Death

Well those close should know that a friend from work passed away last week. He was hit by a suspect fleeing a car chase and died pretty much instantly. Death catches us all eventually. But I'm actually happy to hear who it caught today:
" The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a pioneer among televangelists who later became a leading voice in the national debate over Christian values, has died at the age of 73. Falwell was found unconscious Tuesday in his office at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va."

Falwell, who has dominated the evangelical low ground with such great comments about how AIDS is god's punishment for homosexuals and how Katrina was a way for god to purge the Earth of sodomists and heathens.

atrios points us to the Carpetbagger for more:

"I have to admit, writing about Falwell’s death poses an awkward challenge for me. When I worked at Americans United for Separation of Church and State for several years, I read Falwell’s materials, I listened to his speeches, I watched his interviews, and got a real sense for who this man was and what he devoted his life to.

In literally every instance, I was repelled and appalled. But is it not callous to bash a man just hours after his death?

I have another idea — I’ll document Jerry Falwell’s professional life and let his record speak for itself.

...

September 2001: Falwell blames Americans for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the Pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the 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.’”

November 2005: Falwell spearheads campaign to resist “war on Christmas.”

February 2007: Falwell describes global warming as a conspiracy orchestrated by Satan, liberals, and The Weather Channel."

I just grabbed the recent ones, follow the link for the rest. Certainly not a life of tolerance or forgiveness, so I don't really believe he deserves it in response.

UPDATE: Fuck you John McCain:
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was the first of the major Republican presidential candidates to issue a statement of condolence following the news that the Rev. Jerry Falwell had died.

“I join the students, faculty and staff of Liberty University and Americans of all faiths in mourning the loss of Reverend Jerry Falwell,” McCain said in a statement. “Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Falwell’s family at this difficult time.”

McCain’s statement comes at the end of a tumultuous relationship between the two men.

In the 2000 presidential campaign, McCain described Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, and other evangelical leaders as “agents of intolerance.”

But last year, the senator gave the commencement address at the reverend’s Liberty University, a move that was perceived by most to be an olive branch extended before McCain again took to the presidential campaign trail.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) appeared to be the second candidate to issue a statement.