More than words

 

To say George Carlin was an interesting guy would be a major understatement. (Yes, he could have done a five-minute riff on “major understatement.”) He pushed the envelope until he broke through it. Then he realized there were other envelopes to bust through.

As he got older he pushed ever harder – a bit crankier – but nevertheless he didn’t fade away nor rust.

Carlin, who died at age 71 on June 22, took on the sacred cows and then gored them mercilessly with his words.

Carlin was a wordsmith; he would have been a great editorial writer, but probably saw no money in it and instead chose standup comedy. The drugs are more readily available in that line of work, as well.

He was the spirit of Lenny Bruce unleashed. He was Mort Sahl with a twist. Dick Gregory with an earring and long hair.

He looked nearly spastic as he would flail his arms and kick his legs as he delivered a monologue.

He believed in the adage of sticks and stones may break bones, but words can never hurt you.

He was raked over the coals for identifying – and expounding in detail – seven words that could never be said on TV. That should be explained to our younger readers; seven words that could never be spoken on broadcast TV. Cable changed all that.

Some of those seven words lost their punch as they were used more frequently on cable talk shows and in movies. But it’s funny how the occasional slip on regular TV by a guest or newscaster can bring on an outpouring of closet censors demanding death upon the violator.

Those seven words of his morphed over the years. He sharpened his tongue and took on seven others…

Politics. War. Sexism. Racism. Baby boomers. Golf. And unfortunately Death.

 

 

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