George Carlin (the misanthropic former idealist gone sour), died. Although I didn’t note his passing immediately — I admit he was rather a genius in his own way.
I had my problems with the truth in his performances, truths spoken because of his disappointment in mankind. I didn’t want his attitude to rub off on me. I ignored him, or pretended he wasn’t that good. Who wants to think of humankind as a bunch imbeciles? It was hard enough trying to keep my views of mankind positive without having someone who had been around much longer than I espouse through his comedic genius a truth I have yet to face — mankind is a pretty sad species, and there may truly be no hope for us, so we might as well just vege out.
To reinforce my growing misanthropy was the post Surrogate Exploitation at Womanist Musings, where she writes a much needed post on the exploitation of women of color, and women of poverty, by women who are neither of color or poor. I suggest you read it.
The article she cites Tough Economy Tightens Surrogacy Market is an testament to the unapologetic, self indulgence, of the upper middle class, and privileged . Purposefully obtuse when trying to get what they want and can’t have, they ignore the implications of what they do. One thing you c an say about Middle America, their rationalization skills are the finest in the world.
Poor women, what will they do? With the economy so tight, and baby buying expenses going up, not to mention plane tickets, it will become more difficult to get to those exploited women abroad to buy up their babies.
A line from the last part of the article says it all.
“if that doesn’t work out, they will be financially as well as emotionally devastated.”
Try watching your child die from starvation in a war torn conflict zone. Try living with rape as an act of war, then be “devastated”.
I hear our social service system is full of children?
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Then we have Charlie speaking the truth, McCain disavowing the truth, Obama’s campaign makes a big issue of he truth.
Why couldn’t McCain just have said yeah he’s right, and Obama’s campaign agreed. We could all have moved on to real issues instead of having to listen to every media outlet MC blab on endlessly about how shockingly inappropriate it is, not to mention how politically incorrect, to speak truth.
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George Carlin may certainly have been on to something.
You see my fear of becoming George Carlin was well founded, and as I mosey on, still with hope in my heart, the cynic in me becomes more pronounced even as the idealist fades.
It weighs heavy on me.
I feel pieces of me falling off.
The good pieces.
I want those pieces back.
peace
The truth has always been a sticky issue. A lot of my posts deal with the fact that most people prefer to be lied to or entertained because the reality of life, the truth of life, isn’t very often pretty or very often completely understandable.
Fiction is a surely a delightful avoidance method.
Idealists pretty much always become cynical at that point that they realized the effort to shame their neighbors goes under-appreciated. I am sorry Carlin passed away but a little relieved I won’t have to watch him anymore and wonder why everyone else finds him funnier and more incisive than I do.
Especially when I know, as I’m sure you do, people in real life who are a whole lot funnier.
I’m sad my idealism has to disappear along with by unwrinkled skin though.
Cooper, you can use cream for both.
I take pride in being the most cynical optimist I know.
Coop – life isn’t fair.
Is there another name for a cynical idealist?
Sure. Cynicism and idealism are NOT polar opposites.
A cynical idealist is one who hopes for the best and expects life to throw a few curveballs… AND who doesn’t invest his or her stake in happiness on the outcome.
Life is a series of miracles that we take for granted. Taken in that context, the fact that we’re around for as long as we are to shake our heads at the unfairness of it all is reason enough for abundant optimism.
Context and perspective… ;)
I never found him as funny as some people did. I think it’s similar to what you said. I don’t want to hear all the things which are common knowledge, people suck, because they aren’t funny.
I think he was sometimes funny but the whole reality of what he said was annoying even though true – especially as that is the attitude that got us where we are and will keep us here. Sort of an excuse not to even try any longer.
After reading about Imus’ latest exploits, I really do miss George Carlin. Too bad GC never took a stab at the Imus’ of this world.
I try to ignore Imus the best I can.
George was, under all the cynical and foulmouth rantings, a really insightful, honest and caring person. What made him so funny was he innovated and touched on the insanity of our lives – and poked his nose wherever he could.
Lines I remember:
Why do we need more fucking golf courses? It’s just the place where all the doctors, lawyers, politicians and business people go to divvy up America a little bit finer amongst themselves.
What’s with putting people in the ground still? We have a ton of real estate used as a lasting memory to motherfuckers we couldn’t stand all that much in life, and now, they get a nice space that could be turned into homes and schools…
Show me the people with the guns, money and land, and I’ll show you whose fucking in charge.
If there is one thing America can do well it is bomb brown people.
(Off the top of my head.)
Carlin could always get me going…
Cynicism is the way you know you are getting old(er.)
I know he just made me sad though.
I loved George Carlin.
I don’t think his idea or intention was for us to be depressed with knowing the world is full of imbeciles. He was far too cynical for that. He tried to teach us to laugh about it. I agreed with everything he spoke of & I’ve admired him for years.
He died a happy peaceful man who on many occasions said he was very happy with his life.
His performances were his true thoughts handled brilliantly for our laughter & amusement.
He spent most of his whole life doing what he loved, making people laugh & really think deeply honestly. Personally I think that’s the best gift anyone can offer….I wish I could aspire to be even a shadow of what he will always be remembered as.
People come & go, but he was truly rare. I’m definitely going to miss him. I absolutely loved him, everything.
I can’t actually be all that happy about living in an imbecilic world though. But that is just me.
Don’t worry. The Politicians that ride in limos every day will fix everything….
I always thought of Carlin as an idealist. An angry one, yes, but if you aren’t angry you aren’t paying attention. He told the truth and wasn’t gentle or apologetic about it. Urged all who would listen to burn down the mission. But if you saw him speak without the spotlight on him, you saw the cynic less and the idealist more.
If he wasn’t as wholly necessary as Tim Russert, he was close.
…This slump needs to end
The slump does need to end and it will,,,,soon.
I got a kick listening to George Carlin. I remember my husband and I sitting in bed one night watching his show on HBO and he said something like “Why aren’t people naming their children normal/common names now… like William, John, Joseph, George. Now there are names like Todd. Todd is such a woosie name.”
My husband… well, his name is Todd. So I laughed my ass off. :)
Anywho… I sit back and read your thoughts on mankind… and it saddens me… because I know you are right. AND… it saddens me that you are so young and you see the way mankind is turning out. It seems a lot of us are either oblivious to it or push the truth away.
Maybe you should run for president next time around. Young people like you are what this nation needs.
I have missed you! I hope you are doing great!
I haven’t seen you in so long I’m now actually old. ;)
I missed you and will check more completely on you tomorrow, as work comes earlier than I’d like.