Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Hunter S. Thompson: Carter's Captivating Bob Dylan Speech

It happened at the University of Georgia School of Law on May 4, 1974. Speaking before a gathering of alumni lawyers, Carter upset their celebratory occasion when he dismantled the criminal justice system they were so proud of.

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And Carter particularly caught Thompson's attention when he traced his sense of social justice back to a song written by Bob Dylan:

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"The other source of my understanding about what's right and wrong in this society is from a friend of mine, a poet named Bob Dylan.

After listening to his records about "The Ballad of Hattie Carol" and "Like a Rolling Stone" and "The Times, They Are aChanging," I've learned to appreciate the dynamism of change in a modern society.

I grew up as a landowner's son. But I don't think I ever realized the proper interrelationship between the landowner and those who worked on a farm until I heard Dylan's record, "I Ain't Gonna Work on Maggie's Farm No More."

So I come here speaking to you today about your subject with a base for my information founded on Reinhold Niebuhr and Bob Dylan."

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Much more Hunter Thompson stuff, video of his interview, link to Carter's speech and more.

Slappy New Year!

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2024-12-31 11:26 AM

Sadly, Dylan has been relevant as a so-called "social conscience" for America since "Neighborhood Bully"

#2 | Posted by NerfHerder at 2024-12-31 11:36 AM

hasn't

#3 | Posted by NerfHerder at 2024-12-31 11:37 AM

I would have credited him with relevancy at least up until his Victoria's Secret commercials.

#4 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2024-12-31 11:45 AM

He did say he'd only do a commercial if it was for women's underwear. Man of his word.

#5 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2024-12-31 11:46 AM

Almost as sadly, imho, not too many people these days even know the name Reinhold Niebuhr.

(Reinhold's writings and dynamic lectures made him a national figure from the 1930s to the 1970s.

His work deeply influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Hubert Humphrey, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. [Reinhold was] the supreme American theologian of the 20th century.)

www.elmhurst.edu's%20writings%20and%20dynamic%20lectures,theologian%20of%20the%2020th%20century.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2024-12-31 11:48 AM

Niebuhr also never admitted he stole the Serenity Prayer from his secretary.

Neither here nor there.

In one of his Rolling Stone articles on Carter, the Good Doctor allowed that while he was a fan of Carter's, the one member of the family he could unhesitatingly vote for as president was Miz Lillian.

#7 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2024-12-31 09:14 PM

I'm realizing I am proud to say that I shook hands and spoke with both Thompson and Carter.

Thompson at the Huntsville, AL, airport in the spring of '78. Carter in about 2001 after his Sunday school class at Maranatha Bap. My wife went up and gave Carter a kiss, and he said, "Right on!"

#8 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2024-12-31 09:18 PM

- Niebuhr also never admitted he stole the Serenity Prayer from his secretary.

Apparently because he didn't....

www.yalealumnimagazine.com

www.huffpost.com

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2024-12-31 09:55 PM

Thanks, Corky. This is about the only source I'd accept, as the Yale Book of Quotations was my source for the assertion. I worked on that book, so saw it in production.

You'll appreciate this. I pointed out that Somebody to Love and White Rabbit were actually written in 1966 when Grace Slick was with the Great Society instead of 1967, etc. Lines from them appeared in the Yale Book (2nd Ed.).

Mofo didn't make the change.

Thanks for the update.

#10 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2025-01-01 01:33 AM

- Somebody to Love and White Rabbit

I was an early teen when those and so many other songs came out... which may explain why I am, 'still crazy after all these years'.

Thanks for the classy retort.

#11 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-01 10:40 AM

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