I haven't really posted anything at DU since hearing of Jerry Falwell's death, although I have read through several of the DU threads here. There seem to be, broadly speaking, two camps:

1) the people who believe that it is wrong to say unkind things about Falwell at this time and that doing so either a) brings us down to Falwell's level; b) confirms GOPer's beliefs about "nasty lefties"; c) devalues us as progressives.

2) the people who believe that Falwell's hateful politics and bigotry earns him no respite in death and that there is no shame in expressing extreme animosity and loathing for such a wicked man because of the pain he brought to the world.

I understand the position of the first group of people, I really do, and during the other controversial celebrity deathgasms I usually found myself in that camp. I just couldn't see what good it did to say unkind things about Gerald Ford, who ceased being a relevant political figure 30 years ago, Anna Nicole Smith, who was harmless and vapid, or even to an extent Ronald Reagan, who had been a vegetable for so long that his death was almost like a formality.

But Jerry Falwell is different. He was among the elite few movers and shakers almost single-handedly responsible for the birth of the reactionary, anti-Constitution conservative Christian movement in this country without which Reagan and Bush Jr. would not have been possible. He created a political empire built on searing, vulgar, and undiluted hatred. He has enabled an entire generation of false Christians to spit in the face of Christ's teachings and worship a false religion built on blood money and political power, a modern day Caiaphas. He helped foster a political climate that rejoiced in the death of AIDS victims - would little 13 year old Ryan White have been brutally harassed without Jerry Falwell preaching that AIDS was "God's punishment" for evil homosexuals? Would the thousands of LGBT people who have been murdered in hate crimes be alive today if their murderers hadn't believed that it was not only "okay" but even "God's will" to kill homosexuals? Would America have taken AIDS seriously - and perhaps saved some lives - if people like Jerry Falwell hadn't been reaping money and political gain from homophobia?

None of us would even know who Jerry Falwell is if he hadn't chosen to become a national spokesman for hate and bigotry. He made a lot of money promoting the most hateful, divisive politico-religious movement in modern American history. His hate for LGBT people is on par with the hatred of neo-Nazis for Jews and racial minorities - and that is no exaggeration. Read his own words if you doubt me.

The fact is, a LOT of people have very good reason to celebrate the departure from earth of a man who dedicated his life to vicious hatred - hatred that likely had a direct impact on their lives. I understand the "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all" crowd, but I have to disagree with them here. I think Falwell is one of the most hateful figures of recent history and some DUers should try to understand that the disgust for Falwell is not simply because "he's on the other side," but because he did more than maybe any other American to spread homophobia, hate, and the poisonous conservative fundamentalist agenda. Those DUers who, just for virtue of being who they are, found themselves hated and maligned by Falwell owe him no courtesy. They owe him no respect.

Falwell is owed nothing from those of us on earth, and what he is owed in the world beyond will come to him regardless of what anyone says here on DU or elsewhere.