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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. In this way every prediction made by the Party could be shown by documentary evidence to have been correct; nor was any item of news, or any expression of opinion, which conflicted with the needs of the moment, ever allowed to remain on record. All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary.
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« No rest for the wicked | Main | Religion, philosophy, homeopathy, acupuncture…which one doesn't belong? »
Category: Religion
Posted on: May 15, 2007 2:27 PM, by PZ Myers
While I am sorry for the pain that his family now feels, we can all take solace in the fact that the extinction of the televangelist was all part of god's loving plan.
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Comments
"I shudder to think where the country would be right now if the religious right had not evolved," Falwell said when he stepped down as Moral Majority president in 1987.
I didn't realize he believed in evolution.
Posted by: abeja | May 15, 2007 2:32 PM
Love the title.
Posted by: Kat | May 15, 2007 2:33 PM
So, when is Rush Limbaugh's number up?
Posted by: Dustin | May 15, 2007 2:41 PM
This works out very well for all concerned -- if Falwell is right in his beliefs, he is now in eternal bliss, and the rest of us are rid of his pompous, intolerant, sanctimonious ass. This is pretty much a win-win.
Posted by: Tulse | May 15, 2007 2:41 PM
They say that deaths come in threes. Hmm.
Posted by: Tukla in Iowa | May 15, 2007 2:43 PM
don't be so sure. We have to wait 3 days and then see if he rises.
Posted by: Brian W. | May 15, 2007 2:44 PM
Romney and McCain have already said kind words about him publicly to commemorate his death.
Well, they aren't getting my vote.
Posted by: DamnYankees | May 15, 2007 2:44 PM
God is clearly sending a message to creationists everywhere.
Posted by: Great White Wonder | May 15, 2007 2:45 PM
Heh. Right now he's saying "But Lord Horus, how was I supposed to know?"
I can't work up any sympathy for someone who said I was personally responsible for 9/11.
Posted by: horrobin | May 15, 2007 2:49 PM
"My condolences to his family. I didn't know the man personally, but as a public figure I always found him rather contemptible."
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 2:51 PM
This is just another reason that I'm trying like Hell to get into Hell.
I figure Hell isn't that bad of a place. At any rate, I can have dinner with Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, lunch with the Huxley clan, cabin building contests with Abe Lincoln, I can visit Carl Sagan, hobnob with the Baron d'Holbach, go out Friday nights with the Marquis de Sade and Casanova, talk to almost all of the great physicists of the 20th century, get drunk and surly with Hemingway, egg Thomas Edison's car, argue with Freud, and on and on.
It's like a never ending cocktail party filled with the most brilliant people in history. Compare that to the jerks who are getting into Heaven. No thanks.
Posted by: Dustin | May 15, 2007 2:52 PM
As deaths go, you have to admit this was a pretty merciful one. Sounds like he was fine at breakfast and then just never knew what hit him. I'll leave his family and friends to grieve and just stay out of it. Ideally, I'd like to live longer than 73 years if my health holds up, but otherwise, this is probably the way to go.
Posted by: PaulC | May 15, 2007 2:53 PM
Falwell was one of the philosophical opponents of personal freedom, and in in his practical work, a continual threat to American freedom. I set aside the rule about not speaking ill of the dead when such a villain dies. I plan on dancing at Castro's funeral, also.
Posted by: Russell | May 15, 2007 2:55 PM
I feel complete and utter devastation at the loss of such a righteous man. Please come back soon Robert Horry.
/Spurs Fan
Posted by: GeorgeBurnsGod | May 15, 2007 2:57 PM
Yeah. I'm going to do a little jig when Putin kicks the bucket. That's assuming there isn't some kind of cloning program going on. For all I know, we're on Putin Sn. 3657, Vat 2.
Posted by: Dustin | May 15, 2007 2:58 PM
My local (Connecticut) progressive blog has this charming Falwell/Robertson duet on its front page today. I think most people these days would say Falwell was the (relatively) sane one of the two, but in this crazy little number he's clearly singing lead, blaming "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America" for 9/11!
