Jerry Falwell: A Prayer of Compassion & Tolerance

We are all entitled to our beliefs, morality and feelings. That is after all our God given right. I have to admit when I heard the news of Jerry Falwell's passing, I too, like so many other gay people, exclaimed "Yes, yes, yes! It's about time!" In my community their have been, as you all can imagine, an outspoken cry of joyfulness and exuberance over his passing, with just cause.

He blamed gays and lesbians for the 9/11 terrorist attacks and made himself a household name by claiming Teletubbie Tinky Winky was gay, the founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University. From the publishing of his monthly National Liberty Journal, which frequently attacks the “gay and lesbian agenda”, to releasing a documentary called The Clinton Chronicles in 1994, attempting to link the former president to a cocaine smuggling ring?

Ok, these are just a few of the hair-brained ideas that this man rang true with his "beliefs and his right-morality". This man, as far as I can remember has caused my community unrest and unjust, as long as I have been alive; a mortal enemy of human rights, dignity, respect and sacred Christian beliefs. So how did this man become such a verbal dagger of evil? Based on the uptight, zealous religious community I suppose. I really don't care anymore how this man came into such a destructive power. I do care, however, about where we go from here. How do we as a community, not just gay people but a community as a whole, a world-based community go from here?

I believe that if we all let go of all the typical stereotypes that has engulfed this planet and create a "one life-one planet" human rights based mentality, then the world as a whole would not only benefit, but will also prosper, grow and become a much better place. I know wishful thinking on my part but none the less, a dream of hope for humanity; a dream introduced to me by my Mother, and also, shared by thousands if not millions.

Which brings me back to my exclamation of joy upon hearing of his death: "Yes, yes, yes! It's about time!" I, like countless others, reveled in the news, but unlike most, I was saddened; saddened to hear of his death, saddened to think of all the people that loved him. The people who looked up to him and worshiped him; for I know what a death of a lost loved one can be like. I pray for those people. I pray for patience and understanding during this difficult time but above all else, I pray for Jerry Falwell. I honestly pray that he find the love, compassion and tolerance that he himself, did not exemplify here on Earth to countless people.