Decius wrote:

k wrote:
[ Could the NYT come off any more fucking stodgy and pretentious? "The good old days when print was king" my ass. -k]

Whatev, CNN was practically dancing on his grave on their front page yesterday. I don't think its appropriate. No I didn't like his politics, but I have some respect for his family. His influence hardly matters now.

You claim that "CNN was practically dancing on his grave"... i didn't check CNN yesterday, because I don't really like them very much these days. If they were, in fact, doing that, then shame on them... mainstream, ostensibly "professional" journalists ought not to, or at least ought to do so without any hint of joy. But there's a difference between glorying in someone's death and telling the truth about them. The man was a hatemonger and I will certainly not hold anyone in a negative light who says as much.

The problem i had with the Times quote in particular was the bemoaning of an elder age when people didn't *hear* all the bad stuff, but couched in language implying that such discourse never existed before. The internet has changed things, and the Times' position here is that it's been for the worse. I feel like the web has merely exposed attitudes that were heretofore kept hidden away. I think this is a better state of affairs, personally, even if it's uncomfortable for people.

I do think even bloggers should adhere to some semblance of decorum if they expect to be taken seriously and treated with the same respect as their (again, ostensibly) professional peers. Some of them -- say, gays and feminists, at the very least -- have a pretty genuine reason to be glad this guy won't be demonizing them (almost literally) any more, however. I can't blame them for saying so.

As for the argument that "His influence hardly matters now", i call bullshit. His "ministry" reached thousands and thousands of people and has influenced the tone in this country -- for the worse -- for a great many years. His legacy, if he has one at all, will be of hate, intolerance and oppression. Those who will follow him will continue to do damage to the free and fair society I think this country ought to stand for. I'd rather not let them think they'll be lauded for it. If anything, my main fear in the media's negative portrayal of the man is that it'll add fuel to the asinine "Christians are an oppressed culture in America!" meme. Not that such people need any further excuse to feel self righteous, but I expect some serious chest beating over the next few weeks. "Oh, how wrong to villianize Falwell!" Whatever, I say; the guy was a villian... I don't see the need to pull punches on that fact.

RE: The Opinionator - Opinion - New York Times Blog