Of course I never want to seem to exult in another man's death... but it's extremely hard not to conclude that the cause of peace and justice in the world is better served by his passing than it ever was by his life. [sigh]
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | May 15, 2007 3:00 PM
I noticed this story mentioned that Falwell used to be "opposed to mixing preaching and politics." It completely neglected to mention that he articulated this view in reference to pro-civil rights ministers: "[I question]"the sincerity and intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations.... [P]reachers are not called to be politicians, but to be soul winners."
Would that he had been as consistent on this point as he was on so many other wrongheaded points throughout his execrable life. Farewell, Mr. Falwell; I only regret that the hell to which you condemned so many others during your lifetime does not exist to welcome you with open, flaming arms. ("Flaming." Huh-huh.")
Posted by: RedMolly | May 15, 2007 3:03 PM
Oh, I'm also going to throw a huge party when Kissinger's soul phylactery is finally found and cast into a forge.
Posted by: Dustin | May 15, 2007 3:03 PM
Hmmm... I didn't mean my previous post to suggest that My Left Nutmeg was mine in any sense other than it's where I go to read about politics with a progressive slant and a Connecticut focus. Not for nothin', but I frequently link to Pharyngula in my comments and diaries there.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | May 15, 2007 3:04 PM
Falwell was bad news, and I am not sorry to see him go. Hopefully his death will create a void which will cause some infighting among prominent bigots right-winged Christians.
Will Liberty University and Moral Majority continue without him? I personally think that the US would be a better place without the later.
Posted by: Kristjan Wager | May 15, 2007 3:05 PM
Why shouldn't we exult in Falwell's death? As a gay man, I've experienced years of the hatred his despicable anti-gay rhetoric inspired. People have been disowned by their families because of Falwell's bigoted preaching. Moreover, Falwell was a cheif architect of the theocratic right that has pushed so hard to destroy science education in this country, roll back anti-discrimination laws, and give racists and bigots of all stripes divine justification for their hate.
A genuinely evil man died today, and the world is a better place for it.
Posted by: Gobear | May 15, 2007 3:05 PM
They should vie for power by the holmgang.
Posted by: Dustin | May 15, 2007 3:09 PM
When someone like Falwell dies, I feel an irrational regret for the fact that there is no aftelife because that means that Falwell will never experience the chagrin of learning that, um, there is no afterlife. Look, I SAID it was an irrational regret, o ye International Ogre of the Interwebs.
Posted by: Elf Eye | May 15, 2007 3:10 PM
And the world mourns....oh, who the hell am I kidding? The man is and was an ass and the world is better off without his pathetic bigotry.
Rot in the ground, Falwell. The only good use you had was fertilizer.
Posted by: Zbu | May 15, 2007 3:12 PM
I have to reluctantly agree with Gobear that the passing of an evil man is a good thing for society. I hate to say it because I don't enjoy the suffering of others (his family, in this case), but for that very same reason I'm glad to see him gone.
Posted by: Leon | May 15, 2007 3:15 PM
So it goes.
Posted by: Mel | May 15, 2007 3:18 PM
The world just got a little less evil.
Posted by: Today is a Good Day | May 15, 2007 3:29 PM
if Falwell is right in his beliefs, he is now in eternal bliss . . .
Tulse - Gotta disagree. If there was anything to Falwell's theology (or Robertson's or anyone else who uses other people's desire to do what's right to line his own pockets), he's being turned on a spit as I type this.
Posted by: Molly, NYC | May 15, 2007 3:30 PM
Well, that's one down...
Posted by: markbt73 | May 15, 2007 3:31 PM
I'm just glad the bastard's dead. I just hope Fred Phelps doesn't die right away--I might be too happy.
Posted by: Jeff Fecke | May 15, 2007 3:32 PM
Usually, famous deaths come in threes.
Johnny Hart, Jerry Falwell and ...
Posted by: Corey Schlueter | May 15, 2007 3:33 PM
Now that we've all 'checked in' in expressing our 'regrets' at the passing of a bigot, perhaps each person should find one (additional) good thing they would choose to do to benefit society and go that one extra step to negate his legacy of hatred and divisiveness.
