George Carlin is Dead

Passed away? Expired like a magazine?

No, George Carlin is dead. And, as he might have said himself, there's no shame in that. There's sadness in it, but no shame. No reason to tip-toe around it with gentle euphemisms.

Death happens to us all. Most of us will die without ever having made much of an impact on the world around us, but - like him or hate him - George Carlin did make an impression.

While George Carlin was alive, he had the courage to talk about life the way it really is, in language people really use. He was insightful enough to see the absurdity (and harm) behind many of society's politically correct "niceties" and brave enough to point out naked Emperors wherever he saw them.

This frank approach brought George Carlin as much criticism as it did acclaim. Although, I've often thought that people who called him crass weren't really listening.

I like George Carlin for saying what he thought. Even when his routines occasionally tread close to the line of my comfort zone - or maybe because they tread that line.

I like George Carlin for being a great Mr. Conductor.

And I like George Carlin because there was always something about him, something kindred, almost an underlying sadness (cynicism?), that made me want to listen closer.

In his own words, "Scratch any cynic, and underneath you'll find a disappointed idealist."