Tim Russert and George Carlin, R.I.P.

What's up blogiens? I've been offline for a spell, but I've been busy. I'm probably the last blogger to write something about the two giants we lost recently, but I've been in denial about them for a while. I wouldn't be doing my part if I didn't say something about them so here goes.

First, we lost the great Tim Russert to a sudden heart attack. This hit me and my wife like a silent freight train in the darkness. Every Sunday morning, we looked forward to hearing the truth from a man who gave it to us unfiltered. My wife was especially devastated because it was the way she started every Sunday, watching Russert interview politicians, hanging them with their own words and deeds, yet doing it in a way that they had to respect him for doing his job.

With Tim Russert, you always got it straight, always the truth, and always for the benefit of all Americans. If you said one thing and changed your opinion to pander to what's in this week, Russert would call you out. He was the guy on our side, our voices sang from him in the questions he asked and the statements he made. Now, when we need him at this most important time, he's gone; we'll have to do it on our own. Mr. Russert, if your still watching out for us, know that we will do our best to reach the end and we'll have your fair and unyielding example to guide us.

How ironic that we lost another giant in his field a few days later, who shared something in common with Tim Russert; truth. George Carlin, how I wish I could have met you and thanked you for what you did for us. You showed the world that comedy could be beautifully anarchistic, shockingly candid, and challenge the drone of what is common. We saw you morph from suit-and-tie to long hair and beard, reaching your comfort zone.

From George Carlin, I learned that I could be myself and it was alright. I didn't have to walk in step, go with the flow, just because they said so. He showed us our reflections, in the best and worst times, and we saw what we really were. For all the trouble he might have caused to the conservative types, Carlin helped us grow up. We realized that we shouldn't be afraid of where we came from by trying to hide behind some silicone mask.

We aren't always proper beings and we needed someone to check us when we did step over the line; Carlin called us on those occasions, too. His comedy grew from a world where we hack the language up to fit our needs, not always careful of how we use it. I'll miss how he commented on everything from politics to business. Those of us who were and are fans will miss thinking of how he would let us know how we could fix our self-imposed problems. We'll miss you forever, George.