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. The conservative radio talk
show host issued a statement Sept. 17.
“ I was profoundly embarrassed and disap
pointed by their comments,” Limbaugh said.
“They can try to take them back all they want,
but the bottom line is that their words are
indefensible.”
jn
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