There has been a flurry of blogging in the wake of Jerry Falwell’s unexpected death. What else does one say?
Many say he was a man of controversy but isn’t controversy a relative term? Falwell for example was never filmed jumping up and down on a talk-show host’s couch, nor was he ever heard shouting anti-semitic opinions while being booked for driving under the influence. He was never sent to rehab or even sentenced to community service for multiple drug offenses. Neither was he ever caught in a compromising situation with a member of either sex.
What made Jerry Falwell, the clergyman, a controversial figure?
1) He asked for money, lots of it.
Typically, this was in connection with the development and ongoing operations of Liberty University, a private, Christian, University. Think about it, every university solicits funds from its constituency. We get these requests all the time and while the practice may be annoying, it’s hardly controversial.
2) Tinky Winky.
Jerry Falwell said that Tinky Winky, of teletubby fame, was gay. Is this controversial? Silly maybe, but then again there is no such thing in marketing as bad publicity. What was controversial however, was Falwell’s underlying moral position on homosexuality; as an evangelical Christian he held the biblical position that homosexual behavior was sinful.
Then again, perhaps Falwell’s remarks about Tinky Winky weren’t so silly after all.
Ann Coulter says that in its Jan. 8, 1999, issue, USA Today accused The Washington Post of “outing” Tinky Winky, with a “recent Washington Post In/Out list putting T.W. opposite Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche, essentially ‘outing’ the kids’ show character.” She also mentions that Michael Musto of The Village Voice once boasted that Tinky Winky was “out and proud,” noting that it was “a great message to kids — not only that it’s OK to be gay, but the importance of being well accessorized.” She notes that all this appeared before Falwell made his first mention of Tinky Winky.
3) 911.
Jerry Falwell remarked precipitously on supposed root causes of the 911 tragedy and received commensurate flack in return. He also later apologized.
4) Moral Majority.
Jerry Falwell engaged the evangelical Christian community in the political process in a way that had never been done before. He pulled together a significant segment of American society around common goals and concerns and gave them a voice. Thanks to his efforts, millions of Americans became registered voters–how evil is that?
“Just as the black church never again has to be indoctrinated to get involved politically, neither does the evangelical church,” Falwell told William Martin, author of “With God On Our Side, The Rise of the Religious Right in America.”
Because she says it so well, let me conclude with a further quote from Ann Coulter:
No man in the last century better illustrated Jesus’ warning that “All men will hate you because of me” than the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who left this world on Tuesday. Separately, no man better illustrates my warning that it doesn’t pay to be nice to liberals.
Falwell was a perfected Christian. He exuded Christian love for all men, hating sin while loving sinners. This is as opposed to liberals, who just love sinners. Like Christ ministering to prostitutes, Falwell regularly left the safe confines of his church to show up in such benighted venues as CNN.
He was such a good Christian that back when we used to be on TV together during Clinton’s impeachment, I sometimes wanted to say to him, “Step aside, reverend — let the mean girl handle this one.” (Why, that guy probably prayed for Clinton!)
For putting Christ above everything — even the opportunity to make a humiliating joke about Clinton — Falwell is known as “controversial.” Nothing is ever as “controversial” as yammering about Scripture as if, you know, it’s the word of God or something.
