So Long, Falwell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University and the so-called Moral Majority, is dead today at the age of 73. This is not really a surprise in one sense, as, to paraphrase Hank Williams, "No matter how you struggle and strive, you'll never get out of this world alive." It was not expected, though, and did happen rather suddenly. So it goes.

But I'm not going to pretend that I'm sorry it happened. I was never a fan of the man in any way, shape or form, and I think he was responsible for a lot of the ills that are plaguing America today. He was one of the major influences on today's increasingly authoritarian and theocratic-leaning Republican party, and though he may be dead today, his legacy will live on for some time to come -- unfortunately, from my point of view.

I'm sure many of his supporters believe that he is now "in a better place," sitting on a cloud discussing philosophy with Jesus while angels strum harps; probably just as many of his detractors are picturing him mopping his sweat-covered brow and asking for a glass of ice water right about now. My own personal belief is that the same thing happened to him that happens to everyone who shuffles off this mortal coil: The light goes out, consciousness fades, and that's it. It's all over, buh-bye. It's like binary, either 1 or 0. Either on or off. He was 1, now he's 0. He was on, now he's off. End of story.

So long, Jerry, and thanks for all the viciousness.