Terri Schiavo Dies; Falwell: No Meaningful Improvement

One hopes that Ms. Schiavo can rest in peace now, and gather whatever grander reward awaits. The wingnutwads screaming and praying outside the hospice ought to be pleased that she has at last uncovered the mystery that they only guess at, but wish to wield over the rest of us as doctrine and law. That they exploited this sad episode reveals a bankruptcy of any true human decency, which at its core should accept the intimate understandings between partners who bond in love. It's nobody else's business--not the press, the Christians, the Congress, or tinhorn gutless governors and presidents.

Meanwhile, Jerry is now listed as "stable," while remaining ignorant, dishonest, greedy, and bigoted. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a curious detail:

Other calls came in from fellow evangelist Pat Robertson and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. The Rev. Billy Graham faxed a note of support. Even Larry Flynt, a publisher of adult magazines and videos and a one-time Falwell antagonist, called Falwell to wish him well.

Good for you, Larry! I'm looking forward to a cartoon in Hustler about this, of course. It's fascinating that Larry Flynt has more decorum and class than the Randall Terrys of the world, whose screeching self-righteousness commands mainstream media attention just because it's insane. That Randall Terry can get any airtime at all reveals the bankruptcy of television "journalism." During CNN and other reports on the scene, Terry could be seen frantically searching for the next camera, and inevitably he would be obliged. What a nauseating spectacle.

The Washington Post printed this interesting quote from David Randlett, senior associate pastor of Falwell's church:

But his philosophy -- to change with the culture -- has made the church successful, Randlett said.

"Most older ministers can't do that, but Jerry Falwell is unique," Randlett said. "He knows the Bible doesn't change, but the delivery has to, in order to speak the language of the public."

So while both Falwell and Flynt want to change the culture, at least Flynt has the decency not to twist his message for expediency's sake.