I’ll never forget a post by Andrew Sullivan just a few days after the 9/11 attacks. I was living in Hong Kong ath the time, and I could scarcely believe what I was reading.
So far relatively few have used this terrible tragedy for political points. Here is what Jerry Falwell said on the 700 Club: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and 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 – I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.'”
Do you fathom just how low, how vile and profane these words are? Can you imagine the hatred and bigotry that inspired them? Jerry Falwell, to use one of Conrad’s phrases, is a true moral pigmy, his malignant obsessions made even more disturbing by his cloaking himself in religion, and speaking as one in touch with Christ.
So why do I bring all this up now, nearly three years after the fact? Simple: It appears that Jerry Falwell, the man who represents the very worst, most ugly side of Evangelical Christianity in America, the self-righteous Bible-thumper who dares equate huge and innocent portions of America’s populace to psychotic terrorists — this man will be delivering the invocation that kicks off the Republican Convention in New York City.
Forget Iraq, Forget the lies and the dirty tricks. Forget even the staggering deficits America must now live with for generations. This one catastrophe, bush’s alignment of American politics with the right-wing Christian agenda, is the most profound sin that the republican party must bear on its conscience. And it is a huge, ugly, metastasizing sin — and I firmly believe that America has had quite enough of it.
1
By pete
Well said. Americans and the media need to focus on the religious right as to its agenda for the U.S. Frightening things they think about.
Reading Steve Weisman’s Jesus, Jihadis and the Red-State Blues at trouthout.org today is an interesting read, if correct.
July 28, 2004 @ 11:50 pm | Comment
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By Conrad
If that’s accurate, it’s very disappointing.
July 29, 2004 @ 2:20 am | Comment
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By george
look how american officer treat chinese visiters, now i understand, why there are so many many people hate amcerican, only because they are arrigant animal, even 90% hate american, which they said every american like to use the word “I” so often, as if everything american said is correct, i wish more bomb and attack the white house and NY city. let more and more american die!!!!!!
July 29, 2004 @ 4:04 am | Comment
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By george
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/26/content_1648717.htm
look how american officer treat chinese visiters, now i understand, why there are so many many people hate amcerican, only because they are arrigant animal, even 90% hate american, which they said every american like to use the word “I” so often, as if everything american said is correct, i wish more bomb and attack the white house and NY city. let more and more american die!!!!!!
July 29, 2004 @ 4:28 am | Comment
5
By Conrad
George:
Shut the fuck up. The offficer has been suspended, the case investigated, the facts printed in the newsmedia, the womwn has a independanet and effective lawyer, justice will be done and, if wrongs committed, the officers responsible punished and the woman compensated.
Lucky bitch. If she was in China not only would not of the single things that I mentioned be true, her ass ould still be in jail and in China, such brutality is not rare, it happens many times every day.
Shit no one treats the Chinese worse than Chinese authorities.
Now go the hell away you silly git.
July 29, 2004 @ 5:21 am | Comment
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By hkreportage
I would like to point out that George used the pronoun “I” in his rambling message of hate and agony.
July 29, 2004 @ 8:33 am | Comment
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By george
Conrad, go to hell, and get out of Hongkong, it is part of china now, you son of bitch, i did not see any main media report this in bloody US, get out!!! and go to hell, all of your family!!!
i am not following CCP government, i never said it is good, so is US and aggragant, son of bitch american!
get out of china, Hongkong and Taiwan and Macau!
July 29, 2004 @ 9:08 am | Comment
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By george
CCP is devil,. so is american? look how american treat average chinese people, just you son of bitch expats in china, did you ever meet any chinese treat you so brutally like this??? if you ever treated like this, how would you aggragant american animal respond, look at the bitch Conrad, he used to work “bitch” on that poor persecuted woman, did he show any of his humanity, he is no good than the bloody CCP, go to hell,. all of your family,
July 29, 2004 @ 9:19 am | Comment
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By george
don’t show how you care about human right, just look at what concrad wrote “Lucky bitch. If she was in China not only would not of the single things that I mentioned be true” , this is how he shows impathy to that woman!!!he is no differrence from the devil CCP, there is no famous medias in US reported this descrimination savage crime, not a piece on CNN, NYTIMES, WASHINGTONPOST ETC, you guys are such all the same, fake human rights protectors, actually i would say, you are all losers, then coming to poor asia, and pretend you are god to save people here. bitch~!
July 29, 2004 @ 9:38 am | Comment
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By vaara
Conrad: The source of the Falwell story is the Rev. Mel White, a gay man who used to be a colleague of Falwell’s (he ghost-wrote Falwell’s autobiography) and now runs a gay-rights organization called “Soulforce.” He and his partner live in a rented house directly across the street from Falwell’s church, which he attends regularly.
So he is, literally, in an excellent position to know.
July 29, 2004 @ 9:40 am | Comment
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By Jim
Falwell is the GOP’s Sharpton. Small minds think alike. All the same adjectives and criticisms apply equally to both. I find it incredible that both parties cater to their nutcase sector by patronizing these idiots. How well they deliver a speech is irrelevant. Many great orators were in fact tricksters who used their talents to lead people into evil deeds.
July 29, 2004 @ 1:41 pm | Comment
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By Jim
One other point. Both conventions are all about theatrics. Everyone knows the outcome so the only thing left is to make it a freak show and get as many people worked up as possible. Play to the lowest common denominator.
Circle the wagons! Rally the troops! Once more into the breach!!! Doesn’t matter, in November it will be Bush vs Kerry – and Nader whining off somewhere in Fantasyland.
July 29, 2004 @ 2:28 pm | Comment
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By richard
The conventions do play a larger role than that, although they certainly do have their share of theatrics. For Bush, it’s pure theatrics becauase we’ve known him for the past four years. For kerry, it is crucially important, even to the point of make or break. Much, if not everything, depends on his introduction to the American people in 6 hours or so.
July 29, 2004 @ 2:37 pm | Comment