Posted by: mothra | May 15, 2007 3:34 PM
I'm hoping Dobson goes next... while bound by his dominatrix.
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 15, 2007 3:34 PM
I thought people like him never died.
Posted by: Rey Fox | May 15, 2007 3:35 PM
Paging Pat Robertson. Pat Robertson. Would Pat Robertson please report to his office after breakfast? Thank you.
Posted by: God | May 15, 2007 3:36 PM
Resurrection? You mean, becoming undead.
Posted by: bullfighter | May 15, 2007 3:37 PM
Then Dick Cheney... choking on quail.
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 15, 2007 3:37 PM
I'm sure his sons will continue the tradition of bigotry, homophobia and hate.
Spent his life spewing nonsense about a non-existent god.
What a joke.
Posted by: CalGeorge | May 15, 2007 3:43 PM
Is it bad that I'm actually happy with his death?
Posted by: Rienk | May 15, 2007 3:45 PM
"don't be so sure. We have to wait 3 days and then see if he rises."
Why, is there a full moon or something??
Posted by: seaducer | May 15, 2007 3:48 PM
I was expecting a headline of : "Fat Fundy Finally Fries" :)
Posted by: J-Dog | May 15, 2007 3:48 PM
Ding, Dong, the fundie's gone...
Too bad he just croaked peacefully. When I first heard, I had a wonderful vision of a fiery fundie neo-con plane crash that included all his cockroach pals erupting in a ball of flames. Still, this is second best. Roast, you bastard.
Posted by: Blackbird | May 15, 2007 3:49 PM
Remember . . . dance first, then piss.
I can't work up any sympathy for someone who said I was personally responsible for 9/11.
So, Horrobin, which one(s) are you? I think I managed all of them.
Posted by: Kyra | May 15, 2007 3:50 PM
Certainly not because he deserves any sympathy (though Leon's point [@#25] about the suffering of others is well taken). I just fear that exultation in death -- even the deserved death of an evil man -- is toxic to the psyche of the exultor. I'm afraid it will damage me to be gleeful about a fellow human's death... and Falwell isn't worth that price.
I agree entirely. And yet, one could say the same after many an execution (admittedly not all of them, which is a whole 'nother discussion), and one of the reasons I'm profoundly troubled by the death penalty is the extent to which it encourages bereaved families to root for death... and in many cases to spend years doing so... instead of searching for healing and consolation. (BTW, I recognize that last sentence has the stink of religion about it, but I assure you I mean earthly, secular "healing and consolation," not a pat on the head from the Man in the Sky.)
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | May 15, 2007 3:52 PM
Good riddance. Wish I believed in hell, but the thought of him rotting in the ground provides some solace. May Roberson and Dobson join him soon.
Posted by: tim | May 15, 2007 3:56 PM
I guess he lived up to his name. He "fell well." But more than likely he's in hell. At least I can have faith : )
Posted by: John Danley | May 15, 2007 3:58 PM
Robertson will never die. He's got his Jesus-Semen Protein Milkshakes.
As for Falwell, stick the fat bastard in the ground so he can finally stop stinking up the planet.
Posted by: Dan | May 15, 2007 4:00 PM
Now that Falwell is gone, my hope is that his legacy fades away, too. Unfortunately, he was able to institutionalize his extremism in Liberty University and we can't know whether Falwell's absence will cause the school to moderate its hard-right fundamentalism or shrink in size because it can't pull in the contributions that their founder could draw. Like Pat Robertson's Regents University (esp. the law school) and D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge operation, the corporate bodies have the potential to lumber on wreaking havoc long after the leading lights blink out. Kennedy's illness and absence doesn't seem to have slowed down his outfit at all.
Posted by: Zeno | May 15, 2007 4:01 PM
I am glad that he and his intolerant, hateful words, etc are gone (except in recordings etc. of course). I admit it. However, I do wish that he wouldn't have had to die to have that happen. I wish his evil words and deeds could have gone away without the loss of his life. I think that's what alot of us are expressing here.
