George Carlin: A true modern philosopher

by Reem Himself on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 2:19pm


This was it. For me this was my Lennon, my Morrison or my Hendrix. 

My luck comes in the fact that George Carlin was around for 71 years in which time he wrote and produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials and 3 books. His life was not cut short as some of the names above but for me it is still a tragic loss of art, humour and thought. Some of the most important factors in my life.

I'm sure people may not understand and may not get it but I think that was the beauty of George Carlin. He wasn't a hero at all. He was the anti-hero. He talked about things that we all know and all think but never say. Watching Carlin is like watching a play as well written as any Neil Simon, as funny as any stand up comedian or episode of Seinfeld or the Simpsons and as honest as your mother on Thanksgiving (but like your mother it's exagerated because there are people watching). Although due to censors never as known or appreciated. 

He was intense and intellectual and brought us to thoughts in our head that we knew we shouldn't be in while in social situations. He was, in my opinion, a philosopher. We don't really have those formally anymore and the ones we do sit in Universities wearing those tweed jackets with turtlenecks and those silly leather patches only writing/pontificating for other philosophy grads who stay in school until they are 35 and finally get a job pouring lattes for dumb, rich business grads. He was a linguist as well. Like when he speculated on people who read self help books: "If you really are looking for SELF help why would read a book by somebody else? That's not self help. thats help!"

Exagerations based in sick truth. That was Carlin. He knew more about us then we really knew about us. Things we all do like clipping toenails collecting them at the end and then bending the biggest one. You know why you do that? Because you can! 

He was an example of counter-culture. He fought the US government as his "Seven Words" sketch led to a Supreme Court case that led to the modern FCC radio/tv laws. He was one of the first comedians to talk about 9/11 after it happened and not afraid to strike where the media would refuse consistently losing shows, airtime, revenue purely because he was thinking about what we all were and seeing there is are lighthearted confusing things about it. He constantly critiques the patriotism, blind faith and blind consumerism. "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."

This was the comedian for me. Much of my writing strives to be as pointed and witty. My stories try to be as compelling and graphic and my humour drives me through any situation I find myself in. Although i'm sure some who know me point out the situations i get into as more of Larry Davd if Larry is my character Carlin is my belief system and my brain. 
My last thoughts are that there is no one person in my life who i used to watch Carlin more with than my father. I thought of him today and if it is possible Carlin will see an afterlife he doesn't really believe in and they could somehow meet. Most parents would not really be into showing a character who cursed, blasphemed and talk about the things Carlin did. But he represented free thought and that was a lesson they shared in teaching.

Think for yourself. Learn for yourself. Laugh at yourself.


George Carlin 1937-2008