by threadbear » Fri 18 May 2007, 22:53:10
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', 'W')ell, we must remember that for much of Amrica, they have seen so many changes to what they perceive to be the worse for the ocuntry. I once spent a week in the Smoky Mountins area and in the outlying areas, the churches are the focal point of the peoples' lives. I was curious about thsi church influence and found in a town of about 9,000 people, there were over 38 churches listed in its yellow pages! Think of that.
Falwell got these people on side and organzied them to use their clout to give them a voice. He did follow the bible, perhaps a bit twisted and too literally at times. But, he was no snake handler or anything weird like that.
You may disagree with much of Falwell's positions, but its a free country and that is the nature of democracy. Its messy.
I did not agree with some of what Falwell had to say, that is for sure, but let not denigrate him for using his voice to expound on what he perceived to be his God given duties as a preacher. He fought fearlessly, even when it made him look stupid.
So we should respect Falwell's authoritarian, some would say totalitarian intolerance, in the name of tolerance. Should we continue to support democracywhere majority rule could be the equivalent of a lynch mob, if people like Falwell succeed at the grass roots level? It sounds more like an invitation to dictatorship
When all is said and done, though I didn't agree with anything he said, I have to say he had the sincerity of a turnip.
I despair for America, when I read a lot of threads on this forum. Many Americans are charmingly innocent in a way that Europeans and Canadians find quaint. But the innocent "respect" for other's opinions, is self and other destructive