Know that streak of joy when you listen to somebody who puts your deepest feelings into sentences in the best way possible ? To me, George Carlin is that person.
When an old celebrity dies, it is customary to say that the world will sorely miss him, though we know for a fact that the person has nothing else to add to his career. George Carlin is a real exception to this case. When George died at 71, in addition to being sad, I felt very disappointed and a bit angry that I would have to live with the same videos that I watch over and over for the rest of my life.
Unlike most of the celebrities, George got better and better with time and he produced his best stuff when he got closer to death. I became interested in watching stand up comedies few years ago and started following some comedians and then I watched one video of George talking about religion and that was about it. I could no longer watch any other comedian. Most of the comedians narrate some funny incidents or in great detail explain about sex to get their laughs. But the real comedy of life can only be found in the miseries of daily life and society. I haven't seen anyone else who can make a comedy out of tragedies as good as George Carlin.
The early career of George to my surprise was not that impressive. He got better and wiser with age and by the time he was in 50's, his comedy tackled with serious issues like war, religion, society and the hypocrisy of Amercia and it's culture. In my opinion, he is one such person which every society needs who can tell them bluntly about their deepest fears, insecurities as clearly as one can.
After watching some of his videos, I used to find a strange sense of relief. Because, I think a lot about those issues in the same way he speaks but could never find the right words to put it across. Sometimes, you cannot express that opinion in public as it is politically incorrect to do so. Let me give some examples:
Boring People:
"God...People are fucking boring. People are just fucking boring." --George
We go to friend's homes for dinner parties and their kid's birthday parties, etc. I could never understand the fun in it. We exchange pleasantries and then they serve us the dinner and we have a very formal chat safely avoiding any issue that can cause a disagreement and discuss about our boring lives, which usually linger around your car, salary, boss at work and your kids (which I am least bothered about). I find the whole exercise and the people boring. On the other hand, I love discussing or just listening to someone who can make me feel alive. Talk about music, movies, books, politics or relationships. But nobody talks about it the way it is as we belong in a society and admitting that you have no interest in listening to other person's adventures/misadventures in life is boring to you. I found George discussing the same in many of his videos, of course he made it funny as hell. Here is one link:
Bullshit in Life:
"Bullshit is the glue that binds us as the nation". ----George
Being a kid, we believe in everything we are told. Growing up, we start questioning some things but unfortunately accept many things at face value as we are told so by some authentic sources, which could be parents, religious leaders, political figures, celebrities or the media. Religious gurus tell us we should live life with content and be always thankful to god. Political leaders assure us that they are there to help us whenever in need. Media wants to us listen to them as they are sources of truth and corporations guide us in what to buy and what not to.
If you start thinking about the things surrounding us, I bet you will sense that bullshit is everywhere and we grow up with so much bullshit around us that we fail to notice it when it right in front of us all the time.
Here are some videos of George on bullshit in America ( I think it applies everywhere)
Religion:
"Religion is the all time champion of the false promises and exaggarated claims" --George
I have been very modest about my religious beliefs since childhood like most of the people. Our parents and elders tell us to pray to the god whenever in doubt and we meekly submit ourselves. Though I never prayed consciously, I did not take the entire God and religion stuff seriously as I thought I did not have enough wisdom to think and understood such things. But slowly, I started realizing things and understood the fact that the most of the people are like me and they wouldn't have the understanding about these things as well. Religion could be a total mind control. I turned athiest gradually and started reading/listening to people who handled this issue with reason. I found Richard Dawkins, Christopher hitchens ,Bill maher and some youtube vloggers to be very enlightening speakers on these issues. But, one video of George Carlin made me forget everybody else. The above mentioned people wrote hard bound books, made documentaries and movies explaining how harmful religion could be. But nobody explained what religion actually is like way George did...It is bullshit.
After watching the above videos it is quite understable if one feels that George is a very cynical person and to a degree he might even have some sort of hatred towards mankind in general. Not true. I think, we need to be some what cynical in the current state of society if you want to cut through the bullshit and see the real nature of things. That does not mean we need to stone hearted. I always thought George had a very soft side as well and my doubts confirmed when I read the following excerpt of his.
George loved his wife and he wrote this when she died....
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up to O tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. W e plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. -- George
George loved his wife and he wrote this when she died....
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up to O tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. W e plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. -- George
2 comments:
hi kishan...read what george carlin wrote when his wife died....very heart-touching....
someday....we'll discuss about him!!!
keep writing. keep posting. bye
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