Letter: Don’t delude yourself about Jerry Falwell

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 | 7:01 a.m.

I'd love to know what patch of sand Gene Hall has had his head stuck in these past 40 years if he thinks Jerry Falwell never said hateful things "toward gays, feminists or Desmond Tutu," as claimed in his May 25 letter. After a very simple Google search, here's a compilation of just a few Falwell quotes that may help Mr. Hall.

On 9/11: "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

On AIDS: "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals."

On feminists: "I listen to feminists and all these radical gals. ... These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of the feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men; that's their problem."

On Bishop Desmond Tutu: "I think he's a phony, period, as far as representing the black people of South Africa." (This was said while urging people to support Apartheid by buying South African Krugerrands.)

Falwell's bigotry doesn't end there, of course. Here are a few more on other topics :

On Jews: "In my opinion, the Antichrist will be a counterfeit of the true Christ, which means that he will be male and Jewish, since Jesus was male and Jewish."

On Islam: "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough of the history of his life, written by both Muslims and non-Muslims, that he was a violent man, a man of war."

On public education: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again, and Christians will be running them."

On Martin Luther King Jr.: "I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and nonviolent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations."

On King, four decades later: "You know, I supported Martin Luther King Jr., who did practice civil disobedience."

I hope that clarifies things for Mr. Hall.

William Bruchert, Las Vegas