Several more to go.

 Jerry Falwell passed away today. And to be perfectly honest and harsh, I’m none too sorry to see him go. He was a bigoted asshole and the world is a better place without him. Sadly, there will be others to step into his shoes. He was often a proponent of anti-gay legislation and rallied conservative Christians to make political decisions based on religious beliefs (in a country where supposedly the two are supposed to be separated).

He and his ilk are the true enemy. Zealots and fanatics do crazy things like 9/11 and the OKC bombings. But usually they are less educated mis-led people who have been conned into doing something by someone more intelligent because the act will help them in the afterlife, make their country better, etc. Those people are responsible for their actions. But the intelligent people behind them pulling the strings are just as guilty, if not more so. Perhaps comparing him to bin Laden is a bit extreme and is just a variation on Godwin’s Law, but they are of the same mold. You can say he never encouraged anyone to do violence, but he spat vicious anti-gay rhetoric constantly and when young impressionable people committed anti-gay hate crimes afterwards people like him are to blame.

We may never be rid of this sort of person, but hopefully one day they will be quieter, or paid less attention. Then we can all sit down like rational adults and focus on the real issues.