The argument that every human life has inherent value is a pretty weak one. Every human life has the POTENTIAL to have value, but whether that value is ever realised is entirely dependent on that person. Instead of using his life to do something worthwhile and helpful to society, he instead spent his days spewing vitriol toward any person who dared to have a different opinion to his own. I’m sorry that he wasted his life, but the notion that society should award value to his life ‘just because’ . . . well, I just don’t buy it.

The writer of the article then goes on to say there are probably some atheists who say that since Falwell was such a horrible guy, he deserved to die. First of all, I have yet to hear any atheist say this (this is the sort of nonsense I would expect from one of Falwell’s crowd, however), and secondly, this is a complete strawman. Of course he didn’t deserve to be murdered — no one does — but not minding terribly that Falwell died of natural causes (after, um, 73 loooong years) is absolutely NOT the same as saying Falwell deserved to be murdered.

And frankly, whether we’re happy about it or not, Falwell’s still going to be dead. Might as well enjoy it.