Posted by: Daniel R Hansen | May 15, 2007 4:03 PM
Nonsense. He made his bed, and he crapped in everyone else's while he was at it.
"If there be a hell, it had received at last the demon soul of an unhallowed thing." -H. P. Lovecraft
Posted by: Azkyroth | May 15, 2007 4:29 PM
I'm an atheist, but I don't see why everybody is celebrating Falwell's death. What did he do that was so bad? Is expressing disagreement with the fag pervert "lifestyle" really that great a crime?
Posted by: McVeigh was a Patriot | May 15, 2007 4:30 PM
If there was a heaven, I imagine it would go something like this:
Falwell to God: Is my suite ready???
God to Falwell: Ummm, I hope you packed your sun glasses and some chap stick.
Posted by: Bruce | May 15, 2007 4:31 PM
Ignore the Terrorist loving patriot.
McVeigh was a terrorist.
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 15, 2007 4:48 PM
Ewww. What a dreadful, awful stench. I forgot to wear my trollgas-mask.
Yes, Bill, I tend to agree, though it is possible to pursue healing while believing the perpetrator does not deserve to live. Of course, that opens up the whole "But who are we to decide who lives or dies?" question.
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 4:48 PM
On one hand "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind" and all that jazz. On the other, we no longer have to put op with the miasma of palpable evil he exuded from every hate encrusted pore.
All things considered, I think we came out well in the black on this one.
Posted by: Sophist | May 15, 2007 4:49 PM
My prayers were answered...
All Hail the Flying Spaghetti Monster!!
May She be breathing Her parmesan cheesy breath down the necks of Dobson and Robertson!
Posted by: Cathy in Seattle | May 15, 2007 4:53 PM
@McVeigh was a Patriot -
It is unfortunate that it requires the death of Jerry Falwell to at least put a dent into the spewing of Christian right-wing hatred and intolerance, but I wonder (I think your moniker speaks volumes) if you are not 'in bed' with Falwell's ideals. McVeigh can not in any sense be considered to have been a patriot. When did patriots start killing children? You seem to be one of those that has this strange, unsubstantiated belief that homosexuality is a choice. When did you 'choose' to be heterosexual?
Posted by: Randy | May 15, 2007 4:55 PM
All right, I'm convinced. There is a God after all. No, wait. If there were a God, Falwell would have had a heart attack while wearing high heels and a leather bustier and sodomizing a 13 year-old Muslim boy. Never mind.
Posted by: CJColucci | May 15, 2007 4:57 PM
If the death of Christ's dutiful servant doesn't affect funding of the Lord's own Law School, Bush & Co. will be able to recruit some more brilliant lawyer whores.
Posted by: gerald spezio | May 15, 2007 5:01 PM
"...while wearing high heels and a leather bustier and sodomizing a
13 year-old Muslim boyMacho Business Donkey Wrestler."Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 5:04 PM
Why are we feeling sorry for his family? Surely, if they practice what they preach, their happiness that he's finally achieved everlasting peace and joy basking in God's love should way more than outweigh their selfish sorrow at being temporarily deprived of his companionship.
Posted by: Brownian | May 15, 2007 5:06 PM
Because virtually everyone mourns the loss of a loved one in some way, regardless of culture or creed. I object to the mocking of personal grief. YMMV.
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 5:12 PM
Is expressing disagreement with the fag pervert "lifestyle" really that great a crime?
Oh come on! The man rants and raves about how his fellow human beings are going to hell because the're different, and you, hypocrite lecture, ask if thats a crime? No. No, you sanctimonious ass, it isn't a crime. Not a legal one, at any rate. But as a moral crime, what he says and does are not forgivable.
As a jew, I've heard people say "i'm not a neo-nazi, but..." and people like that make me sick. Whether or not there is a god is not for me to say, but i'm reasonably sure that he's not in favor of this insanity.
And as for you, when did homosexuality become a "choice"? Did you chose to be a heterosexual? What about a bigoted idiot?
