I have to figure out which ones you couldn't and ever and it came down to seven but the list is open to amendment, and in fact, has been changed, uh, by now, ha, a lot of people pointed things out to me, and I noticed some myself. The original seven words were, shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, mother-fucker, and tits. Those are the ones that will curve your spine, grow hair on your hands and (laughter) maybe, even bring us, God help us, peace without honor (laughter) um, and a bourbon. (laughter)
- George Carlin's Seven Dirty Words routine, qtd. by FCC v. PACIFICA FOUNDATION
Carlin recently died at the age of seventy-one, after surviving various health problems, and drug issues some time back as well. I think he probably would agree that it wasn't that bad of a time to go, though as an atheist, he would bring up God into it only in a joking fashion. Of course, I might think differently when I'm closer to that age. Get back to me.
Anyways, George Carlin was obviously a great name in comedy, a Lenny Bruce not forced to an early grave by the government and other demons. He was the first host of SNL. Had HBO specials from before most would think there was an HBO (the 1970s). He even popped up in a short-lived Fox series (I remember it -- not that good, but had some charm) and the Bill and Ted movies. But, stand-up was his thing. I never saw him in person and didn't quite take to his routines as a whole. The whole "stuff" thing, for instance.
Still, hearing some clips, there were clearly some gems. And, overall, I'm copacetic to his philosophy. A clear example of how humor is a prime tool in social commentary. I'm sure he nodding knowingly, with something of a wry expression, when finding out that the Supremes upheld the sanction of WBAI* for playing his routine in the day time hours. This includes the fact that the complaint came from a father listening with his teenage son -- the stand-in for token pain in the ass complaints everywhere.
The fact the opinion (by Justice Stevens, showing his flag burning dissent side) noted that the transcript "indicates frequent laughter from the audience." Or, that it denied the routine "satirized contemporary attitudes." And, its assurance that adults could obtain the routine elsewhere might be of dubious constitutional merit (free radio provides special benefits), but it did benefit his pay t.v. and stand-up gigs.**
Let him live on in wickedly funny truth tellers ... needed more now than ever.
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* My radio source for Amy Goodman/Democracy Now! and other programs. DN honored him today, playing an (edited) clip of the routine as well as other bits. [The transcript allows you to get a flavor of his style.]
** Justice Stewart dissented on statutory grounds. Brennan/Marshall had the substantive dissent, including (1) even in private, one chooses to listen to the radio and (2) some parents want their kids to experience this sort of thing. Anyways, it isn't sooo bad that the government can keep adults from listening to it because of fear of children being traumatized.
Powell/Blackmun concurred separately, not supporting Stevens' placing the routine (as compared to some weak-assed form of it) on a lower plane of protected speech. Stevens argued:
If there were any reason to believe that the Commission's characterization of the Carlin monologue as offensive could be traced to its political content - or even to the fact that it satirized contemporary attitudes about four-letter words - First Amendment protection might be required. But that is simply not this case. These words offend for the same reasons that obscenity offends. Their place in the hierarchy of First Amendment values was aptly sketched by Mr. Justice Murphy when he said: "[S]uch utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality."
Such slight value, huh? That section only got the support of three justices. The focus on "the [dirty] words" instead of the overall context underlines the misguided nature of the ruling, and the point of Carlin's bit.