Ding Dong.....

....Jerry Falwell is dead. While I feel sympathy for his family, it's hard to mourn the man.

Falwell founded the Moral Majority, which led directly to the current religious right extremism in this country - which has been a major contributor to the social and political climate that has given us the Bush (both of them) and Reagan presidencies. He also actively campaigned against women's rights, gay rights, the separation of church and state, and the teaching of sound science education.

In my opinion, this man has done more damage to America than Al Qaeda and rather than promoting tolerance and unity, which would seem to me to be what his religion should be preaching, he divided the nation, and was probably the least tolerant person on the planet.

And yet there are people stupid and bigoted enough to regard him as hero. It's a sad state of affairs in this country when the entire 2 hour "Anderson Cooper 360" show on CNN was devoted to this man. A brief mention on the news scroll at the bottom would have been more appropriate.

Update: Christopher Hitchens has it right in a blistering attack last night:

Late Easter....

I know it's a little late for Easter, but I thought since it was a festive time, I'd add a few quotes from George Carlin (courtesy of the "Orgy of George" desk calendar for last weekend):

I have as much authority as the pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it

Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham will lead a nationwide prayer vigil and ask God to do something about America's moral climate. God will promptly strike all three of them dead.

(Note - Jerry met his maker, or not, depending on your viewpoint, last year)