Falwell: Not Necessarily The Person That You Think

[Paul Finkelman]

This story shows that Falwell could be strategic and intelligent.  Good
thing the woman wasn't selling "teletubby" dolls or trying to assert her
constitutional right to control her own body.  What is the point of this
story, to show that he used guile and dishonesty (make friends with
someone so you can undermine her business) and that this is something
you should praise?  It may not be polite to speak ill of the dead, but
surely we should not allow false praise just because someone who was
deeply hateful to others is no long alive.

Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
     and Public Policy
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York   12208-3494

518-445-3386 
pfink at albanylaw.edu
>>> JMHACLJ at aol.com 05/16/07 4:19 PM >>>
Shortly after Lee vs. Weisman, Jerry Falwell, two separationists, and I 
were 
invited to participate in a debate that was a feature of the annual  
convention of the Virginia Bar Association.  In addition to the
opportunity  to enjoy 
a visit to Williamsburg, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to 
meet 
Falwell.
 
To facilitate the debate, the VBA arranged for a private luncheon
between  
the four of us.  And in that luncheon I got an insight into Falwell that
 has 
served as a balance to all the rancor that has been thrown toward him as
a  
consequence of his very public stances.
 
It seems that, as a drove to Thomas Road one day, he noticed a sign
being  
erected in front of a small home.  The sign proclaimed the opening of a 

Palmistry shop.
 
Folks who think they "know" Falwell from his public stances, me
included,  
may think that he would have sprung into action by organizing public
protests,  
etc.
 
He didn't.
 
When he got to work, he called for the junior-most pastor on the staff
at  
Thomas Road.  When the young associate appeared, Falwell slipped him
twenty  
dollars and instructed him to go get his palm read, meet the owner and
develop a  
relationship.
 
Ultimately, the woman, through that friendship, came to faith in Christ,
 
closed her shop, and pursued further education . . . ultimately becoming
a  
licensed counselor . . . something that she had obviously had a penchant
for  
previously.  
 
Jim Henderson
Senior Counsel
ACLJ



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