No one mourns the Wicked
No one cries, “They won’t return!”
No one lays a lily on their grave.
—Stephen Schwarz
Though Robertson started out as a relatively moderate figure, as the decades passed his rhetoric became increasingly vitriolic and extreme. He used his platform to advocate for numerous controversial policies, from advocating for the death penalty for homosexuals to calling for the assassination of foreign leaders. In 2006, he even went so far as to suggest that the U.S. should launch a preemptive nuclear strike against Iran.
Robertson’s career was also marked by numerous instances of racism and xenophobia. He frequently made sweeping generalizations about immigrants, Muslims, and other minority groups, and once famously described Native Americans as “savages” who were “literally freeze-dried out of existence.” He even went so far as to suggest in 1993 that the US should consider reinstituting slavery as a way to combat “social ills.”
Perhaps most disturbingly, Robertson also used his platform to promote a dangerous and false narrative about LGBTQ people, claiming that they were mentally ill, ungodly, and morally depraved. He regularly disparaged LGBTQ people in the media, suggesting that they were a threat to society and that they should be treated with suspicion and disdain.
In addition to his hateful rhetoric, Robertson was also known for his conspiracy theories and outlandish beliefs. He frequently made unsubstantiated claims about the government and various world events, and was even known to peddle dangerous medical advice, such as suggesting that viewers should use anointing oil to cure their ailments.
Robertson’s influence extended far beyond his television programs. His words and actions served to embolden his followers and give credence to their own hateful beliefs. He was a loud and powerful voice in the political arena, and his words often had far-reaching consequences.
Though Robertson’s death marks the end of an era of hate, it is important to remember that his legacy lives on in the many people who followed his lead and embraced his message. The damage he wrought will continue to reverberate for years to come, and it is important to recognize the harm that he did to so many people.
The passing of Pat Robertson marks the end of an era of hate, bigotry, and intolerance that he so often espoused as religious piety. Though his words and actions had far-reaching consequences, it is important to remember that his legacy lives on in the many people who followed his lead and embraced his message. We should take this moment to recognize the harm that he did to so many people and to continue to fight against the hate and intolerance that he so often championed.