Forgotten Beatitudes

3 Comments

1. Red Seven

   Posted May 17, 2007 at 4:36 pm | Permalink

   I liked ‘em both.

   Seriously … I know that the kind-hearted soul that I usually am should prefer Flynt’s forgiveness over Hutchins’ vitriol, but hey — everyone should get to speak their truth.

   I’m not one to dance on anyone’s grave; I’m not HAPPY that Falwell died, but I’m not incredibly sad, either. He was alive, and now he’s dead; I didn’t like him last week, and I won’t pretend to like him now for the sake of propriety.

   Hutchins is a nutjob and an asshat, but on the topic of Jerry Falwell, he pretty much nails it. The man did an incredible amount of damage. I don’t so much hate the man as I hate what he created; unfortunately, what he created did not die with him. For that, and that alone, I am truly sorry.

2. QuakerJono

   Posted May 17, 2007 at 9:25 pm | Permalink

   They each did have their points, I must admit. Although, personally, I find anything Hitchens says to be suspect.

   You’re right, RS, everyone has a right to process this in their own way. I didn’t like Falwell either and it would be hypocritical of me to like him now. Respect his life as I do any life, sure, and try to evaluate it in the most positive light I can find in accord with my own personal beliefs, definitely. Not like, though.

   What has me concerned, though, is the seemingly rabid glee at his passing. I was reading through comments and I found one that just said, “Karma’s a bitch, burn in hell, fucker.” No trace of irony. That worries me.

3. Red Seven

   Posted May 20, 2007 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

   I was reading through comments and I found one that just said, “Karma’s a bitch, burn in hell, fucker.” No trace of irony. That worries me.

   And I find it amusing. Amusing because, really, I can’t say for sure that Jerry Falwell’s soul went to hell. I can’t say for sure that hell even exists, but if I could, it’s certainly not for me to say who goes there and who doesn’t.

   And that’s funny to me because whoever raised a glass to Falwell’s soul burning in hell probably hated Falwell precisely because Falwell did claim to have this kind of inside knowledge, or perhaps he was truly bat-$#!t-crazy and believed that one word from him was all it took to send a soul to hell. He certainly believed with all his heart and soul that every gay person on the planet had a one-way ticket to the furnace in the basement.

   So it’s ironic, that’s all. But I cast no aspersions. Whoever utters “Burn in hell, f@#ker” on the occasion of someone’s death is talking through a lot of pain, and in this case, I can’t see that their anger is misdirected. One thing I do know for sure is that Falwell personally caused that much pain and more.