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BRITAIN’S INDEPENDENT ON CARLIN: Seven Words That Shook a Nation

June 23rd, 2008
By WILLIAM KERN

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Continuing our coverage of the global reaction to the death of George Carlin, WORLDMEETS.US has posted a poignant tribute from Britain’s Independent that touches on the unique dilemma confronting ‘responsible news organizations’ covering his Carlin’s passing:

“George Carlin, the standup comedian who made legal history by uttering seven rude words, died on Sunday at the age of 71. His passing presents every responsible news organisation with a dilemma – do we, or do we not, print those seven words? … He used them all in a thoughtful comedy routine about language that he performed in Milwaukee in 1972. “There are no bad words. Bad thoughts. Bad intentions,” he said. Yet, out of 400,000 words in the English language, there are seven: “That will infect your soul, curve your spine and keep the country from winning the war …”

Also from the Independent, Terence Blacker writes:

“Three decades on, those anxious to protect us all from filthy talk in the media are as busy as ever, but most of us are more relaxed about language. The words listed by Carlin, too predictable to list here, can be heard ad nauseam by those sad enough still to be tuning in to Big Brother.

Yet no one could seriously claim that our culture has become less censorious. Beyond the rude words, which now cause the merest frisson of surprise, there are areas which, by a more subtle process than legislation, have, over time, become out of bounds. In an age when taking offense has become a cultural pastime, a process of gentle, fuzzy self-censorship has become established. It is no longer swear words that have the power to offend, but inappropriate thoughts.”

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with a number of other tributes from around the world to one of the greatest comedians our nation has ever produced.



This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Popular Culture, Humor, Moral Values, Newspapers, Celebrities, United Kingdom, Society, Media Criticism, Freedom of Speech, Social Commentary, Entertainment. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 
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