Christopher Hitchens appeared with CNN's Anderson Cooper to discuss the life and legacy of Jerry Falwell.
Hitchens did not think very much of the man.
- "I think it's a pity that there isn't a hell for him to go to."
And writing in Slate, Hitchens concludes:
The evil that he did will live after him. This is not just because of the wickedness that he actually preached, but because of the hole that he made in the "wall of separation" that ought to divide religion from politics. In his dingy racist past, Falwell attacked those churchmen who mixed the two worlds of faith and politics and called for civil rights. Then he realized that two could play at this game and learned to play it himself. Then he won the Republican Party over to the idea of religious voters and faith-based fund raising. And now, by example at least, he has inspired emulation in many Democrats and liberals who would like to borrow the formula. His place on the cable shows will be amply filled by Al Sharpton: another person who can get away with anything under the rubric of Reverend. It's a shame that there is no hell for Falwell to go to, and it's extraordinary that not even such a scandalous career is enough to shake our dumb addiction to the "faith-based."
2 comments:
i guess that it is the sheer stupidity of the people who continue to believe and send money that really gets to me. there have always been sharptons and falwells- they used to be called snake oil salesmen and hucksters ( to steal from hitchens)but the absolute sheer stupidity of the people of the alleged most educated in the world- mind blowing. absolutely mind blowing. makes us look as dumb as those folks who blow themselves up in the name of god and virgins now dudn't it?
The man dies and out come the jackals.....you guys are scavengers and cowards. Hitchens didn't have the guts to say any of this to Falwell while the man was alive and now emerges from the mud-slinging swamp to tarnish a dead man's legacy. Shame on Cooper for promoting this instead of calling a coward a coward.
As to religious funding, politicians are the biggest hucksters since the origin of the word. Also, who are these "others" that we look so idiotic to and why do you respect their judgment?
Post a Comment