Talking with Tim

So a week or so ago, one of my sisters emailed me to ask–even as she conceded I was clearly on a summer “man that wedding date is coming up fast (August 9)” schedule–if I was going to comment on the passing of George Carlin. And I agreed that I should.

As a kid, I listed to Carlin’s comedy albums. He helped shape my sense of humor, no doubt. But there’s not much I can say that has not been said about the man.

Two things. Visit his website, as he gets the last word, in a sense, there–including the following great words:

“Upon my death, I wish to be cremated. The disposition of my ashes (dispersal at sea, on land, or in the air) shall be determined by my surviving family (wife and daughter) in accordance with their knowledge of my prejudices and philosophies regarding geography and spirituality. Under no circumstances are my ashes to be retained by anyone or buried in a particular location. The eventual dispersal can be delayed for any reasonable length of time required to reach a decision, but not to exceed one month following my death.”

You have to love a guy that includes a phrase like “their knowledge of my prejudices and philosophies regarding geography and spirituality”. I now want to open a bar called Geography and Spirituality. I’m not quite sure how well it would do, but I like the name.

Secondly, in visiting his website, I became aware of an organization that Carlin supported and which donations are suggested by the site. As it describes itself at its website, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression “is a unique organization, devoted solely to the defense of free expression in all its forms. While its charge is sharply focused, the Center’s mission is broad. It is as concerned with the musician as with the mass media, with the painter as with the publisher, and as much with the sculptor as the editor.”

I’m ashamed to say I had never heard of the center, which was formed in 1990, until I visited Carlin’s site. So, while I mourn the passing of a damn funny and intelligent person, I appreciate that even in his passing he found a way to inform and (in a way) entertain his audience one more time (if you don’t count the fact we have his unlimited performances to watch for the rest of our respective lives…)

Every year, to mark Jefferson’s birthday, the center distributes the Jefferson Muzzles (“awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment”).

In 2008, the center gave the award to 14 situations and awarded only its second Lifetime Achievement award–this year that winner was the Federal Communications Commission for “years of applying inconsistent (if not arbitrary) standards in determining what is ‘indecent’ on broadcast airwaves–regardless of the political party in control of the Congress or the White House “. Of course, in writing up this particular award, it should no surprise that Carlin’s photo appears.

Be sure to fully check out the site and consider donating. I am really impressed at how much the center supports the arts–through such programs as:

“– ART ON TRIAL, a virtual art exhibit that explores the relationship between artistic expression and the First Amendment right of free speech.

–FIRST AMENDMENT WRITES, an annual poetry and songwriting contest designed to celebrate the creative heights that can only be achieved when artists are free to express themselves on any theme, subject or idea.

–THE LAND WITHOUT LIBERTY, a captivating children’s musical designed to make children laugh while teaching an important lesson — to always appreciate living in a country in which they are free to speak out about their beliefs. The play is available for schools, colleges, and professional theater troupes to perform at no charge. Any persons interested in arranging a production of The Land Without Liberty simply need to contact the Center.”

There are many organizations worthy of our donations, I must admit. But given the seemingly increased penchant to curb expression in the Unites States (admittedly there is an ebb and flow to these things), I would suggest to folks mourning the loss of Carlin to consider a donation. Not in his name, I would expect. But rather do it in the spirit of supporting what he thought was important.