Nothing New, Just My View

This isn't anything new to the Internet, but getting it emailed to me a couple of weeks ago by a high school friend brought it back into my mind, and the death of Jerry Falwell just kept it there so I thought I would spout off about it a bit.

There has been an open letter on the Internet for about the last six years in response to comments that Dr. Laura Schlessinger made during one of her radio talk shows about homosexuality. No, I'm not going to debate whether homosexuality is right, wrong, or indifferent. Frankly, I believe humans are sexual. End of story. None of us are heterosexual, bi-sexual, or homosexual. We are ALL merely sexual. That is why we have managed to populate nearly every region of this planet.

But, people like Dr. Schlessinger, Mr. Falwell, and a host of others, love to bring up Biblical "proof" that homosexuality is evil and a sin. I can't debate that the Bible says it. It does, right in Leviticus where they say it does. But the Bible says a great deal on a great many subjects, not just homosexuality. Taken literally, as the never changing "Word of God," which must be done to come to the conclusion that these folks come to on homosexuality, the Bible is not something many of us in the 21st century would be much interested in living by, literally. How would you like to be morally obligated to stone your wife to death? Or your neighbor for mowing the grass on Sunday? The Bible dictates a retributive system of justice, nearing vigilantism. You want to live in a society such as that today? I don't see many people immigrating to the Middle East right now.

The fact is, there is two ways to view the Bible. It is either the never changing Word of God, or it is a more fluid living text open to interpretation and refinement as our social values are refined. But many seem to want it both ways, and it just isn't possible. You cannot pick and choose which parts of the Bible are open to interpretation and which aren't. I know there isn't an answer to this dilemma, and that people will still be using the Bible to justify whatever social soapbox they happen to be upon at the time years from now. But just once, I wish one of them would open their ears when they are talking, or listen to a recording of themselves, and actually stop and think about how absurd most of their "Biblical proof" stances really make them sound.

Now, I am not saying that the Bible is useless, far from it. It is, and always has been, a collection of great allegorical tales and lays a pretty firm moral foundation for any society. The trouble is, it wasn't written in stone, and I don't believe it was ever meant to be. The tales and morals within it's cover have guided human societies for thousands of years, and they will continue to do so. Over that time, they have been interpreted in numerous ways, and there are new interpretations waiting in the wings. But at some point, societies have to decide if it is the Word of God or open to that interpretation.

On the Passing of Mr. Falwell

It has taken me a couple of days to get my thoughts in order about the passing of Jerry Falwell. I cannot say that I was ever a fan of his, I didn't heed much of what he ever had to say, and I was never a member of the Moral Majority. That being said, I don't necessarily like the idea of speaking ill of the dead. Which creates a tad bit of a sticky spot for me if I want to now ever again want to speak of the subjects this man held dear. Thus, it took me a little bit to get my brain to work out a solution. And here it is:

DISCLAIMER: I do not, have not, and will not be in agreement with the vast majority of what Mr. Falwell had to say during his life, or with his probable legacy after the media creates it. That being said, I hold him personally (begrudgingly) in high regard for one reason: he spoke his mind, and truly believed what he said. Please take anything I have to say further as a debate or attack on those ideas, not on the man expressing them.

Alright, so shall we get down to what I really think now? Great...

Ever heard the saying "walk softly and carry a big stick"? That is sorta the way I have always viewed Falwell. Yes, he formed the Moral Majority in the late 1970's. Yes, he enjoyed a great deal of influence within the workings of the Republican party. But you know what? I have a hard time believing that there are that many neo-conservative right wing religious fanatics in this country to go along with the idea that he, alone, controlled a huge voting block of the American people. And if he did, then something is definitely amiss in this country.

What I believe is closer to the truth is that Falwell had the biggest stick, the media, and the ability to use it. As so often happens in any society, the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" and he was a prime example of it. Do I think he was speaking on behalf of any "moral majority" in this country? Yes and no. Yes, when he was talking just plain old generic common-sense Christian values. Hell no when he started spouting off about gays, lesbians, women libbers, Democrats, non-Bible thumpin' Christians, or Teletubbies! It is just that the media allowed him to express these views, and express them loudly enough, that he created the "appearance" that he was speaking for some silent majority. Meanwhile, most of that silent majority were shaking their heads in disbelief.

So what will his legacy be? I don't know. That is for the media to create and decide, not for me. However, what he said, what he promoted and espoused and preached, does leave a legacy in my mind. He gave the "Moral Majority" and the neo-conservatives free reign and liscense to absolutely hate indescriminately. He, more than anyone else in my mind, is responsible for the widespread reaction to things we do not like or agree with as them being unAmerican, unChristian, unpatriotic, evil, dirty, and downright sinful. That is Jerry Falwell's legacy through what he said and preached. But hey, what do I know, I'm not a member of the Moral Majority, just a victim of it.