I Think George Carlin Would Have Loved This.

This is a copy of an e-mail that someone sent to my wife. People don't send me stuff like this anymore because I have a habit of researching the veracity of anything suspect. I then e-mail them back with facts, and while some of them appreciate learning the truth behind hoaxes and rumors, I think it pisses most people off. Whatever. Stuff like this pisses me off. Here, in italics is the e-mail, and below it you'll find the facts surrounding the authorship of 'Paradox'.

"This is an awesome piece. If you have not read it, take the time to read it now. If you have read it, take time to read it again! GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...and George followed her, dying July 2008)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people.....Who cares?

George Carlin

It's got some great ideas in it, but as I'm a huge George Carlin fan I thought it was odd that he would say something like "We pray too little", considering that Carlin was a vehement atheist. He once said that the only being he prayed to was Joe Pesci, because he looked like a guy who could get things done. So I did a little digging and found this.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp
Long story short, George Carlin didn't have anything to do with writing this. It was written more than 50 years ago by Dr. Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. He was later accused of sexually abusing 17 male members of his congregation, forcing his resignation.
I think this is all hilariously ironic in a couple of ways. First, it leads one to believe that the list of ills provided are a product of the modern age, when in fact the author wrote them fully half a century before our modern age. Everyone over 50 with a computer loves forwarding this stuff to their kids with a bit a mix of nostalgia and self-righteousness. I think it's awesome that Dr. Bob was talking about their world.
It's also ironic that the hoaxsters chose Carlin as the alleged author, because he would have found this really funny too, particularly the part with the perverted priest.