The question is not so much what Falwell could expect in return for his intolerance and myoptic worldview as it is what Falwell deserved in return for the latter. The Christian way of conceptualizing this is "an eye for an eye." From a karmic (Buddhist/Hindu) perspective, the conceptualization would be more aptly summed up as "karma." Thus, Falwell's legacy, per se, from a karmic perspective, would be to reincarnate again and again and again until he self-actualizes into something a bit more divine than his most recent incarnation embodied. Had he really understood the ideal of Jesus, he would have realized that his life - the life of Jerry Falwell - was in fact antithetical to the man that he viewed as the son of God.

He was a human being and had family and friends who loved him, and I sympathize with their loss. For myself, however, I feel no sadness whatsoever. The opposite of sadness isn't joy, it's apathy.

For every unwed mother and child he helped, he broke apart a family with his agenda of exclusion and homophobia. (Casey McCall's rant about the Purple Teletubby comes to mind.) For every person who benefited from a charity he founded, another had to endure the inevitable arrows shot at anyone who wasn't Protestant Christian. I'm trying to figure out a way where the good outweighs the bad but I just can't.

After all, he considered people like me to be hell-bound sinners on spec. I'm supposed to find something admirable about being hated for my Judaism...why?

I'm not glad he's dead. I just wish he'd had time to find out how wrong he was and make amends before his death. No one should end his life on this kind of negative legacy.

As a firm supporter in the first amendment I firmly supported Falwell's right to showcase his complete shallowness and bigotry. He became a parody of himself. I'd laugh at his statements if they weren't so dangerous when insighting the small minded to act in the name of hate.

I raise my glass to few who have passed. Here's to you Jerry boy. In another century you would have been Oliver Cromwells boot polisher. Good ridance but sadly there legions of mental virus infected nit whits to take your place.

There's also no dignity in your "Christian" response to the Massachusetts rape case in Broadsheet a few days ago.

Hmmmm...

...why am I NOT surprised that my letter was deleted? Because it spoke the unalloyed truth?!

Nah, couldn't be that.

By the way, for the record, the bitch lied. It's really that simple.

You don't even know the woman but you will declare her a lying bitch and yet you feel you must pray for Falwell's soul. Yup. You sound like the typical hypocrite Christian. Your prayers and potential foregiveness go out to a man who blatantly, publicly fanned the flames and divisiveness of hatred but you couldn't possibly give an unknown stranger the benefit of a doubt. I wonder, could you pray for her soul since you seem to think she's a lying sinner?

Fallwell Discovers Global Warming...

Sweat on brow and red of face he thought

he had arrived at Heaven's gate...

but the air was heavy with sulfur fumes

and a voice like thunder...

The Man

himself one can assume,

with a voice of doom...

"You're only second rate

when the capacity to love

is only half as great

as the capacity to hate"

beryl k gullsgate

I kept telling myself that if there really were a god he'd alleviate my suffering by removing Jerry Falwell. Praying really does work.

The church where I serve as Pastor didn't have an internet connection today, so I discovered the news about Rev. Falwell's death after all the emotional platitudes were vomited all over the cable news channels. It was perhaps better that way, more fitting to read a brilliant summation of Falwell's vitae on Salon, ended upon the carpeted floor of his empire's throne at Liberty University. Falwell represented, in simple terms, the very worst aspects of being both an American and being a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ. As an American, he perpetuated the racist, sexist, heterosexist heritage that is still deeply woven through much of this land of ours. As a Christian, he took the easy road- preaching a message of intolerance, damnation- fire and brimstone as it used to be called.

Why is this message easy? When a preacher finds herself standing before a text tasked with delivering it to the faithful/sinful beings before her, she can either take on the text, searching and discovering where Christ's love for a fallen humanity exists, or she can blame the gays and abortionists and feminists and undocumented workers for obstructing the Reign of God. Falwell took the easy way out and he made a lot of money for himself and his cadre. Reading the submitted letters proves many things tonight- most of all that the hatred that Falwell sold to America has not died.

That's a reason to be sad tonight above all else. Yes, a hateful person is dead, a purveyor of discrimination now standing in judgment before the Almighty- how juicy. Here's the deal, and this is the difference between the hateful Falwell and Jesus Christ- Jerry Falwell is at rest in Jesus Christ, a child of God now dwelling in Life Everlasting. He's been forgiven, or saved as some call it, because that's what God's grace is all about- if only Falwell preached that on earth, we would all be giving thanks for his life.

Falwell would have damned me to hell for a number of reasons. Luckily for me, and all the other millions upon millions in this land who constantly bore the burden of blame by the 'moral' majority, salvation comes from Jesus Christ and not the bloated racist from Virginia.

Thanks be to God.

I'm an agnostic, but today I find myself hoping there's a hell. Imagine Falwell's reaction to discovering that his blasphemy, his invocation of God's name in the service of his own evil agenda, has doomed him to eternal fire.