The Capital Times, February 21, 2005
Steve Mayer spouts off
By Steven Mayer
Staff Reporter
slm379@psu.edu
"People often ask me where I
stand politically. It's not that I
disagree with Bush's economic
policy or his foreign policy, it's
that I believe . . . he was a child
of Satan here to destroy the
planet Earth. Little to the left,"
said comedian Bill Hicks at the
Oxford Playhouse in England on
Nov. 11, 1992. On Feb. 26, 1994,
less than two years later, Hicks
would pass away as a result of
pancreatic cancer at the age of
32.
Hicks was obviously not referring
to the Christian Rights' current
marionette in office, George
W. Bush, but rather his father,
George H.W. Bush, at a time
when he had recently lost his
re-election against Billy Clinton,
much to Hicks' delight.
Perhaps the saying "the more
things change, the more they stay
the same" is true. Unfortunately,
the world has not changed for
the better since Hicks died, and
it arguably has become much
worse -- everyday some mutant
makes an ominous, apocalyptic
prophecy about who America
should bomb into oblivion next
in the name of freedom, Jesus,
liberty, democracy and whatever
mindless slogan or intangible
concept satiates the public.
Hicks attempted to set the record
straight and was unrelenting in
his attacks against the "mediocre
hacks who thrive and proliferate"
in our society. Whether they were
religious, political or "artistic"
figures, Hicks spared none in
his caustic rampage through
the American comedy scene -
- his greatest opponent, though,
seemed to be American culture
itself. Hicks had an observant eye
for the hypocrisy and irony that
constantly permeate our culture,
and he carried an indispensable
message that urged his audience
to never trust the government or
the corporations that own it.
Hicks also excoriated America's
view of "art" and "talent," as well
as the manufactured emotions
of popular entertainment that
always keeps the most important
thing in mind -- money.
"There is no context for the
bullshit we see on TV. There
is no center. This country has
swallowed the fucking lie hook,
line, and sinker, and wallows in
it like some fat swine -- proud
of its ignorance," wrote Hicks in
a newly published book, Love
All the People, which contains
some of his routines, letters, and
poems.
During one of his routines, Hicks
explained his response, when
asked in Australia during one of
his visits, if he was proud to be an
American. "I don't know. I didn't
have a lot to do with it, you know.
My parents fucked there, that's
about all. You know, I was in the
spirit realm at that time."
On October 7, 2001, I happened
to see part of a football game
that was interrupted by an
announcement that informed
the crowd the United States
military had begun air strikes
against Afghanistan. I was
somewhat "surprised" to hear
the crowd erupt into cheers,
exultation and riotous chants
of "U.S.A, U.S.A." It was like
watching colorized footage of a
Nuremberg rally. While watching
this Ober-nationalist absurdity,
I could not help but think that
this is the same country where
sanctimonious charlatans rally
the rubes in an effort to eradicate
"moral decay in culture," but laud
state-sponsored warfare. It was
at this point in my life that Hicks'
words really seemed to resonate.
I then accepted nihilism and
began hoarding provisions for
my survival in the wilderness of
Montana.
The greatest thing about Hicks
Comedian Bill 1 - I,icks, infamous cigarette in hand, was loved and
hated, by many for his acts, which often included controversial
subjects like politics, religion, and the American way of life.
Opinion
was that he was honest; he
never ingratiated himself for his
audience -- if truth really does
hurt, Hicks was a sadist in the
truest sense of the word, and
he was quite possibly one of
the greatest advocates for free
speech in recent years.
For this reason, I urge everyone
to contact Senator Rick Santorum
and request that a national
holiday be designated in Hicks'
honor. Let him know that Hicks
never had sexual contact with
animals.
Photo courtesy of www.nndb.com
Letter from SGA pres.
By Rodney Horton
SGA President
thyork2@yahoo.corn
Hello Penn State Harrisburg!
Student Government Association
is committed to voicing the
concerns of the student body
to department heads and other
members of the administration.
Every twelve months a new
"regime" comes into office to
ensure that students' rights and
voices are protected. I had the
privilege of working under Paul
Lutheran and Lee Catchall -
both of these individuals were
previous presidents. I learned
a lot about the job that I would
soon encounter before they left
for bigger and better things. Most
of what they said has come true
and some things that they stated
has never come to fruition. I want
to encourage everyone to take
part in Student Government for
the 2005 - 2006 school year.
There are plenty of benefits
as a member of SGA, such as
networking with several leaders
throughout the university.
My favorite aspect of the job
is delivering funding and other
services to our clubs. The clubs
are the backbone of our mission
to override apathy - and they are
doing a great job. I am at pleased
to hear what the clubs are doing,
and enjoy interacting with the
presidents of the clubs - whether
it is at the CUB, or just talking in
the Student Activities Office.
Another aspect I like about my
job is that I preside over the most
liberal senate in the history of
Harrisburg's SGA. This SGA has
given over $41,000 to clubs; we
have not hoarded the money.
In my entrance to this position,
I wanted to provide funding for
all the clubs that have a goal to
become active and indirectly join
SGA in overriding apathy. Apathy
is a problem nationwide; however
it begins and ends with us.
I enjoy working with great people
like Dean Hanes, Dr. Mahar,
Nancy Leister, Janet Widoff, and
Nicole Duffy. These individuals
have a common goal; to hear your
concerns. One might ask, how
could they hear your concerns if
someone did not represent you?
Out of 3,800 students, someone
must be willing to hold up the
blow horn so that student voices
are heard.
As I enter my 12th month in
office, I am preparing to leave
to a new SGA an organized and
reformed association that can
better address the concerns of
the student body. When I was
elected, the organization was in
shambles - not because of the
previous leader, but because
of the "ancient" methods of
operation. We are reforming
those methods to ensure a better
SGA five to ten years from now.
As our campus has assailed
to a four-year university - the
incoming freshmen (whether they
knew it or not) became part of
another chapter of PSH's history.
SGA is making great strides to
accommodate these historic
changes; however we need
individuals that will continue the
work that was started on March
31, 2004. Will you join in this
endeavor? Will you commit to
making a change? If so, pick up
a packet in E-131. Take a stand
- make a change and better the
life of your fellow students.
WARNING: This is
a Sharon Furfaro
original cartoon.
All I'm going to say
is...FREE MARTHA!
The great thing about
America is that some
one can go from being
the queen of craft, to
jailbait, to having her
own reality TV show.
That's right, Stewart
will be back, and better
- or badder - than ever.
Visit http://savem
artha.com.