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RufusEarl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:18 AM
Original message
From George Carlin
I hope this isn't to long to post here, but it's a real good read.

A wonderful Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...


Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin
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electropop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
1. That sounds more poetic than the George Carlin I know,
but I know he's brilliant and very capable of excellent writing like this.
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CrispyQ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
2. Carlin rocks!
Thanks for posting!!

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BleedingHeartPatriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:27 AM
Response to Original message
3. This is lovely. Do you have a link or something to attribute this to Mr.
Edited on Sat Feb-11-06 12:07 PM by BleedingHeartPatriot
Carlin?

I hope he actually did write this. I just remember the "commencement" address from Kurt Vonnegut a few years ago. It turns out it was most definitely not him, but I think it remains attributed to him, by many people, to this day.

Regardless, the sentiment is beautiful.

MKJ
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RufusEarl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. I received it via email, have no idea if George acutely wrote it
But i'm going to assume he did. Here's the caption on the email.

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - gross and mouthy comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

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BleedingHeartPatriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. Well, I still like the pardoxes, although it gets a bit treacle-y towards
Edited on Sat Feb-11-06 01:01 PM by BleedingHeartPatriot
the end.

I'll have to check out his website. It just seemed a tad sentimental to come from the reliably "nothing is sacred" Mr. Carlin. :) MKJ

Hey RufusEarl, your heart was in the right place. You've been gracious in acknowledging the mispost. We can all learn from your example.:hi: MKJ
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Tummler Donating Member (836 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:33 AM
Response to Original message
5. Carlin didn't write this; calls it a "sappy load of shit"
Edited on Sat Feb-11-06 11:37 AM by Tummler
Debunked at Snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp

From Carlin himself:
http://www.georgecarlin.com/home/dontblame.html

"PARADOX OF OUR TIME"
One of the more embarrassing items making the internet/e-mail rounds is a sappy load of shit called "The Paradox of Our Time." The main problem I have with it is that as true as some of the expressed sentiments may be, who really gives a shit? Certainly not me.

I figured out years ago that the human species is totally fucked and has been for a long time. I also know that the sick, media-consumer culture in America continues to make this so-called problem worse. But the trick, folks, is not to give a fuck. Like me. I really don't care. I stopped worrying about all this temporal bullshit a long time ago. It's meaningless. (See the preface of "Braindroppings.")

Another problem I have with "Paradox" is that the ideas are all expressed in a sort of pseudo-spiritual, New-Age-y, "Gee-whiz-can't-we-do-better-than-this" tone of voice. It's not only bad prose and poetry, it's weak philosophy. I hope I never sound like that.

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE
Here's a rule of thumb, folks: Nothing you see on the Internet is mine unless it came from one of my albums, books, HBO shows, or appeared on my website. If you see something with my name on it, and you really need to find out if it's mine, post a question on my bulletin board . But only if it's really important to you; don't fuck around with me for a lark.


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RufusEarl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. Thanks for setting the record straight, sorry for any confusion folks
I had never seen this piece, but i did like it. And thanks again to Tummler, for setting this right.
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JudyM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #5
10. Thanks -- didn't sound like Carlin. Especially 'we pray too little' nt
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hwmnbn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 12:23 PM
Response to Reply #5
13. Yep, now this is the George Carlin I know....
He has never been anywhere near maudlin.

The sentiments are nice and decent, but they definitely are not Carlin.
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 12:55 PM
Response to Reply #5
15. The "pray too seldom" should have been the first clue, it wasn't Carlin
Edited on Sat Feb-11-06 12:56 PM by Blue State Native
:evilgrin: That jumped right out at me.
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PurityOfEssence Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #5
16. The "pray too little" is a dead giveway
Carlin's no fan of religion in any sense.
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rockribbedliberal Donating Member (27 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:37 AM
Response to Original message
6. George Carlin did not write this ...
and, really, it's frightening that some of you folks refer to this sappy nonsense as "excellent writing."

George disavows it himself. It was written by some preacher.

http://www.georgecarlin.com/home/home.html
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progdonkey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #6
9. "sappy nonsense"
Especially all those "remembers."

When has Carlin ever expressed anything remotely in the same universe as "Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again"?
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progdonkey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:39 AM
Response to Original message
8. NOT CARLIN!
That's been getting passed around for a long time as coming from Carlin. It isn't. From his website:


One of the more embarrassing items making the internet/e-mail rounds is a sappy load of shit called "The Paradox of Our Time." The main problem I have with it is that as true as some of the expressed sentiments may be, who really gives a shit? Certainly not me.

I figured out years ago that the human species is totally fucked and has been for a long time. I also know that the sick, media-consumer culture in America continues to make this so-called problem worse. But the trick, folks, is not to give a fuck. Like me. I really don't care. I stopped worrying about all this temporal bullshit a long time ago. It's meaningless. (See the preface of "Braindroppings.")

Another problem I have with "Paradox" is that the ideas are all expressed in a sort of pseudo-spiritual, New-Age-y, "Gee-whiz-can't-we-do-better-than-this" tone of voice. It's not only bad prose and poetry, it's weak philosophy. I hope I never sound like that.
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DerekG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 11:43 AM
Response to Original message
11. Sorry, but you've been had
This sort of treacle would never be penned, or exclaimed, by an artist known for such nuggets as: "F--k those boomers, f--k those yuppies...and f--k everyone, now that I think of it."
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Catchawave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 12:32 PM
Response to Original message
14. Give the kid a break !
At least this wasn't as snarly as the Andy Rooney message being spammed :)

I did like this part:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

...no matter who wrote it.

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Neil Lisst Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-11-06 04:32 PM
Response to Original message
17. Read BRAIN DROPPINGS by George Carlin.
If there is one thing Carlin hates, it's causes of any kind.

His insights are often entertaining and wise, but a broad reading of him reveals a guy who is really angry about a lot of silly things. Probably a Catholic upbringing exacerbated by an alcoholic mother, but he is one more bitter dude.

I still enjoy reading and watching him, but one need only read his works to know he's not kidding. He's toxic.
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