George Carlin Responds to Indecency Uproar

[Khephra]

LOS ANGELES -- George Carlin famously dissected "The Seven Words You Can't Say on Television" as a way to explore what everyone was so uptight about. Thirty-two years later the same debate is still raging, now fueled by Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash, the suspension of Howard Stern's raunchy radio show from six stations and new House legislation that would raise a performer's indecency fine from $11,000 to $500,000.

So what does the 66-year-old Carlin think of the current handwringing over what is indecent, profane, obscene, immoral, lewd or insulting?

"More of the same, more of the same. What are we, surprised?" Carlin told The Associated Press on Friday

He blamed it on religious moralism, media commercialism and election-year politics.

"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things -- bad language and whatever -- it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition. ... There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."

MORE....................

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-george-carlin-indecency,0,3022093.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines

I have a feeling that his concert tour that's going on now is going to get really interesting.

(I get to see him here in Indy in April.)

[sybylla]

1. Carlin said a lot of the same things on Jon Stewart the other night

He sure isn't afraid to tell it like it is. When I grow up, I wanna be just like him.

[Bozita]

3. and on Bill Maher's HBO show last night

Carlin was teriffic.

I was surprised by Kim Campbell, former Canadian Prime Minister. She sounded a lot like a DUer.

[proud patriot]

2. Thanks George

I'll never forget when I was 16 (1986) going through all
my dad's first edition Beatles, Hendrix, Vanilla Fudge
and Pink Floyd albums when I came across His George
Carlin collection.

My life changed forever ...A new respect for my dad
that has stuck with me since .