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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2001)
i I news A merica ’ s T aliban Jerry Falwell blames gays and lesbians (or terrorist attacks by Bob Roehr he religious fanaticism that killed thousands at the World Trade C en ter and the Pentagon is not con fined to Muslims or to distant lands. The United States has its home grown extremists and religious fundamentalists who brazenly display their intolerance and disbe lief in the fundamental principles upon which our government is founded. In a hreathtakingly stunning display of big otry, the Rev. Jerry Falwell and televangelist Pat Robertson tried to lay responsibility for the ter rorist attack at the feet of gay men, lesbians and political liberals with whom they disagree. It came during the Sept. 13 edition of The 700 Club broadcast on television and cable outlets across the country. “1 really believe that the pagans and the abor tionists and the feminists and the gays and les bians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU , People for the American Way— all for them who have tried to secularize America— 1 point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen,’ ” Falwell said. Robertson replied: “Well, 1 totally concur, and the problem is we have adopted the agenda at the highest levels of our ous agenda of the Christ ian right, where it can be government. And so we’re repudiated.” responsible as a free soci Frank Kameny, who ety for what the top peo many consider to he the ple do. And the top peo father of the modem gay ple, of course, is the court system.” movement, said, “Our American fundamentalist Right-wing preacher Christians...are fully as James Dobson of Focus on much moral fascists as are the Family joined the blame the Taliban, whom they game during his radio show Falwell Roberson would gladly emulate if they Sept. 13. “Yes, 1 believe that thought that they could get the attacks are G od’s punish away with it.” ment because we are in a moral "I really believe that the decay in this country, with David Scoven, executive pagans and the abortionists abortion, forcing children to be director of the gay group Vir taught about homosexuality, and the feminists and the ginians for Justice, said: “In removing God from the gays and lesbians who are their single-mindedness and schools, sexual immorality on self-absorption, they missed television and in our govern actively trying to m ake that the message that true Ameri ment. And this is God’s way of an alternative lifestyle, cans gave in response to the punishing the wicked.” attack: zero tolerance for reli the ACLU, People for the Reactions to the statements gious extremists whose lives are devoted to proliferating were swift. Lorri Jean, National American Way — hate and profiting from it. Gay and Lesbian Task Force a ll for them who have tried Jerry Falwell has now ex executive director, said Fal- posed himself and his organi well’s intolerance “has its roots to secularize America — zation clearly to all Ameri in the same fanaticism” that I point the finger in their cans, and there is no doubt led the terrorists to launch face and say, 'You helped their attack. that the backlash from his Salon.com news editor this h ap p en .'" pathological statements will be overwhelming.” Joan Walsh called the pair — Jerry Falwell “America’s counterpart to the The W hite House quick Taliban. If they had their way, ly denounced Falwell’s re this would he a Christian state. They’d make marks. “The president believes that terrorists common cause with the Taliban to strip are responsible for these acts,” spokesman women of many rights, persecute gays and Ken Lisaius said. “He does not share those punish godless infidels. The only silver lining views and believes that those remarks are of this tragedy is that it brings out the invidi inappropriate.” Jane Holmes Dixon, acting Episcopal bishop of Washington, said: “I am proud that the White House immediately disassociated itself from such hateful statements. It is beyond shameful to seek to divide us by alleging that some of us are cul pable because we hold beliefs different from those of Robertson and Falwell.” Mike Thomas, writing in the Orlando Sen- tinel, a city warned by Robertson in 1998 that fly ing rainbow flags would cause God to strike them with hurricanes, cited Falwell’s remark that God “lifted the curtain of protection" from the Unit ed States. “What does this mean?” he asked. “God chose not to alert the FBI? If God is the terrorist they portray him to be, then Middle Eastern zealots are the least of our worries.” Falwell responded to the backlash by clarify ing his remarks during a phone call to C N N late Sept. 13. “I would never blame any human being except the terrorists, and if I left that impression with gays or lesbians or anyone else, I apologize.” Falwell then issued a statement Sept. 17 fur ther begging for forgiveness. “I apologize that, dur ing a week when everyone appropriately dropped all labels and no one was seen as liberal or conser vative, Democrat or Republican, religious or sec ular, 1 singled out for blame certain groups of Americans.... The only label any of us needs in such a terrible time of crisis is American." Rush Limbaugh, of all people, said the apolo gies are not enough. 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