Dispatches from the Creation Wars

I grew up in a very remote, rural, insular little town. Very little about the larger world broke through except for what was in the newspaper or what was on NBC and CBS back in the 60's and even deep into the 70s where the primacy of their content was preferred or least framed by what was then called 'the establishment'. Our radio stations back then wouldn't even play rock and roll until the early 70's, and then only the softest songs, e.g., the most popular station would eventually relent by the late-70s and play The Eagles "Hotel California" but not "Life in the Fast Lane" - an example such parsing also wasn't even very rational.

Because George Carlin recorded albums some of us fortunate young people then were able to encounter the reality that what the establishment thought was not the only way to approach reality or to even think. While we laughed at Cheech and Chong until we were 12 or 13, even then we knew these guys were mere entertainers without much to say beyond exposing the absurdity of some authority figures. However George Carlin pushed way beyond that and actually presented positive ways to view the world contra to what the George Wallace's promoted (who was very popular in my neck of the woods in spite of that being Northern Michigan). I'm forever in Mr. Carlin's debt given he validated what I already at least sensed if not actually reasoned. He was a primary reason I committed myself to going to a secular university even if I had to pay every penny myself.

Posted by: Michael Heath | March 21, 2010 10:26 AM

I had a George Carlin Album as a kid. You remember albums, right? It was part of a series that started with Bill Cosby, got a little sophistication with Tom Lehrer and reached it's peak with Carlin. The progression of humor.

Good story, great performer.

Posted by: MikeMa | March 21, 2010 11:35 AM

There is a small pleasure that I enjoy damn near every day and it's all Carlin's fault.

It began when I first heard his Hippy Dippy Weatherman routine. It was full of some routine and predictable gags and I liked it. I didn't roll on the floor but I liked the routine and felt some identity with Carlin's character of the weatherman. What a job. Telling people what they would know if they'd look out a windward window.

But the part that stuck in my brain, like beggar's lice sticks to wool britches, was what happened every time he spoke the station's call letters, WINO. Immediately the back up singers, all fine looking young women, if I recall my adolescent fantasies correctly, would sing out in sultry harmony, "Wonderful WINO!" For some contrary reason that short musical phrase found a nook deep in the folds of my memory and lay there, unnoticed, for decades. Then I moved to Dayton, Ohio (note the rhyme) a few years ago.

I listen to the Public Radio station that is broadcast out of Yellow Springs, just to the north east of where I'm typing. It's tag line is something like, "Public Radio for Dayton and the Miami Valley area." I've listened to Public Radio more than commercial radio for many years. I like hearing music I've never heard before and I like intelligent reporting and commentary. So I listen to this local NPR station a lot. Their call letters are WYSO and every time I hear them say it I immediately hear those fine girls sing out in dulcet tones, "Wonderful WYSO!"

It's your fault, George. You stuck that in my head knowing it'd stay there, didn't you? Well, it did, and I hope you're satisfied, you dirty bastard. Lucky for you that every time I hear "Wonderful WYSO" in my mind I get a warm and hearty chuckle deep inside and I often grin widely as I sing an echo, "Wonderful WINO," right back at you, man. Thanks.

Posted by: Crudely Wrott | March 21, 2010 3:18 PM

George Carlin was a great guy. A comedic genius, that is.

Posted by: AlooFar | March 24, 2010 9:02 AM