7.19.5
I am going to take a bit of a break from my normal
paranormal, c2c subject matter this week to pay
tribute to a hero of mine. Hunter S. Thompson would
have been 68 yesterday, though, as most will know he
is no longer around to celebrate.
To say that Hunter S. Thompson had a profound effect
on my life and how I view the world I do not feel is
at all exaggeration. I first remember reading one of
Hunter’s pieces when I was around 17. I can’t at this
time remember exactly what it was about only that is
was of a political nature. I remember being awe
struck that not only was there someone who felt much
like me, but that he could write it down in such a
entertaining and brilliant way. After that I made
sure to read everything he had ever written and
through the years I continued to read any new books
and articles he wrote except for the sports related
ones, which I cannot tolerate.
I am not sure how one would describe Hunter’s unique,
enthralling writing style to someone who has never
read him, but it was genius. A mixture of fact,
fantasy, realism, surrealism and always full of sharp
wit.
Hunter himself was like his writing, one of a kind.
He was a complex individual who though a liberal did
not always stick to the party line. He loved guns and
sometimes terrorized people who lived near his home in
Woody Creek, near Aspen Colorado. One of my favorite
quotes after Hunter offed himself came from a local
bar owner who said something like “If he would have
killed someone else I wouldn’t be the least bit
surprised, but I am surprised that he killed himself.”
Hunter was truly infamous from his Gonzo character in
Doonesbury to the time he ran for Mayor of Aspen and
almost won and you either loved him or hated him as
far as I can tell.
Ever since I got my first computer many years ago
Hunter’s picture has occupied the spot above my
monitor. This is probably some silly hope on my part
to channel a bit of his brilliance into my writing.
So far this attempt has been a complete failure, but
the picture will stay. I suppose I could consciously
try to write like Hunter, but it would be a pathetic
and in the end doomed attempt at a type of genius that
I just do not posess.
Actually to say Hunter doesn’t fit into my normal
subject matter as I did at the beginning of this isn’t
exactly true. While I don’t know how Hunter felt
about aliens (he may have seen a few), I do know he
believe in conspiracies. What follows are excerpts
from a interview done by Adam Bulger on 3/9/04 -
Adam : Hunter : Adam : Really?
There isn’t just that interview that show Hunter was
a bit of a conspiracy monger about 9/11, but also his
last book “Kingdom of Fear” tells how he feels there
was conspiracy to elect Bush even though he hadn’t
really won the election. The overall point of that
book is that Bush and his Administration are trying
and succeeding at creating a kingdom of fear in which
citizens will willing give up rights and tow the Bush
line in order to feel safe. I would have liked to
include several of Hunter’s quotes from this book, but
as usual I can’t find any book of mine when I need it
because they are stashed all over. None the less here
is one I found on the internet, Some people only know Hunter through the movie “Fear
and Loathing in Las Vegas,” which I think is sad.
While I think this is a great movie, if you haven’t
experienced Hunter through his writing you haven’t
really experienced him. While the movie portrays the
fun loving, drug crazed, “Gonzo” Hunter it does not
give much time to the deep thinking Renaissance Man
that was also Hunter.
While Hunter’s death is still a deep, throbbing,
saddening, gaping wound to me, it at the same time
seemed a fitting end. I can’t imagine Hunter going
out in any other way. It was on his terms, where and
when he chose it. He said he wanted to go out with a
bang and he did. Why did he do it? I can only
speculate that it was a mixture of a feeling of
impeding doom brought on by the Bush administration
and not wanting to ever become some helpless old man,
who could not do what he wanted when he wanted. That
is my feelings on it and as far as that goes I am glad
he never did become a helpless old man. He may in
fact still be wandering the earth waiting to see the
big explosion when he is shot out of the 150 foot
cannon that is being constructed for that purpose.
You never know with Hunter so he may have just said
“fuck it” and moved on. (Since I am writing about
Hunter I am obligated to use profanity at least once.)
In closing let me say, I salute you Hunter S.
Thompson. Not only for the years of entertainment and
information you provided me, but for your bravery from
the Nixon administration on through the second Bush.
For saying the things that others in the mass media
would not even have dared to whisper. For showing
that genius and creativity could at one time flourish
in America. For being a true American original. Rest
in peace, sweet prince.
“ *Note - you can read the complete interview with
Hunter at
... I happened to see the second one go in, but
just the last few seconds, as it came out of the left,
stage left, and then plowed right into the front of
the center of the TV picture and the center of the
building, uh, perfectly. And I wrote that it was one
of the most efficient, uh, most skillful and just
about impossible um, acts of piloting... That’s a very
rare, uh, uh pilot... can take a big plane and plant
it right as if a target or bulls-eye was on the side
of the building.