OBITUARY: Jerry Fallwell, Founder "Moral Majority"
KENI WASHINGTON
Jerry Fallwell is dead.
He was the founder of many institutions which masquerade as "religious" institutions but are rather nests of conservative economic and political power. It was the specific goal of Mr. Fallwell to mold America into a stratified society with clear benefits for those whose avowed belief is in the specific "god" that he professed to represent.
Mr. Fallwell very successfully crafted the superstitions and tribalism of the Old Testament into a ministry based on intolerance, hatred, male physical dominance and which has as its logical result fanaticism, violence and warfare. He was foremost of a group of "fundamentalist" preachers in America who loudly claim to be the exclusive channelers of Jesus Christ. However, authentic historical and Biblical evidence is that Jesus Christ would have considered all of them to be nothing more than vile and corrupt soothesayers and high priests of imperial Rome. It was such soothesayers who sold blind and suicidal patriotism to the masses so that the Roman Legions would have soldiers. It was the high priests who blessed preemptive wars of plunder for buffoonish emperors and the greedy aristocracy. Mr. Fallwell generously bestowed and his fellow high priests are expected to continue bestowing such blessings.
As are most American Conservatives Jerry Falwell was an avowed loyalist of the Confederacy who believed the wrong side won the American Civil War.
Mr. Fallwell called himself "reverend and leader of a moral majority," however, was usually described as exhibiting none of those virtues. He, along with Pat Robertson and a host of TV evangelists, was a modern master of an American tradition which began in the 19th Century called the snake-oil preacher, also known as "snake-oil salesmen." The American Conservative Movement and the Republican Party will miss his tireless devotion to their cause. Donations are still welcome.
Keni Washington is a jazz musician, renewable energy entrepreneur and Marion Co Green.St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN