While you guys are bickering, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have identified the real culprits.
"I really believe that the pagans, and the
abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays
and lesbians who are actively trying to make
that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People
for the American Way - all of them who have
tried to secularize American - I point the finger
in their face and say, 'You helped this happen,'"
-- Jerry Falwell
Falwell Blames Gays, Liberal Groups for Terrorist Attacks
by Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Washington Blade
WASHINGTON The Rev. Jerry Falwell said gays, feminists,
"pagans," and a host of liberal advocacy groups have made
"God mad" and must share the blame for the terrorist
attacks this week that took the lives of thousands of
Americans at the World Trade Center in New York and at the
Pentagon outside Washington.
Falwell made his remarks Thursday, Sept. 13, while
appearing on the religious television program The 700 Club,
hosted by the Rev. Pat Robertson. Falwell and Robertson are
among the nation's strongest opponents of gay
civil rights.
"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists,
and the feminists, and the gays and lesbians who are
actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the
ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have
tried to secularize American - I point the finger in their
face and say, 'You helped this happen,'" Falwell said on
the program, which was broadcast nationally.
"Well, I totally concur," Robertson told Falwell, "and the
problem is we have adopted their agenda at the highest
levels of our government."
The comments by Falwell and Robertson came at a time when
gay activists have joined leading Republicans and Democrats
in calling for national unity and full, bipartisan support
for President Bush's planned response to the terrorist
attacks.
"The terrible tragedy that has befallen our nation, and
indeed the entire global community, is the sad byproduct of
fanaticism," said Lorri L. Jean, executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"It has its roots in the same fanaticism that enables
people like Jerry Falwell to preach hate against those who
do not think, live, or love in the exact same way he does,"
Jean said.
"The tragedies that have occurred this week did not occur
because someone made God mad, as Mr. Falwell asserts," Jean
continued, in a statement released Sept. 13. "They occurred
because of hate, pure and simple."
In separate statements released this week, the national gay
groups Log Cabin Republicans and National Stonewall
Democrats condemned the terrorist attacks and declared
their support for President Bush's efforts to respond to
the incidents.
"Gay and Lesbian Americans across the nation are united
today," said Log Cabin executive director Rich Tafel. "In
the face of defending our nation together, all differences
fall away, and all other issues pale in comparison."
"This week's tragedy truly asks all of us to come together
as a people to bury our dead, to comfort and heal all
families and to rebuild this strong nation," the National
Stonewall Democrats said in a statement. "Stonewall
Democrats join in solidarity with all Americans in placing
our loyal support behind our national government and our
president."
The group added, "Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
Americans also have paid with their lives and their honor,
and we join in saluting their sacrifices and those of every
American who suffered these terrible, senseless events."
"Now is the time to join together behind our president and
our government in defense of our nation," said Tafel of the
Log Cabin group. |
