Posted on 09/14/2001 11:54:59 PM PDT by Brian_Baldwin
Is Jerry Falwell America's Taliban?
I do not know a lot about Jerry Falwell since I am not interested in his religion. Of course, I am familiar with him as a media icon of sorts, and have seen him on television giving commentary on current events as a guest of news talk programs on the networks, such as MSNBC or FOX. Even though I do not necessarily agree with some of the viewpoints which I have heard him express, and since I have no interest in his religion there is sometimes a disconnection between reality as I see it and his religious viewpoint as to why things happen in this world, nevertheless I have admired some of his works and was positive about what I would call a bravery in his personality, a motif of bravery in his openness about his convictions. I want to again clarify, that I am not familiar with everything Reverend Falwell has said either in the past or present since I do not regularly listen to him and certainly do not count myself as one of his enthusiasts.
Of the little that I am familiar of him, my positive feelings about him have now changed due to a recent comment he has made, and I have to seriously ask whether he might be a nut or something, and I don't mean to call him a nut as an insult but rather question if he might have mental problems. Current events, as related to the recent terrorist attack by what appears to be the Osama Bin Laden network of Islamic terrorist fanatics and the religious nut-case government of the Taliban in Afghanistan all converged with this rather odd person's statement, the statement by this Falwell to the effect that America got what it deserved in the form of God's wrath as manifest in this terrorist attack, God's punishment on America because there are too many lesbians, homosexuals, and abortions in America.
Again, Reverend Falwell said in so many words is that civil liberties groups, homosexuals and abortion supporters are partially responsibility for the terrorist attacks which turned God's anger against America, and that what happened to the people in New York, (including one of my own) is "what we deserve".
hmmmm . . . Sounds like Jerry's god agrees with the same god those suicidal sammies who just murdered our people in N.Y. worship. In fact it sounds like Jerry's god and their god is the same god. Because, well, what he is saying is, and it really doesn't matter now if he denies that he is saying this because if what I have just quoted is accurate then he is in fact saying that his God, whoever that is, blew up the WTC because that is what we deserve because there are too many ACLU types and homos running around in America, abortion, etc..
Excuse me, but isn't that what he said? . . . and so, excuse me, but this man is a lunatic and please don't let him or his god anywhere near my house because I have children I have to protect from mentals.
Accounting for what I understand he said, then what this man is, is America's Taliban. Please do not let this man have any political say or power in this nation, because we don't need this kind of Taliban voodoo at any level of power or government in the good ol' USA because such a man if put in any position of leadership would be a menace to world stability and a possible inspiration for followers of this type of cultism to potentially engage in terrorism. It also worries me, and I have to ask, does President Bush have anything to do with this apparent mental case?
Now, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am no friend of abortionists, and though I have some friends who are homosexual it is a fact that when it comes to political opinnion regarding some of the homosexual agenda the gays and lesbians radicals probably consider me Public Enemy Numer One as they do of Falwell, but . . . I have no doubt, considering the statement of Falwell, that if his type of cultism took over the country, while the Afghan Taliban is aggressive towards it's 'enemies' and the Falwell Taliban would likely not be engaged in systematic aggressive attacks on others - though even this could be possible - there is little doubt that the Falwell Taliban would indeed be a Taliban of sorts in America, and the end of liberty sacrificed to kookiness and live-choking oppression and terror.
There is a lot to admire about President Bush, especially in light of his handling of this recent act of war upon the United States. I hope the President or his Administration has made some comment regarding this scary and frankly lunatic statement by the Falwell preacher, denouncing it as it should. I am concerned that it appears this man might have some following, also the kookiness of his position is disconcerting because it is rather reminiscent of a few, very few but scary, Christians who call themselves supporters of Bush because they think, and quite frankly from the way they act seem to worship, Bush as some sort of Christian President of a status of infallibility - that is it would not matter what Bush did even if he started throwing baby kittens to their death out of Air Force One, it's all justified because he is Pope President of sorts, the infallible anointed President of The New Jerusalem, amen. Somebody better tell Bush, because I don't think he considers himself as such even though it appears some do.
My greatest respect goes to Christians, whom I love. In fact, one of my concerns is how Christians are being turned into the next Jews for the gas chambers by the liberal fascists. Secularism in government is very important, however, so I suppose that Mr. Falwell is eagerly expecting a terrorist truck bomb to slam into the front door of my house, the punishment vented by his god upon me for which I so richly deserve. Who knows, considering our current state of national security and intelligence operations this even might very well take place, but it certainly has nothing to do with God's vengeance upon me.
