[eDebate] Falwell passes

[Andy Ellis]

Sorry,

his benefit to debate does not outweigh the detriment he caused the world...

i dont understand this type of thinking...that we should exonerate people
from the destruction they caused simply because they died....I included
anologies purpsoefully, Stijion while alive impelmented apartheid, Sharon
inetntionally started a war that has killed thousands, and before that did a
lot of bad as well, Cheney has been the archictecht of a world system, that
will kill hundreds of thousands...falwell has led a fundementalist christian
theological takeover of our democracy, that in ways supports all the above
but s.african apatheid...sorry if it doesnt seem like the high road, but i
smile every time the world becomes a better place and Falwell no longer
doing his work makes the world better from my perspective.




On 5/15/07, Gordon Stables <stables at usc.edu> wrote:

>

>  It is a sad, sad sign for our community that one of my immediate

> reactions upon hearing this news was that I was waiting for the first rude

> and insensitive post.

>

>

>

> I am far too busy with topic work to get into a long back and forth today,

> so consider this my only comment.

>

>

>

> We in debate rarely agree on a lot of things, but hopefully we agree that

> there is a value in a process like debate where students can exchange ideas

> and learn from each other and their coaches. Regardless of the political or

> personal ideologies of those students or coaches, debate can only work when

> people are willing to be open to those ideas.

>

>

>

> You don't have to know or care anything about Dr. Falwell outside of

> debate to realize that he was one of the most passionate supporters of our

> activity. His long-standing commitment to a program allowed a lot of

> students, many of which didn't have high school experience, to grow and

> learn from debate. He supported expanding their program, hosting the NDT as

> well as a large tournament each year. At that tournament he took the unusual

> step of appearing before the participants and answering their questions.

> Anyone who witnessed any of these sessions will remember how much he took

> part in the very willingness to hear opposing arguments that we find so

> valuable.

>

>

>

> Apart from the general rudeness and callousness of celebrating anyone's

> passing, we have to keep in mind that we lost perhaps the most passionate

> supported of debate among university presidents or chancellors.  His teams,

> unlike many of more enlightened liberal programs, never had ideological

> restrictions on their arguments or their willingness to support the

> community.

>

>

>

> In that way Andy and Dr. Falwell both cared deeply about the activity. I

> just wish you took the high road Andy. You are a better person than this.

>

>

>

> Gordon

>

>

>

> Gordon Stables, Ph.D.

> Director of Debate

> Annenberg School for Communication

> University of Southern California

> Office: 213 740 2759               Fax: 213 740 3913

> http://usctrojandebate.com

>   ------------------------------

>

> *From:* edebate-bounces at www.ndtceda.com [mailto:

> edebate-bounces at www.ndtceda.com] *On Behalf Of *Andy Ellis

> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:56 AM

> *To:* Kuswa, Kevin

> *Cc:* edebate at ndtceda.com

> *Subject:* Re: [eDebate] Falwell passes

>

>

>

> i cant seem to find the smiley, for smiling from ear to ear because the

> world became a better place today, so this will just have to do :)

>

> Andy

> PS-i know we arent supposed to celebrate it when people die, but to me

> thats kinda silly, he was a bad person that did a lot of damage to a lot of

> people, and made the world a less good place. Our world is better with out

> him, as if he where Stijdom, Sharon, or Cheney....

>

> On 5/15/07, *Kuswa, Kevin* <kkuswa at richmond.edu> wrote:

>

>

>

> http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3176379

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>

>

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