Fallen Idol...

I can count how many people have genuinely effected my personal growth on one hand. George Carlin occupies the forefinger of my right hand.

I remember the day I was able to get my own video rental membership. I zipped down to the store with phone bill and license in hand and promptly rented all of the George Carlin videos in stock. I sat for hours absolutely enthralled by the genius in which Mr. Carlin melded words together and made them funny. It was the day that the word “fuck” became my favorite word. Although, the “f” word is not so lady like, when used properly, the word can inject belly laughing humor. Mr. Carlin injected the word with brilliance.

Much to his credit, Mr. Carlin did not depend on crass language to be funny; he also stimulated our intellect by looking at everyday things around us. Mr. Carlin made us realize how silly we can be driving our cars, how inane our government can be, and how ridiculous religious zealots are. He made us think and laugh at the things most would not discuss in polite company. He was truly a genius.

Mr. Carlin can also be credited with removing verbal barriers when he faced the FCC in 1978 (http://www.georgecarlin.com/dirty/dirty3.html ). His original seven dirty words landed him in jail but the case was eventually dismissed breaking new ground for public speech.

I am not good at eulogies; I just wanted to take a minute to thank the forefinger of my right hand for allowing me to view the world intellectually with just a hint of cynicism. Thank you Mr. Carlin…I hope the afterwards is all you expected.

“We’re all fucked. It helps to remember that.” –George Carlin