The Falwell Paradox

Jerry Falwell was supposedly a bad man because he expressed "hate" and "intolerance." But his critics have expressed more hate and intolerance in response to his death than he ever did in his entire life. No doubt they think they're justified in spewing vitriol towards a man they regard as supremely evil, but their doing so belies the notion that they represent the tolerant side of the culture war. Moreover, the amount of vitriol aimed at Falwell is incommensurate with his sins. Unlike others who likewise engaged in non causa pro causa reasoning about the causes of 9/11, Falwell apologized.