Sunday, November 11, 2007
  A message from George Carlin
Okay so I HATE mass emails, but my mom sent me this chainletter the other day and for some reason I felt compelled to read it. Glad I did, because considering the state of our technology-driven world, the letter really brings you back to reality. It's a message from George Carlin, a comedian of the 70s and 80s whose wife recently passed away...


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.

George Carlin



Pretty uplifting, if you ask me!

It's so true how much we've lost sight of ourselves and how precious life is... technology has created all these forms of communication that are meant to bring us closer together, but it only pushes us farther apart. People are so consumed with their own lives and getting ahead, that we no longer appreciate the little things in life- the things that "take our breath away."

Reading this letter makes me want to throw my laptop on the ground, call up a friend, and have a long chat over tea and cookies...haha. But seriously, how RIGHT is this guy?!
 
Comments:
I couldn't agree more. I'm actually a fan of George Carlin. Have you ever seen his stand up? If you haven't I highly recommend it, it's kind of crude but the things he says are really true. Can you believe he's a high school drop out?
 
Nice sentiment I'd agree, but NOT written by Carlin
 
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This blog is a companion piece to CCJN4394:Media Effects taught by Dr. J. Richard Stevens at Southern Methodist University.

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