Bill Hicks, Loved by Many, Known by too Few
I was watching the Goat Boy skit by Bill Hicks and I wasn't convinced he was doing what he was doing just for comedy. Perhaps there was a message there beyond the obvious self abusive nature of man. After watching more of his skits I realized the man was actually preaching to people. From my rather obtuse perspective he was showing us how bad or evil we were. It's like he wants us to stop it by encouraging us to do it. Like choking on our own vomit after eating too much, he stands there points and laughs and says something like, "Yea, did you like that you gluttonous whore, why don't you stick this in your mouth until you choke to death", Somehow he'd make that funny. Or perhaps it's the same kind of trick if you catch your kid trying to smoke. Tell him to man up, give him a cigar and make sure he inhales it. After the puking, he wont ever go near tobacco again.
"Bill's comedy (despite his own claims to the contrary) was not about hate or pessimism. Bill was an unabashed optimist. He believed that most people were good at heart but evil forces were deliberately distracting us all from creating a better world using television, lies, tobacco and alcohol as opiates. Bill felt a revolution of thought was coming and that it was his duty, as an emissary of the truth, to bring whatever light he could to anyone who would listen. This blunt, straightforward expression of these ideas could cause clashes with less enlightened, unsuspecting audiences. The result was sometimes dangerous; Bill had his ankle broken and a gun was pointed at him on stage. Despite these experiences, he refused to compromise his material and soldiered on." By Steve and Lynn Hicks... Hickshttp://www.billhicks.com/
This man was so spiritual that he refused to tone down his acts even though it would have gained him the audience he desired and so richly deserved. His image is used frequently by atheist to promote their cause, but the man clearly believed in God even though he had an odd way of showing it. I was able to confirm my suspicions after reading his last letter.
On February 7th, 1994, Bill wrote his last words to the world:
I was born William Melvin Hicks on December 16, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. Ugh. Melvin Hicks from Georgia. Yee Har! I already had gotten off to life on the wrong foot. I was always "awake," I guess you'd say. Some part of me clamoring for new insights and new ways to make the world a better place.
All of this came out years down the line, in my multitude of creative interests that are the tools I now bring to the Party. Writing, acting, music, comedy. A deep love of literature and books. Thank God for all the artists who've helped me. I'd read these words and off I went - dreaming my own imaginative dreams. Exercising them at will, eventually to form bands, comedy, more bands, movies, anything creative. This is the coin of the realm I use in my words - Vision.
On June 16, 1993 I was diagnosed with having "liver cancer that had spread from the pancreas." One of life's weirdest and worst jokes imaginable. I'd been making such progress recently in my attitude, my career and realizing my dreams that it just stood me on my head for a while. "Why me!?" I would cry out, and "Why now!?"
Well, I know now there may never be any answers to those particular questions, but maybe in telling a little about myself, we can find some other answers to other questions. That might help our way down our own particular paths, towards realizing my dream of New Hope and New Happiness. Amen.
I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.
On Saturday, February 26th, 1994, Bill died. He was 32.
Perhaps I am incorrect to write, " Known by too few" , maybe most people see him this way, I do not know, but the way his message is being used today is simply incorrect. Bill Hicks, that halo is befitting.
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