Glad I got that out of my system. The fact is, I know nothing about you, and from your comments, I don't want to.
Posted by: Asher E | May 15, 2007 5:13 PM
How strange that McVeigh was a Patriot would consider homosexuality to be a perversion, yet bombing a daycare somehow is not.
I don't know about atheist, MWAP. I think there's another word that starts with 'A' that more accurately describes you.
Posted by: Brownian | May 15, 2007 5:16 PM
horrobin:
Falwell said (from http://www.spcm.org/Journal/spip.php?article10987):
So which one are you? I'm only on this list once, maybe twice.
I remember reading a few weeks ago that, in 1980, Pat Robertson predicted the rapture might occur April 29, 2007. The radio program "Weekend America" had a pretty good piece on it on April 28. Does anyone else remember hearing it?
http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/programs/2007/04/28/apocalypse_when.html
Posted by: MikeM | May 15, 2007 5:21 PM
Exactly my sentiment, Elfeye - the worst part of being an Atheist is the inability to say, "I told you so" in regards to an afterlife.
Posted by: Calladus | May 15, 2007 5:23 PM
Let me try to say something nice about Falwell,
He was truly one of the most impressively bigotted god-buggerers of our age. Between his prideful hatred and superstitious racketeering, Falwell is worthy of our disdain and ultimate compassionalte contempt. May the worms crawl in, may the worms crawl out, may the worms play peaknuckle on his snout.
Well, thats about as good as I could pull off.
Posted by: Robster, FCD | May 15, 2007 5:24 PM
Late and unlamented - may he shriek in agony for all eternity. (Sometimes it's useful to retain a modicum of faith.)
Posted by: Justin Moretti | May 15, 2007 5:24 PM
This man founded the Moral Majority, campaigned against women's rights, gay rights, separation of church and state, and the teaching of sound science education, and was a major contributor to the social and political climate that gave us the Bush and Reagan presidencies. This man has done more damage to America than Osama Bin Laden could ever dream of, and yet there are people stupid and bigoted enough to regard him as hero. Now he is no longer in a position to harm anyone directly. Yes, this is worth celebrating. It's unfortunate that he dedicated his life to fomenting hatred, glorifying ignorance, embodying corruption and hypocrisy, and impeding progress, but he chose to do so and must have known, at some level, what he was doing. He deserves no pity.
Posted by: Azkyroth | May 15, 2007 5:33 PM
This man founded the Moral Majority, campaigned against women's rights, gay rights, separation of church and state, and the teaching of sound science education, and was a major contributor to the social and political climate that gave us the Bush and Reagan presidencies. This man has done more damage to America than Osama Bin Laden could ever dream of, and yet there are people stupid and bigoted enough to regard him as hero. Now he is no longer in a position to harm anyone directly. Yes, this is worth celebrating. It's unfortunate that he dedicated his life to fomenting hatred, glorifying ignorance, embodying corruption and hypocrisy, and impeding progress, but he chose to do so and must have known, at some level, what he was doing. He deserves no pity.
Posted by: Azkyroth | May 15, 2007 5:33 PM
While watching CNN at the gym, I saw that as recently as a week ago, Falwell was asking for 20 more years from God to complete his ministry, just as He had granted 15 years to Hezekiah (Isaiah 38).
I know of no more obvious sign of God's distaste for Falwell than this.
Posted by: notthedroids | May 15, 2007 5:33 PM
Interesting; wonder why the "you must wait before posting again" filter doesn't catch accidental duplicate mouse clicks x.x
Posted by: Azkyroth | May 15, 2007 5:34 PM
And as for you, when did homosexuality become a "choice"? Did you chose to be a heterosexual?
Asher E. - I honestly believe a lot of the Holy Joes do "choose" it--or as we would say, retreat into the closet. (Ted Haggard and Jim Bakker are famous examples thereof, but the Bible Belt's full of lonely, anonymous people who've been so shamed into giving up that part of their lives by the likes of Falwell, it hardly matters what their orientation is.) When they say it's a choice, they're speaking from their own experience, however pointlessly self-abnegating it is.
