George Carlin: Stand-Up Philosopher

Originally submitted by: barcode 2x

George Carlin died this week of heart failure at the age of 71. His legacy of laughs and free speech lives on. A 2004 Comedy Central countdown of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time ranked Carlin second, just behind Richard Pryor. Carlin broke new ground in 1972 when he was arrested on obscenity charges for his "Seven Words" routine. When the routine was broadcast on the radio in 1978, it led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling on obscenity. Generations of comedians, writers, and political activists have him to thank. The dirty words and social commentary made by his hero Lenny Bruce transformed Carlin from a popular variety comic with comedy partner Jack Burns, to a revolutionary voice in our culture. His books, his numerous TV appearances, and several films showed his range as humorist and political thinker. Comedy was Carlin's vehicle for social change. He brought stand-up comedy into a new context. His routines are thought-provoking, shocking, and unforgettable. His love of language and his examinations of how we use it is also remarkable. His examination of how the term "Shell-shock" has evolved over the years to the much softer "post-traumatic stress disorder" was a great example of his power to challenge commonly accepted cultural norms. He stood for civil rights, for peace, and for finding the truth behind the words we all use on a daily basis. And he was dirty. His dirty mind opened up our dirty minds. We will remember his googly eyes, his sharp tongue, and his sense of the ugly truth. He was a philosopher and a raving madman. We will miss you, George. [img size=300]http://www.a2ethics.org/images/fbfiles/images/george_carlin.jpg[/img]