George Carlin - Politics

Comedy is important for human survival. It asks serious questions in so many humorous ways. I don’t know much about the past history of comedy but today’s comedy is a pure form of rationality. Comedians can tell the truth to a hostile world and still get laughter as a reward. Maybe they are good at something many of us don’t even understand - the secret nature of communication.

George Carlin was a philosopher and comedian. His jokes were loud and clear. He made the public laugh at his jokes that were actual facts, full of meaningful lessons. I wish many more comedians could follow in his footsteps and create a world that respects rationality and freedom of speech. 

In his comedy special, Carlin said something brutally honest. He made a joke about the world leaders and how they manipulate public emotions into gaining power.

He said politicians are very good at using education as a tool to gain power. They (politicians) create fear in public that if they don’t vote for him/her, they might be deprived of education, and subsequently, the whole country will fall down.

The joke continues. Carlin shares three ways in which politicians hide behind all the time:

1. Flag
2. Religion
3. Children

They use flags to promote nationalist sentiments among people. Politicians know everyone loves their country and that is the very emotion that politicians use again these people to gain power.

Nationalism is not the most powerful emotion in comparison to religion. So they turn to the religious card as they reach closer to elections. They turn themselves into religious/cultural clothes and vouch for the spread of their religious values. 

The majority of people who follow a certain set of beliefs usually don't have much background information about religion, and that is exactly what politicians target. They create an imaginary threat against religion which immediately draws peoples’ attention. And now they are in the driver’s seat. They can take voters anywhere they want with that artificial fear that has no root in reality.

Children are the most striking fear factor. If the two options mentioned don’t work, this will. Politicians will portray themselves as the guardians of youth. They know youth need education, jobs, homes, money, and success. 

In every speech, they use the words such as children's health, young generation, and girl’s education to create an environment of urgent crisis. Their target is to trigger parents’ emotions by telling them if they don’t support them, they will ruin their children's future. Youth, who are still in their formative age, mostly ignorant of real-world issues, become worried about their future security.

And these fears give politicians a safe way to powerful positions where they manipulate the system for their personal gains.

Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. – Peter Ustinov

George Carlin is truly a genius. There’s so much to learn and unlearn from the gems George likes.