Posted by: Molly, NYC | May 15, 2007 5:37 PM
Well at least you guys are refreshingly honest. Usually when someone dies the hyprocracy flows out like fudge and the dead person is treated as truly great. Remember Nixon?
Posted by: sailor | May 15, 2007 5:41 PM
With apologies to Kurt Vonnegut:
Jerry is in the dirt now...
...or at least soon will be.
Posted by: Jim D | May 15, 2007 5:42 PM
I imagine he thought he was doing good. Certainly the world's better off without him, but it would have been nice if he could have just been safely tucked away somewhere with a VR helmet on, dreaming of post-Rapture America.
"Daemon!" Lovecraft didn't spell like a filthy Yankee.
Posted by: Anton Mates | May 15, 2007 5:44 PM
I say we must not wish an eternity of suffering on any sentient being. (That's THEIR wish, remember - the one to which we so often object.) May he instead experience, in real-time, the many and varied obstacles, pains, frustrations and persecutions of all the people whose lives his ministries and machinations impacted negatively.
It wouldn't be agony, nor would it be eternal, but it would keep him busy for several centuries. After that, detention would be over, and he'd be free to go play in the fields and valleys of eternal loveliness.
I think that's fair.
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 5:44 PM
Kseniya: I don't think he should be free until he comes to truly regret what he did. Simply living through it once may not be enough.
Anton Mates: I'll scan the page when I get home.
Posted by: Azkyroth | May 15, 2007 5:46 PM
#62
I'm not mocking personal grief. I really don't know why we need to preface a discussion about Falwell's death and his legacy with a perfunctory comment about the sorrow we feel for his family. I'm certainly no more sorry for his family than I am for the families of the other ~149,999 people that die on a daily basis, not because I'm cold, indifferent, or gleeful of their suffering, but mostly because I'm human and can only empathise for people I have no contact with in a very general way.
Falwell took glee in others' suffering, both real and imaginary: he willfully persecuted individuals with beliefs divergent to his, and rejoiced in the concept of a vengeful God who would continue to torment them forever after. I am glad he is gone, only because he is personally no longer able to inflict pain on others. If I were to meet someone who was close to him and genuinely felt sorrow at his passing, you can be certain that I would hold my opinions and sincerely express my condolences.
However, here, on this blog, I don't feel that I'm being unduly disrespectful by pointing out the irony of a belief system that encourages its believers to deny humanity in others and themselves, yet ultimately cannot protect them from the sorrow that sometimes comes with being human.
It's often said (erroneously, of course) that there are no atheists in foxholes. I'd wager that it's much more accurate to note that there are no Christians at a funeral.
Posted by: Brownian | May 15, 2007 5:47 PM
Why are all these people who ask whether McVeigh was a Patriot chose to be heterosexual assuming that he is?
Posted by: CJColucci | May 15, 2007 5:48 PM
Everbody dies. Too bad this one did so much evil while he was still alive and never saw the light to correct the evil that he did.
Posted by: Moses | May 15, 2007 6:01 PM
the worms go in
the worms go out
the worms play pinochle on his snout
Posted by: savagemickey | May 15, 2007 6:04 PM
Today is a very sad day, indeed.... but not because Falwell died, but because my uncle Jerry, a 43 y/o single father of 15 and 12 y/o sons passed away this morning. I grieve, but it ain't for Falwell. My uncle did more in life and left so much a better legacy than that fat bastard did. At least I hears some good news today.
Posted by: Jamie Guinn | May 15, 2007 6:22 PM
I don't see much good in the whole situation, I'm afraid. Here's a man who wasted whatever abilities he had on enslaving and oppressing others. The damage that he did will live on for a very long time. His family is probably now overcome with shock and grief. Sounds to me like a tragedy all 'round.
I guess I feel relief that he can't do any more damage, but our larger struggle goes on, and I don't see an end in sight. One possible next step: write a letter to the paper reminding readers of all the ugly things Falwell did and said that the press is going to conveniently forget over the next few days.
