avi (03/25/83)
I have just finished watching the Phil Donahue show. Jerry Falwell was on, along with two US Senators and a woman representing some aspect of the nuclear freeze movement. The basic topic had to do with nuclear disarmament, parity with the Russians, etc. I was most interested in watching Falwell, especially in light of what Jim Maroney mentioned about some of the more visible Fundamentalists. I was amazed at the discussion. Falwell constantly interrupted the others and would just keep talking while they were talking until the other side gave up and quieted down. He dragged in scripture to defend his viewpoints in what I considered to be a very non-Christian manner. He quoted Christ as advocating being well armed etc. He portrayed the Soviet Union as representing "Evil" (whatever that means, I am sure they think we are evil). This seemed to be sufficient justification for his other viewpoints. On a topic more related to the recent discussions on this newsgroup, he mentioned how 25 people had been killed in the USSR for trying to spread the "Gospel", with none being killed in the US. I do not condone these things going on in the USSR, either. I am just amused by his assuming that he, and other people who want to "spread the Gospel", have the inalienable RIGHT to go anywhere in the world and do what they want. If the Soviets do not want them, why do they feel they must impose themselves? For that matter, what makes them assume that everyone here really wants to be converted by them? I may be somewhat biased, but I was not impressed with Falwell in this appearance. Besides being extremely rude and close-minded, I was bothered by the way he mixed politics with religion. He also seemed to indicate that he looked down at the Catholic Priests who were very active in the anti-nuclear movement. HE knows what GOD wants, and obviously all others are wrong. As I have commented on earlier, how would the US be different if ruled by some segment of our fundamentalist clergy, than Iran is under Khomeini? Avi Gross (houx[a-z]!hogpd!avi) (201) 583-0298