How long must we wait before the satire can begin?

Now, I must admit, I was not particularly moved by Jerry's passing. That doesn't mean that I was celebrating or anything, mind you.

This morning, though, I was forced to deal with Falwell's death more directly with a decision to be made. A friend invited me to join a group on Facebook. Its title: "I want to get pregnant so I can have an abortion on Jerry Falwell's grave."

I was conflicted.

Respect for the dead versus satire? Which would prevail? I shrugged and joined the group.

Since joining the group I've gotten two responses from my Christian friends. The first was one pointing out the insincerity of the group but admitting, with a little bit of guilt, that she did find it funny. She later wrote a note saying that we shouldn't express such hate toward Falwell.

Personally, though, I don't hate Falwell. I don't think the sentiment expressed in the group's name is based on hatred. It was something I would explain when confronted again by a Christian friend.

This second friend thought it was "extremely wrong, insensitive, immature, and thoughtless" to join the group. He insisted that I was "better than that."

I responded:

Thank you for your thoughts. I did stop and think for a moment as to whether or not to join the group. The title struck me as funny in a dark, politically incorrect fashion. Had the title of the group been something like "Celebration! Jerry Falwell is Dead!" or "Falwell burns in Hell" or something without a sharp satirical edge I don't think I would have joined. Regardless, facebook groups shouldn't be taken that seriously.

My friend insisted that "words mean something" and that they can't just be thrown out to get a laugh. (Something I'd dispute, but that's another argument.) He also said that it was wrong "especially one day after his death."

And that makes me wonder... How long does one have to wait before making satirical comments about the dead? Because as I've said, the reason I ultimately decided to join the group was because its sentiment was one of satire, not of unoriginal, predictable, boring hatred. Looking back on it now, though, I kind of wish that the satire had been even better. For example, more in tune with Falwell's eccentricities. How about instead: "I want to perform a partial-birth abortion and then a Satanic ritual, while wearing a Tinky Winky Costume on top of Jerry Falwell's grave for a cover photo for Hustler Magazine."

Now THAT would have been much better. THAT is satire.

sat·ire
–noun
1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.

Now the thing I wonder about.... What if I'd joined this group two weeks from now, or a month from now? Would I still have received the same messages of disapproval? What if instead of Jerry Falwell we reaped similar satire on a conservative figure who's been dead longer? Say Nixon or Reagan? Or I know, what if we blasted someone worse than Falwell. Say that it was Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps who died. What if I created/joined a group that was "I want to commit sodomy on top of Fred Phelps' grave." What then?

I suppose when it comes down to it we should just be nice to each other. We shouldn't speak ill of the dead or whip out the sharp knife of satire. We should all be children of God, bathing one another in love. We should be civil and serious in our discussions.

Is there a time and place for satire? Is perhaps this simply too soon for satire? Do some figures repeatedly commit acts throughout their career that would make them worthy of ridicule?

Perhaps Jerry Falwell has given us something in death which he could never really give us in life: something to actually think about.