George Carlin: the "Candid Friend"

Comedian Goerge Carlin died last week.  Eulogies abound, most of them calling Carlin "honest," "tell-it-like it is," and "bold."  For those who may not be familiar with him, Carlin was known for his caustic political and social commentary, copious swearing, and downright rudeness.  His claim to fame is his campaign to get our culture and our laws to "loosen up" about the kind of language it deems acceptable.  Basically, Carlin wanted no words to be out of bounds on public airwaves or in public discourse. 

I'm not interested in attacking Carlin specifically.  Rather, I'd like to examine this trend of calling those who are rude, crude and uncaring (Carlin was quoted in our local paper as saying, "I'll say whatever I want to say. Besides my wife and family, I don't care about anyone.") "honest."  The same label has been used for the likes of Rasanne Barr, Jerry Springer and Pauly Shore.

I am currently reading G.K. Chesteron's Orthodoxy.  On page 74 of the copy I am reading, Chesterton talks about the problem with "candid friends."

I venture to say that what is bad in the candid friend is simply that he is not candid.  he is keeping something back - his own gloomy pleasure in syaing unpleasant things.  He has a secret desire to hurt, not merely to help.

George Carlin and other public figures who make a name for themselves being rude and lowering the bar of entertainment, public discourse and language are not "honest."  They are remarkably dishonest, because they hide their true motivations - avarice, anger, restlessness, etc.  Furthermore, they are dishonest because in the name of free speech they sully public discourse for the rest of us.

Pray for the soul of George Carlin, but also pray that our country might come to understand that true honesty in speech doesn't come from the gutter.