GEORGE CARLIN: 1937-2008
By Chris Flash

George Carlin, wizard of comedy, master of social commentary and ace bullshit detector, who picked up the torch after Lenny Bruce and went further with it than anyone else dared to, entertaining us and provoking thought with his fertile mind for more than four decades, died on June 22, at the age of 71.

Carlin began stand-up comedy in the early 1960s, gaining fame and notoriety with his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television", which resulted in his arrest in July 1972, when he performed the routine live at Milwaukee's Summerfest. The "obscenity" charge was dismissed a few months later.

In 1973, after someone complained to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that his son had heard a similar Carlin routine called "Filthy Words," broadcast on Pacifica radio station WBAI in New York City, the FCC tried to fine Pacifica for allegedly violating FCC regulations, which prohibited broadcasting "obscene" material. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately supported the FCC by a vote of 5 - 4, but their ruling said that the routine was "indecent, but not obscene." [See the entire "Seven Words" routine and the 1978 Supreme Court ruling in FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, 438 U.S. 726 (1978) on George Carlin's website at: <http://georgecarlin.com/dirty/dirty3.html>]

Carlin's routines, delivered in his raspy voice, remind me of newscaster Howard Beal in the movie Network, with long rants targeting the bullshit in the world, making us laugh at the absurdity of it all. But for Carlin, his routines were not just an act--he believed in what said and what he did as he spoke out on everything that mattered to him and to us, including out of control government, mindless consumption and debt, the dumbing-down of Amerika, organized religion, and senseless rules and regulations, whether he was on stage or not.

In recent years, Carlin seemed to prefer addressing real and more serious issues in his sardonic manner, rather than performing silly and safe routines like other comedians. The late Bill Hicks was the only other stand-up comedian we can think of who was on a par with Carlin, but Carlin really hit the nail on the head, harder than anyone else could or would. Who else would dare to go as far he did and risk their precious careers? Carlin did it his way and we loved him for it!

Though he died way too soon (we need him now more than ever, because things are only going to get worse!), George Carlin still lives--on the internet. You only have to enter his name on a web browser to find out more about him and to see him perform live, doing what he did best. (Listening to Carlin's rant just now on airport "security," and the crap they put you through while protecting you from nothing, I laughed because he was so funny and so right on. Then tears came because he's no longer with us.)

George Carlin is one of our most important counter-cultural heroes. Who will pick up the torch after him? That remains to be seen. For now, a good way to honor the memory of George Carlin and what he stood for is to "get mad as hell and say ‘I'm not going to take it anymore!!'"

[To see George Carlin talk about consumption, de-education, politicians, the owners of this country, media brainwash and a willfully ignorant public, check out these sites: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4SSvVbhLw&NR=1> and <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dY4WlxO6i0&feature=related>

"The American Dream: You Have To Be Asleep To Believe It"
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George Carlin: "There is no god":

"In the Bullshit Department, a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman. ‘Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims: religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!

"But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story.

"Holy Shit!"