Things I feel like writing.

“As long as violence has not vanished from the world, there will always be enough incidents to fill the evening news. And since the human mind estimates probability by the ease with which it can recall examples, newsreaders will always perceive that they live in dangerous times. All the more so when billions of smartphones turn a fifth of the world’s population into crime reporters and war correspondents.”  http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/12/the_world_is_not_falling_apart_the_trend_lines_reveal_an_increasingly_peaceful.html

Today marks seven years since we shared the world with George Carlin and although he is no longer with us, his words still ring, resoundingly true.

Carlin was one of the best critical thinkers of recent history. To those who remember his brilliance, he was a powerfully influential proponent of reason in our world of ever-increasing bullshit. As we all continue to keep ourselves indifferently pacified, the words of George Carlin may be fading with every year he’s gone but the truth of his messages become more relevant each day.

For me, George was a fearless hero. As an Irish-Catholic kid growing up in New York, I identified with his gripes. Being sent to Catholic school, I had an early introduction to the spooky language of hypocrisy. I was Catholic until I reached the age of reason and also realized that I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.

It wasn’t only religion, he openly criticized and disrespected every group. Never discriminating who or what to criticize. Deeply cutting into the underbelly of our inherently materialistic culture, no one was safe from his truths. Growing up listening to his hilarious rants, I started to question the things around me.

We need people in the world like George to openly disrespect and ridicule what we believe. To bring into question and make clear, why humans can never get their shit together. He helped enlighten us as to our own ignorance about our world and how it works. He called everyone on their bullshit and shed light on things we know deep down but try to ignore.

Not to take away from his impeccable comedy, but scrutiny and disrespect are Carlin’s most important legacy. The recent attack on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office demonstrates the need for cultural disrespect. For us to break away from our own dogma, we must disrespect institutions that exist beyond scrutiny. Questioning why, as a society, we pressure ourselves to respect the institutions that don’t give a shit about us, is imperative to our evolution.

Here are my top 10 Carlin life lessons:

1. Worship The Sun, Not God

“I've begun worshipping the sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the sun. It's there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, a lovely day. There's no mystery, no one asks for money, I don't have to dress up, and there's no boring pageantry. And interestingly enough, I have found that the prayers I offer to the sun and the prayers I formerly offered to God are all answered at about the same 50-percent rate.”

2. When In Doubt

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

3. Cynicism

“Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.”

4. Hard Work

“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.”

5. War

“The very existence of flame-throwers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.”

6. Goals

“If it requires a uniform, it’s a worthless endeavor.”

7. Politics

“It’s the old American Double Standard, ya know: Say one thing, do somethin’ different. And of course this country is founded on the double standard. That’s our history. We were founded on a very basic double standard: This country was founded by slave owners who wanted to be free.”

8. Children

Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car.”

9. The Environment

“The planet is fine. The people are fucked.”

10. Human Decency

“Here’s another question I have: How come when it’s us, it’s an abortion, and when it’s a chicken, it’s an omelet? Are we so much better than chickens all of a sudden? When did this happen; that we passed chickens in goodness? Name six ways we’re better than chickens. See, nobody can do it! You know why? Because chickens are decent people. You don’t see chickens hanging around in drug gangs, do you? No. You don’t see a chicken strapping some guy to a chair and hooking up his nuts to a car battery, do you? When’s the last chicken you heard about came home from work and beat the shit out of his hen, huh? Doesn’t happen. Because chickens are decent people.”

And finally, Carlin’s most poignant truth comes in a concise burst of wisdom.

Real Name: Hudson

Permutations: Hudsie, Hudsie Pup, Thomas Hudison, Bubs, Bubba, Bubbeque, Bubbie, Bubbie Woo, Boobles, Wubbles, Woobie, Wubbie, Woobie Woo, Woobington Bear, Baba Zoomie, Baba Zooms, Zooms, Zoomie Zooms, Lil' Zooms, Smusha, Smush Factory, Lil' Smush Factory, LSF, Wubba Dubba...