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.
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.
We were attacked because medievalist tyrants believe -- quite correctly -- that our culture is undermining the institutions that keep them in power.