Jerry Falwell is dead

[nutshell]

Do you agree that the dead should be respected then?

I'm not sure if respect is the right word.

I believe it is inappropriate to disparage the dead.

 

[Mike182]

i personally don't agree that those who have passed away should be respected on the simple fact that they passed away... what i was getting at earlier was that people are mourning his passing, and in a respect for their position at the moment to lay off the attacking of the guy. all i'm saying is that there is a time and a place...

 

[Bishka]

I'm not sure if respect is the right word.

I believe it is inappropriate to disparage the dead.

Just making sure I understood what you were trying to say. :yes:

 

[Ðanisty]

I agree 100% with Booko. Nobody is perfect.

People often fail to realize that people who die, whether you cared for them or not, have people who loved them dearly. There should be respect shown regardless.

Showing respect for someone after death that you didn't respect in life is just a lie though. I really don't see why I should respect him. I don't like anything about him. I think he was a bad person. Why should I turn around and show respect?

That's what I mean about respect. I detest what he has done, but I am just respecting the dead because canot speak for themselves (even though he said plently in life).

I think what a lot of people are feeling is indifference. Isn't that okay?

 

[Bishka]

I think what a lot of people are feeling is indifference. Isn't that okay?

Absolutley.

People can feel what they want. I just feel differently.

 

[yuvgotmel]

Here's a message from the Gay Teletubbies:
http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_...Cw94/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskIE6LONrt-FfkQDYxfnz1xz

February 1999: Falwell becomes the object of nationwide ridicule after his National Liberty Journal newspaper issues a “parents alert” warning that Tinky Winky, a character on the popular PBS children’s show “Teletubbies,” might be gay.

 

[jonny]

Has anyone read the introduction to Orson Scott Card's book Speaker for the Dead? He gives a really interesting take on how we honor the dead and use funerals to "erase" people, "edit" people, and make them into a person much easier to live with than the person who actually lived.

I rejected that idea. I thought that a more appropriate funeral would be to say, honestly, what that person was and what that person did. But to me, "honesty" doesn't simply mean saying all the unpleasant things instead of saying only the nice ones. It doesn't even consist of averaging them out. No, to understand who a person really was, what his or her life really meant, the speaker for the dead would have to explain their self-story - what they meant to do, what they actually did, what they regretted, what they rejoiced in. That's the story that we never know, the story that we never can know - and yet, at the time of death, it's the only story truly worth telling.

 

[yuvgotmel]

Would it be rude to start a thread poll asking other's opinions about if Jerry went to heaven or hell? ...Perhaps he will reincarnate as a sock...

 

[Mathematician]

I'm not sure if respect is the right word.

I believe it is inappropriate to disparage the dead.

I can see why people would take comfort in seeing this man dead just like I would any other ruthless person -- not that I agree with it, but sympathy? Yes.

This man has ruined a lot of peoples' lives. He helped father a political/social movement that rejoiced in the deaths of AIDS victims, homosexuals, non-Christians, and liberals, while lying elderly people into believing their pains were a result of sin just to make a few million bucks. How many minorities had to suffer through harassment, brutality, and political in opportunity because of his likes?

One thing is for certain: he deserves no respect.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I extend my condolences to Falwell's family and followers. I can at least admit that he was charismatic and passionate about his beliefs, and he inspired a LOT of people to take action in our country.

So, yeah, I'll admit that he annoyed me to no end when he was alive. I didn't hate the man (mostly because I didn't know him), but I could find myself unable to control my emotions whenever he said anything intolerable to the public. Mixing that kind of charisma and effective leadership with such an ideology can make me angry.

The unfortunate thing is that this is how most of us are familiar with him.

According to my beliefs, right now his consciousness is being bombarded with all kinds of strange and subtle appearances..........and his transition into the next incarnation has begun. Therefore, since I aim to one day be a bodhisattva, I can only aim to pray for his enlightenment and to extend the same kindness and compassion to him, to his loved ones, and to his enemies. May his karma be purified, and may he find peace and happiness in his next incarnation if he does not find liberation in the bardos. :flower:

Mind you - this is a REAL tough one for me given my past feelings about this man. :cover:




Peace,
Mystic

 

[RevOxley_501]

<dances



no respect here for falwell...dead or alive

 

[CaptainXeroid]

I agree 100% with Booko. Nobody is perfect.

