TV News LIES

Tuesday, Mar 19th

Last update06:28:22 AM GMT

You are here News Editorials Bob Alexander: God (or whoever) Bless You Mr. Vonnegut

Bob Alexander: God (or whoever) Bless You Mr. Vonnegut

E-mail Print PDF

Kurt Vonnegut47 years ago I bailed out of a Medieval English Literature class just in time and took a Modern Satire class instead. I knew I'd get an easy “A” because how hard could it be? Read a couple of books, answer questions about the books I'd just read, and then I'd maintain a high grade average.

Guys that didn't keep their grades up were destined to become soldiers instead of students. Without a high enough grade point average it could get pretty drafty going to college in those days.

The assigned reading list was fairly long. I can only remember two of the books from the stack I brought back from the bookstore because they changed my life. To be more precise they changed the way my brain worked. They were The Magic Christian by Terry Southern, and God Bless You Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. Both books are about money.

The Magic Christian was published in 1959 but it could have been written during any time in human history because people have always made fools of themselves for money. God Bless You Mr. Rosewater is a uniquely American story because it points out with laser-like precision how fortunes were originally made in the U.S. by psychopathic opportunists, and then maintained by cadres of sociopathic lawyers.

The problem with writing about satire or comedy is that it's a losing proposition. As Mark Twain wrote, “Explaining humor is a lot like dissecting a frog, you learn a lot in the process, but in the end you kill it.”

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


Paul Rogers: The US could stop the horror in Rafah today. Why won’t it?

US could stop the horror in Gaza Despite the pressure coming from the Biden administration, there is little sign of the Netanyahu government...

The Bombs of August : In Remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Atomic bombing of HiroshimaOn Monday, August 6, 1945, after six months of intense firebombing of 67 other Japanese cities,...

The Bombs of August : In Remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Enola Gay crewOn Monday, August 6, 1945, after six months of intense firebombing of 67 other Japanese cities,...

The USA Today Editorial Board, independent from newsroom, endorsed Joe Biden. Here's why.

Members of US Editorial BoardIn its 38 years of existence, the USA TODAY Editorial Board has never endorsed a candidate for president....
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!