Absolutely friggin amazing.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT IS BEING CONDEMNED IN FALWELL'S WORDS.
Dogma blinds you.
Falwell apparantly knows not only what God is doing, he knows why he is doing it, and he even knows which specific sins he is punishing. But let's set theology aside. My complaint with Falwell's remarks is they serve to convince people that our nation is at fault where it isn't. There is simply no way to prove, and therefore no reason to claim, that our cultural problems have prompted God to punish us with this attack. Saddam Hussein is making that argument. And I see the "remove protection" argument as a false distinction. If God is omnipotent, if God is all knowing, then when He removes protection, He knows what will happen. To say He didn't send the attackers but that He removed our protection is a distinction without a difference. But again I digress into theology. forgive me.
We are the good guys. We were attacked because their is evil scum in the world who hate us. We will rise to the challenge. What we need now is hope and inspiration, like what Rev. Graham provided (while calling for spiritual renewal). What Mr. Falwell provided were demoralizing remarks, which made Americans feel that it was our own fault. I don't mean the homos. I mean regular folks. They said "gee, maybe we are evil." I saw it on the first thread. That is demoralization. We don't need it now.
I hope Mr. Falwell does regret his remarks. Pat Robertson chimed in his agreement, I noticed. I wonder if he regrets it? No matter. I simply would ask all Americans to stick together now. That doesn't mean legitimize homosexuality. It doesn't mean accept sin. It means set aside our differences in order to lift the spirits of Americans as we head into a frightening new era. That's just my two cents.
Yes, I saw the slight inference that there might have been intemperate words uttered thoughtlessly and erroneously which you denounced in passing, as you rushed to provide a sustained diatribe against a U.S. Christian leader. I see that on the actual threads which prominently feature the words you claim to have condemned, the first of which was placed while the bodies of all the "statist jack booted thug nazis" were still warm, you have yet to denounce the cynical essay of your fearless leader, Harry Browne, directly, in spite of your claim to the contrary. For your convenience I place here the links to these threads, conspicuously devoid of your condemnation:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b9f0f67592d.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba1c011066b.htm
Apparently in your haste, you missed the part where Huck identified Falwell's comments as disgraceful.
Just thought I'd be helpful and point that out.
What was it that YOU called Falwell's comments again?
Oh yes... I remember now.
You said Falwell's comments were an example of "kindness".
I'll admit that, as a Christian, when I first heard Falwell's assessment I cringed. How horribly out of place. But so many in TV-Christendom (an altogether separate place from day-to-day life) are only looking for the next sound bite, the next "pearl of wisdom" that they can send out over the airwaves without thinking through the implications of their remarks.
I wondered to myself when the attacks happened, "Why?" We just don't know. And to say it's because of the NEA or NOW or ACT-UP is to claim to know the mind of God. Something that we humans just don't do a very good job of reading.
The sanctimonious grave-dancing of you "principled" jerks is mind-numbing. Is there any tragedy that can keep you from beating your chests and clucking?12 Posted on 09/12/2001 00:53:30 PDT by Deb
Still think Falwell's words were an example of "kindness"?
This is absolutely loony. Please retract this senseless statement (though I know you probably won't). Quick...when's the last time that commercial jet planes were used as missiles? Come on... when? You have the benefit of hindsight (or maybe that's where your head always is). I would wager that most, if not all, of the people aboard thought they would be flown to an airport where they would sit on a tarmac awaiting the terrorists demands and a HRT team. No one thought they were going to be used as a weapon.
===========================================
Falwell's already apologised.
Over to you.
"If you are going to spread this rot, then please remove me from your list. This Browne article is a DISGRACE." Maybe I didn't denounce the Browne article on FR,just in the email. Thought I did on FR too. Anyway, consider it denounced.
______________________________________________________
I am just as disappointed by Browne's words, as I am by others who choose to lay blame for these events on anyone other than the terrorists who perpetrated them and their supporters.
Frankly, it is time to unite, and display a face of unity toward our enemies.
73 Posted on 09/14/2001 07:37:14 PDT by OWK
[ Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | Top | Last ]
________________________________________________________
Stick to things you know something about.
To quote an 'unimpeachable source:'
"I am just as disappointed by Browne's words, as I am by others who choose to lay blame for these events on anyone other than the terrorists who perpetrated them and their supporters."If you were "just as disappointed" then you'd be offering just as frequent condemnations. I can count the hundred posts you made condemning a Christian leader, but only one obscure reference to being "disappointed" in ol' humanist Harry Browne's words. Libertarians are a phoney opportunists, dancing on the graves of "statist jack booted thug nazis" whom they detested while alive.
Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba206f64d8b.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.