People often fail to realize that people who die, whether you cared for them or not, have people who loved them dearly. There should be respect shown regardless.

Because it makes you just as big a hate monger, as you're claiming him to be. Be the more evolved ape.

73 is still fairly young, imo. prayers for his family and friends.

like many others here i have found little to agree with Falwell, and have been turned off and dismayed by many of his views and campaigns. still... i won't wish him any ill.

the man's dead now, and anger at him won't actively help solve issues one may have with his messages and ministry.

:clap Frubals for 2 excellent well-stated posts.

One thing some of the Falwell haters are overlooking is that recently, Falwell undermined his own credibility with some boneheaded comments. Villifying him in death may make him something of a 'martyr' in the eyes of his followers and may rejuvenate his causes.

Showing respect for the dead does not mean endorsing their ideas. It's more about showing compassion for the friends and family and perhaps demonstrating some human decency even if you feel that the dearly departed was lacking in that area.

 

[Mathematician]

Other than the "Wicked Witch is Dead," the only other lyrics that come to mind when viewing this thread are from Sage Francis: "I attended candle light vigils for Matthew Shepard/While you put out another 'fu** you, ******' record."

Falwell could have redeemed himself after Shepard's death when he talked about reconsidering his tone, but instead he went even more looney and blamed 9/11 on them.

Condolences to his friends and family? Yes. To his followers? Heck no.

 

[Gentoo]

I'll admit, I got a little excited when I saw the news headline, and breathed a little sigh of relief when I actually read it.... and saved it.

All I can say is, I hope he gets what he deserves, whatever that may be.

 

[Reverend Rick]

If anyone had a thread about someone else who died that you admired and the religious right made comments like some of you have, you would have a cow!

The hate and the venom for the moral majority on a religious forum speaks volumes about some of you.

 

[RevOxley_501]

If anyone had a thread about someone else who died that you admired and the religious right made comments like some of you have, you would have a cow!

The hate and the venom for the moral majority on a religious forum speaks volumes about some of you.

we arent blaming 911 on homosexuals or trying to run "liberals" out of town.


no one cried when hitler died....americans rejoiced....shouldnt liberals like myself rejoice when a modern day hitler dies?

 

[Jaymes]

If anyone had a thread about someone else who died that you admired and the religious right made comments like some of you have, you would have a cow!

The hate and the venom for the moral majority on a religious forum speaks volumes about some of you.

If someone I "respected" made comments about how the religious right brought on 9/11 and that the US is being punished for tolerating the religious right... well, I wouldn't respect them for starters, and I'd think people were pretty justified in whatever they said.

Are you ever going to answer my question?

 

[Reverend Rick]

Out of curiosity, would you say he is or isn't going to be rewarded for saying that 9/11 was brought on by the US "tolerating" gays, lesbians, feminists, etc?

I believe he apologised for that statement. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.

Your comment, "Out of curiosity", is a little dishonest don't you think?

 

[lillitruthseeker]

I am not a fan of him either but still his poor family and people that loved him are hurting and sad -- he did say alot of things that people disagree with myself being one of them -- but he is American and he has the right to freedom of speech -- and although i do not agree with him - i will defend his right to that freedom -- we only focus on negatives never on the positive -- may his family find strength in their time of need

 

[Booko]

we arent blaming 911 on homosexuals or trying to run "liberals" out of town.


no one cried when hitler died....americans rejoiced....shouldnt liberals like myself rejoice when a modern day hitler dies?

Um, suppose a "liberal" person died -- someone who had vilified "conservative" Christians as dangerous and recommended they be marginalized in our society. Would that person also be compared to Hitler?

Seriously, Rev -- show me the millions of bodies that Falwell racked up.

That some of his statements created great pain for others I regard as obvious, but this sort of hyperbole is really unworthy.