Posted by: STH | May 15, 2007 6:29 PM
Congratulations, USA.
The coverage of JF's death in New Zealand is stunningly parochial - in the report I heard this morning, they said that his main claim to fame in Kiwiland was having debated former Prime Minister David Lange in the 1980s, over NZ's nuclear-free policy. In the course of the debate Lange said to Falwell "I can smell the uranium on your breath."
Posted by: Buffybot | May 15, 2007 6:33 PM
Jamie Guinn - How sad. And so young. What happened?
Posted by: Molly, NYC | May 15, 2007 6:36 PM
I'm so sorry for the loss of your uncle, JG. Best to you and your family.
Posted by: STH | May 15, 2007 6:37 PM
Arrrr, Azkyroth, that's an interesting point matey, maybe you're right, but that seems like tyranny to me. Perhaps the least and the most we can do for him is to allow him the opportunity to experience what he wrought in all its fullness, so that he may come to regret all or part of it and so we may then judge him according to our own standards. I don't feel sufficiently comfortable with the literally absolute rightness of my position to grant myself the power, or the right, to subject anyone to an eternity of anything for the sake forcing him to agree with me. If the tables were turned, I would certainly ask no less than the opportunity to make up my own mind based on the lesson offered.
Brownian @ #79:
Well stated, I understand what you mean now. I mistook your pointing out the irony for a distain for their grief. My mistake.
As for those perfunctory comments, I think it stems from the desire many people have to make it known that they recognize that every person has public and private sides, and that most of our ideological foes, no matter how abhorrent they are to us in the public arena, have people who care about them and will miss them. Is it hypocrisy to offer that acknowledgement as a preface to a criticism of the man's life's work? Maybe. I don't know.
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 6:37 PM
Kseniya:
"Is it hypocrisy to offer that acknowledgement as a preface to a criticism of the man's life's work?"
Probably not. I can't imagine that genuinely wanting to comfort another could ever be hypocritical. Or, if it is, it's probably better to be a hypocrite than callous and indifferent to suffering.
Posted by: Brownian | May 15, 2007 6:41 PM
Good point, CJColucci. Most homophobes are that way because they live their lives terrified that they are what they rail against.
Posted by: Randy | May 15, 2007 6:50 PM
Off-topic, but couldn't resist after #82:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms post to the net
From your account
Posted by: Trip the Space Parasite | May 15, 2007 6:51 PM
We don't know yet, they are taking him up to the coroner's office for an autopsy. He was in a motorcycle accident over a decade ago that left him paralyzed from the waste down. They didn't expect him to live past 40. Somehow he managed to walk again, although in constant pain. I will greatly miss him.
Posted by: Jamie G. | May 15, 2007 6:52 PM
Jamie, you have my condolences. I lost my mother when she, like your uncle, was 43. Peace...
Posted by: Kseniya | May 15, 2007 7:06 PM
Everybody has alluded to it, but I just want to ask: Jerry, how did that Pascal's Wager thing turn out?
Posted by: jufulu | May 15, 2007 7:26 PM
I am having a hard time with any alligator tears, here. He's gone, not forgotten. His legacy will, I am afraid, live on. And if not there are more to take up the "shoes of the fisherman."
On the other hand, is it possible that he died so that we may live (better?)
Posted by: Mike Haubrich | May 15, 2007 7:36 PM
Someone who may or may not be religious gets a few good Eric Hoffer quotes that fit that fat dead bigot to a T.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/God+and+social+change-a0152267676
It doesn't take as long to say it as it will take for people who don't read Pharyngula to realize it: Fallwell was so toxic for freedoms and tolerance that in the end, he is a gift to Atheists and a huge embarrassment to religious moderates and progressives.
Posted by: greensmile | May 15, 2007 7:45 PM
a bit late, but i just have to:
steve_c:
Then Dick Cheney... choking on quail.
or even better, choking on Quayle.
...but somehow I think that death is reserved for Ted Haggard.
Posted by: Ichthyic | May 15, 2007 8:02 PM