Jerry Falwell, RIP

Dr. Jerry Falwell is credited with involving conservative Christians in the political process. This is wrong. Dr. Falwell should be credited with getting conservative Christians back into the political process.

For years conservative Christians were just as active as anyone else when it came to politics. But an entire generation in the 60s and 70s grew suspicious and weary of the world (think: no prayer in public schools) and pulled away. As a result, an entire subculture developed around traditional Christianity with it's own language, music, merchandise and schools. But many Christians of this same generation were content to sit by and let the world do its own thing.

In college in the late 80s and early 90's, there were those of my generation who lamented the lack of involvement by many of those who had come before and we were determined not to make the same mistakes. We wanted our voices to be heard, our opinions acknowledged and our votes to count. Dr. Falwell reopened that door and many of my generation stepped through.

Regardless of his perceived gaffes, Dr. Falwell helped a new generation reenter the arena of politics. Thank you, Dr. Falwell, God bless you and and may you rest in peace.