Home
Archive
Newsletters
Video
Blogs
Discuss
About
Search
Donate
Advertise
  • AlterNetYour turn

Support AlterNet
Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Please show your support with a tax-deductible donation.


Feedback
Tell us how we're doing.

Advertisement
Advertisement

In Memoriam: George Carlin

Posted by Isaac Fitzgerald, AlterNet at 10:29 AM on June 23, 2008.


A great comic, who used vulgarity as a bullhorn for truth, has died.

Share and save this post:

      

      

Share on Facebook       

AlterNet Social Networks:
follow us on twitter
find us on Facebook

Got a tip for a post?:
Email us | Anonymous form

Get Video in your
mailbox!

 

George Carlin, whose routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, died yesterday evening in Santa Monica, CA at the age of 71.

George Carlin was so much more than a stand-up comic. He was a subversive public figure who sought out controversy in order to bring to light issues of free speech, political corruption, and the dangers of consumerism.
Carlin used humor and vulgarity to try and wake people up to the hypocrisies around them, reminding his audiences that "it's called the 'American Dream,' because you have to be asleep to believe it." He will be missed.

Digg!

Tagged as: humor, george carlin


Hmmm ... Why Do So Many Wingnuts Have Such an Obsessive Fear of Being Raped?
It's all they can talk about in the right-wing media.
Post by Staff. November 20, 2009.
Sarah Palin Running for President ... of Facebook?
Ana Marie Cox and Naomi Klein point out that Sarah Palin seems to be campaigning for President. But of what?
Post by AlterNet Staff. November 19, 2009.
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham Breaks Ranks, Admits "The Green Economy Is Coming"
Finally, one member of the GOP has a slice of reality pie.
Post by Staff. November 5, 2009.
Advertisement
Comments Turn comments off sitewide Give us feedback »
Comments closed.
The comments for this story have been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.
View:
George Carlin Was A Prophet
Posted by: fanny666 on Jun 23, 2008 12:18 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I said this on an earlier post about George, he is a prophet.

Not in the religious sense of the word; in now-dead languages (including biblical languages) "Prophet" was a dual translation or synonym of "Dissident Intellectual." Dissident intellectuals state truths before they come to pass.

Ever listen to You Are All Diseased? It's from America's "pre- 9-11 era". Listen to him pick apart the absurdity of airport security- like looking for bombs on passengers. "Hell you could kill a pilot with the Sunday New York Times, if you really wanted to kill the prick." A fat newspaper or tiny boxcutters. And he talks about how religious wackos are going to make the world interesting for quite some time, and how that will only help TV ratings. Remember how glued to the TV we are were that September?

What a voice. Bummer.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

An American Hero
Posted by: abstractmachine on Jun 23, 2008 12:29 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm sure G.C. would spit a such a title. But he really embodies what truly makes this country great. I felt a little stab in my heart as I heard the news of his passing this morning. G.C. its one of those artists I liked on a visceral level, as a teenager and even more as an informed adult.

Thanks for posting that excellent clip.
We'll fucking miss you G.C.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I'D FORGOTTEN WHAT FUNNY IS
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Jun 23, 2008 2:32 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I watched a few clips on You Tube and laughed out loud. He was brilliant. Thanks, ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I'D FORGOTTEN WHAT FUNNY IS
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Jun 23, 2008 2:32 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I watched a few clips on You Tube and laughed out loud. He was brilliant. Thanks, ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

My heart is just plain broken
Posted by: tgabriel on Jun 23, 2008 3:10 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I had always thought I'd be lucky enough to die before several people of my acquaintance. My wife is one, and I still hope that comes true. She will do fine without me but I cannot live without her. George was another one. This life is hell enough WITH his humor. Mighty painful without.

Rest in peace, George Carlin. You are well loved.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

OH, NO!
Posted by: Longdream on Jun 23, 2008 3:33 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not Carlin!

I just saw him on the tube the other day--he had been elected to something prestigious, and I don't remember what it was!

Oh, man. We've lost a real standard-bearer, and a classy guy.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Uncanny Carlin Pic as it is my fav too
Posted by: DeaconJ on Jun 23, 2008 4:49 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I was happy to see this segment as the Carlin Video pick. Hopefully his passing will inspire others to debase the current regime of hierarchal Bilderburg overlords that have meetings yearly to decide the fate of us serfs. With a pitchfork in hand we will route them out.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Dumb Asses.
Posted by: douglashoyt on Jun 23, 2008 5:14 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Did you get what he was saying?

Now are you going to going vote for Obama, or McCain or make a smart choice and vote for

NADER OR McKinney?

I thought so....

Hope you continue to enjoy the big red, white and blue dick shoved up your ass.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

You Were My First.
Posted by: powerplant on Jun 23, 2008 11:21 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There were two comedians my friends and I would sneak behind our parents and listen to their albums when we were 13 years old,
Richard Pryor and George Carlin. I still listen to both of them from time to time. George hits the truth on the head with a sledge hammer in this HBO special clip about big companies owning almost everything and us as consumers spending money we don't have. I have one change I would like to make to George Carlin's famous skit"my stuff is their shit" should now be, My shit is their shit and their shit is my shit. George you will be missed and I hope my children are sneaking around listening to you and Richard along with Chris Rock,Mancina,Lewis Black and Denis Leary and if I hear them in their room listening to those CD's I'll have a smile on my face and hope they find the truth in that rude comedy they are listening to. I'm sure George is putting on a great show for God right now and God is laughing his/her/it's ass off right now.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]