Growing up in Charlotte in the early 80s, my teenage channel-surfing would occasionally land me on the PTL Club program. Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were over the top, larger than life. I found myself mesmerized (Messnerized?) by their cheesy show. When it happened that the PTL was ripping people off, though, I wasn’t the least bit sorry to see Jim Bakker go to jail.
I thought that would be the last I’d hear of the Bakkers but Tammy Faye remarried, becoming Tammy Faye Messner and moving on with her life. In her post-Bakker activities I wound up having far more respect for her than I’d ever imagined I would. I was sorry to learn that Tammy Faye lost her long battle with cancer Friday at the age of 65.
Tammy Faye, for all of her faults, seemed to truly connect with the outcasts of society. Rather than shun or condemn homosexuals like a lot of religious leaders do, for instance, Tammy Faye did not judge them. She said that while she did not agree with their lifestyle she loved them just the same. In short, Tammy Faye truly walked the walk, ministering to those who needed it most. In my mind she acted far more Christian than the majority of so-called Christian leaders.
Tammy Faye was plucky, smart, and caring. As she said, she knew what it was like to hit rock bottom, but the grace in which she handled herself was to me an inspiration. I will miss having her around to cheer on.
Ronald Reagan dies a few years ago, and you say this:
“So long, Ronnie. There’ll never be another like you. Some of us sleep easier because of that.”
And then Tammy Faye Bakker dies, and you say this:
“…the grace in which she handled herself was to me an inspiration. I will miss having her around to cheer on.”
Um, wow. Just. Wow.
btw. If I re-read your post and replace “Tammy Faye” with “Princess Diana” and “robbing poor people of millions of dollars” with “making the world a better place for you having lived in it”, then your quote:
“…the grace in which she handled herself was to me an inspiration. I will miss having her around to cheer on.â€
is really spot-on. Nice job.
Let me point out again this part:
And, perhaps you missed this part:
Do you notice a pattern here? I’m referring to what she did after PTL shut down. Tammy Faye was never charged with any crime, either, and with District Judge Robert “Maximum Bob” Potter doling out the sentences, she absolutely would have if anyone could’ve. So what exactly is your point?
I really hated Tammy Faye (although that TV was fun to watch) … check out the documentary “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” … I projected it when I worked at LACMA … we had the two filmmakers (funny enough … two gay guys) after for Q&A and they said they went into it hating her but after hanging around with her they grew to love her … Jim Bakker was the problem!!!
Matt