|
September 20,
2001
Talibums
Update:
Falwell Regrets,
Robertson Ducks
By David Vest
The Rev. Jerry Falwell has apologized
for comments in which he and Pat Robertson blamed America, Americans
and God for terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon.
Falwell and Robertson's remarks
drew rapid disavowal by the White House and outright condemnation
from conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh, who said, "They
can try to take them back all they want, but the bottom line
is that their words are indefensible."
"They have forfeited any
claim to Christian leadership," said the Greensboro (N.C.)
News and Record.
Falwell's apology described
his remarks as "insensitive, uncalled for at the time and
unnecessary." He pointedly did not say that his remarks
about America and Americans were wrong in additional to being
"insensitive." Nor did he indicate what would be the
"right time" for such comments to be "called for."
Falwell did, however, retract
some of his remarks about "God's judgment": "I
do not know if the horrific events of September 11 are the judgment
of God, but if they are, that judgment is on all of America--including
me and all fellow sinners--and not on any particular group."
The controversial minister
did not take back his earlier comment that Americans "probably
got what they deserved" in the attacks. If he no longer
feels that Americans have "insulted" God, he has not
said so.
If Falwell's statement of apology
fell far short of the mark, Robertson's statements were positively
stupifying, suggesting a default mode even more self-serving
than Falwell's.
He denied that "anyone
on his program" had suggested that anyone but terrorists
was responsible for last Tuesday's attacks. He then proclaimed
that Falwell had "uttered a political statement of blame
directed at certain segments of the population that was severe
and harsh in tone, and, frankly, not fully understood by the
three hosts of The 700 Club who were watching Rev. Falwell on
a monitor."
Having first denied, then blamed
(but was it Falwell to blame, or that pesky monitor?), he then
decided that the real fault lay with People for the American
Way, "who for approximately the past fifteen years have
taped every single telecast of The 700 Club and unfortunately
take statements out of context and spin them to the press for
their own political ends."
So, since this didn't happen
in the first place, and even when it did, he was victimized by
Falwell, the monitors, the press and People for the American
Way, he's ready to get this behind him and move on, folks. He
"does not wish to comment further on something that is not
personally in keeping with the spirit of prayer and sorrow that
has been evidenced by the staff of the Christian Broadcasting
Network over the past several days."
One can only gather from this
absolutely remarkable sentence that it would be disrespectful
to his prayerful staff for anyone to expect him to tell the simple
truth.
As Guy Owen's Flim-Flam Man
might say, "By God, that's wonderful." CP
David Vest is a writer, poet and piano player
for the Cannonballs. A native of Alabama, he now lives in Portland,
Oregon. Visit his webpage for samples of the Cannonballs' brand
of take no prisoners rock & roll and other Vest columns:
http://www.mindspring.com/~dcqv
|