I am also a person whom he has embraced, whom he has cared for, whom he has prayed for. Yes, there are things that Dr. Falwell does that makes one want to cringe or judge him, but once you get past all of that and learn to know the man, you would have learned to love him and to respect him.
I am only sorry that you have not had a chance to speak with him and to air out your grievances. Perhaps then, his humanity would have shone through to you.
Dave, I don't know you, but I think you can be a very good person. Again, this is based on words that you have posted. I pray for you and hope that you will live your life to it's fullest!
Magda
With all due respect, Magda, people who aren't religious generally don't like being prayed for. It comes across as condescending and judgmental, even if it is sincere.
Think about it: You pray for me, or Dave, for carrying out behavior that you, or Mr. Falwell, disprove of, when ultimately people just want to do as they feel without being judged. Basically, a sin is only a sin if you believe in some defined sense of morality. If gay people don't subscribe to yours or Falwell's belief system, then, I think, they don't feel as if they are sinning.
They just have a different perspective, and on the surface -- yes, media reports -- Mr. Falwell was extremely hurtful and mean-spirited toward anyone who didn't adhere to his narrow view on Christianity. Sure, he didn't act on it physically, but he certainly played a role in polarizing different groups of people, so in a way, he did act on it with his impassioned leadership. There was no middle ground, no nuance, and no attempt to understand on his part, it seemed. Just an all-or-nothing attitude that was divisive and intolerant -- you're either with us or against us. That's why people didn't respond well to Mr. Falwell. Telling people that they are the cause of all of society's ills and that they don't have the same rights as everyone else when all they want is the freedom to love whomever they choose is tough to look past.
Having said that, I think it is truly disrespectful to slander a dead man, unless he was a serial killer of some sort, and we know he wasn't. And I didn't know Mr. Falwell personally, so maybe he was a nice person, so I will reserve judgement. He wasn't exactly careful with his words, though.
You seem reasonable enough, and your personal beliefs are not what people are calling into question (at least they shouldn't be), but I don't think Dave needs you or Mr. Falwell to pray for him. Then again, I shouldn't be speaking on his behalf, I'm just speaking in general terms.
Cheers,
Van
Falwell's record speaks for itself and anyone trying to apply a little whitewash after the fact should realize how futile and unnecessary a task that is.
I think a particular comment in this monster thread at MeFi about Falwell's end says it best:
"Fallwell could have helped a lot of people. He could have been a real minister of the Gospel rather than a politician. He could have helped the sick and the poor. He could have served God. Instead Fallwell spend his whole life obtaining money, power, and fame, and the friendship of wealthy and powerful men. He will keep none of these things. They will pass away like Ozymandias' statue. In the end, one of two things will happen. If there is no God, then he is no more, and he has left little worthwhile in this world. If there is a God, then He will judge him, and all of Fallwell's political connections and wealth will be of no use or salvation to him. Either way, he has lost the game of life."
Regarding the protest/anti-memorial, I find it somewhat inappropriate. Similarly, I find it unrealistic to expect people who were the focus of a bully's life work to react appropriately when the bully is finally gone.
Well said, Dantc.
Thanks for your prayers Magda, but no need for them, although the thought is appreciated. By the way the gay community showed a lot of class in the castro last night. In a community of tens of thousands of people withing a few mile radius, the demonstration attracted a grand total of about 6 people. Do not take that as an endorsement of Jerry F, rather of a community showing a little more class, and compassion than we were shown by him when alive.
Thanks Dave for the update. I hope all goes well in your community. Have a good one!