LOL, You didn’t tick me off, I don’t know why you would think that. I don’t have fragile sensibilities and don’t mind the slightest to read someone’s opinions that I may disagree with.

Ok Jody, sorry if I ticked you off… just having a little fun internet discussion here.

I don’t see this as a tough topic at all. The concept of freedom of speech is a simple one: if you believe in freedom of speech, then you believe that someone has the right to say things that you absolutely despise; otherwise you do not believe in freedom of speech.  Everyone is in favor of freedom of speech for things that we don’t find offensive.

The limits on protections for freedom of speech in this country have come along way, and we should be proud of those achievements. (There’s still a little ways to go, but it can’t change overnight.)  We have freedom of speech unless our speech puts someone or some group of people in imminent danger.

Nobody is under any obligation to respect anyone else’s beliefs.  I don’t have to respect anyone’s belief about 2,000 year old fairy tales about how the world was created and how it’s going to end.  I find such things asinine. Likewise, nobody has to respect my atheist beliefs, and should be able to freely express their opinion about it, without regard to how it might make me feel, or my “fragile sensibilities” (quoting Justice Marshall) if I indeed have such sensibilities (I don’t).

Regarding Carlin on the airwaves - who cares about what you think about it. There’s a simple solution to avoid hearing things you might find offensive on the radio - turn the channel, or turn it off. Of course Amy Goodman has the right to show the horrors of war on her show - if you have a problem with it, don’t watch it.  To even debate this matter is retrogressive.

This is a tough topic (language and artistic freedom).  I agree with a lot of what Dave Morton has to say.  It pretty much comes down to “it depends”.  I feel that artists should be free to express themselves as long as it respects the freedom of others.  We must remember as “liberals” that being “conservative” isn’t a bad word.  Their beliefs can be respected too.  If you go to see Carlin’s show, then one shouldn’t have the right to control his art.  Or, if one rents a movie with proper rating system, then one shouldn’t be upset if it has R-rated material in it.  However, if Carlin is using a public airwave, then “I feel” he doesn’t necessarily have the right to make someone feel uncomfortable.  It’s not fair to just call that person a “prude”.

There’s a twist though.  I also feel that if the message is of extreme importance, then that may justify the necessity of making someone uncomfortable.  For example, Amy Goodman showing the horrors of war is justifiable in my mind because 1 million of lives is more important than our comfort level and there’s no other way to educate people other than showing them the graphic pictures.  I haven’t decided if Carlin meets this concept.

I wish true radical rebels like Hicks were held in higher esteem by the Left. Carlin wasn’t in the same league. And that’s telling it as straight as George would want it.

Your article on the life of George Carlin is the best!

Carlin was good—very good, by today’s standards.  But my interpretation of his constant use of vulgarities is that he probably turned a number of folks off…I get turned off if they is used repeatedly.  The points he makes are diminished if foul language is used to the extent he utilized it.

Don’t misunderstand me, I use foul language from time to time, the same language that Carlin used.  And I’m no a prude.  However, if one wishes to be politically effective, I suggest that it be used in moderation, if at all.

One area that Carlin reinforced:  My admiration for Will Rogers and Mark Twain.  Both these gentlemen made many, many profound and admirable observations about politics, religion, and socioeconomic foibles both here and abroad.  And they did so without resorting to smut to enhance the points they made. 

Well, Mark Twain’s “Conversation, as it Was by the Social Fireside, in the Time of the Tudors [date 1601]” might even make Carlin blush a bit.

As for Twain on journalism, read “Journalism in Tennessee,” a must for every prospective scribbler.

And his commentaries on foreign languages (particularly his hilarious send-up of the Awful German Language) are gems that Carlin could never attempt.

Twain, had a huge vocabulary—-the largest of any American writer, with the possible exception of Herman Melville.  And remember, Twain was a “stand up” comic, only it was called a lecture tour in those days.

Anyway, Cheers to George Carlin——he done good.

Thank you Amy for a true tribute to Mr. Carlin

He was truly brilliant and a much needed voice of the people… we could use more Carlin’s and less Bush, Cheney and Rove’s…