R.I.P. George Carlin

We’ve lost a good one folks. Academics talk a lot about teaching critical thinking.

I only wish every campus would celebrate, randomly, once a year, George Carlin Day. A day which the lecturer would leave the stage, the assigned PowerPoint presentation would be deferred until–oh, I don’t know, never–and the class would be allowed to listen to an hour of George Carlin. With a Carl Sagan chaser.

Maybe the world would edge a wee bit closer to this side of sanity.

Toward that end, one of Carlin’s better’uns, from When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?

The Secret News
Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the secret news.
Sshh.
Here’s the secret news:
All people are afraid.
No one knows what they’re doing.
Everything is getting worse.
Some people deserve to die.
Your money is worthless.
No one is properly dressed.
At least one of your children will disappoint you.
The system is rigged.
Your house will never be completely clean.
All teachers are incompetent.
There are people who really dislike you.
Nothing is as good as it seems.
Things don’t last.
No one is paying attention.
The country is dying.
God doesn’t care.
Sshh