The American Spectator

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Escape From Desiderata

7.24.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 6)

The Lampoon's version soars with uplifting messages such as "And reflect that whatever may be your lot/ It could only be worse in Milwaukee." (I would add, "unless you're a conservative in Seattle," but that would ruin the meter.)

National Lampoon's version might even have made it possible to listen to Les Crane right after eating.
-- Bob Vogler
Seattle, Washington

Oh, yeah -- I remember the "Desiderata" from my college undergraduate days. My fraternity brothers and I thought it was pretty lame back then. If a guy had a poster of this dissertation on the wall of his room, he either (a) got it as a present from his girlfriend, or (b) posted it to show dates what a "sensitive" soul he was (though I'm certain that this poster produced eye-rolls from most girls who saw it in a guy's room).

More popular was the National Lampoon's satire of this piece called "Deteriorata." It was one of their most popular posters. It starts out:

Go placidly amid the noise and waste,
and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.

The entire piece can be read at the following link.

And in the closing words of the immortal "Deteriorata":

You are a fluke of the Universe.
You have no right to be here,
and whether you can hear it or not,
the Universe is laughing behind your back.
Therefore, make peace with your god,
whatever you conceive him to be:
hairy thunderer or cosmic muffin.
With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal,
the world continues to deteriorate.

Give up.
-- Bill Erdmann
University Park, Illinois

Sitting here, at 5:30 am, giggling like an infantile goofball, recalling the time when my wife (with only her MBA; hadn't added another Masters and her Ph.D. yet) and I sat mesmerized, jaws having probably dropped in unison, watching that hilarious flick from Down Under. Don't think it was supposed to be a satire, but, then again, I'm sure not sure.

Those two sisters desiring that pretentious clown, Ken Sherry? His Pabulum Puke recordings by Les Crane, Barry White and their ilk (love that word!), whew. Bordering on incomprehensible, 'cept for the fact that there wasn't all that much doing in that little Aussie town... damn, that was one fun movie! Gotta thank Mr. Bowman for the (chuckle) memories (sigh). I love baaad movies! Yet, the acting, as I recall, was semi-remarkable; couldn't stop watching. Almost as much fun as "Blood for Dracula." Perhaps more?

The fact that I was in the broadcasting business for something like 47 years notwithstanding, that was a classic, and I thank Mr. Bowman for reminding me of that fun night as we sat, jaws askew, anticipating what might happen at the top of that water tower...
-- frost
P.S. -- I recall reading somewhere that Les Crane changed/chose his name while at a urinal in a men's room. Hey, could'a been Les American or...

In regards to James Bowman's piece on Les Crane's "Desiderata" -- Mr. Crane's recording is not the definitive version of that poem --- this is.
-- B. Vallely

REAL CLEAR CONTEMPT
Re: Peter Ferrara's Shut Up and Produce Some Oil:

I've never heard of this guy but from reading his article it is clear that he is retarded. I understand that giving space in your interesting website to mentally disabled children is a noble and admirable thing to do as no doubt they could enjoy the added attention. However I think it is irresponsible to not put a warning next to your articles letting readers know that the author is retarded. While I was able to figure this out quickly after only reading the first couple paragraphs, others may not be quite as astute and may assume that there is a semblance of fact or rational argument in this pile of garbage. So I think as the responsible newspaper/dishrag that you are you should either prohibit retards from having their own columns or at least warn readers of the possible dangers of consuming trash like this. Please pass on my regards to little Petey.
-- Daniel Paul-Schultz
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research
Washington, D.C.

"In Georgia, a state judge denied a permit for a new coal electricity plant on the grounds of global warming (which is a figment of the liberal imagination to justify a big government power grab)..." (Nice way to put Global Warming into perspective, here.)

"Obama believes that the imperative to confront climate change requires that we prevent a new wave of traditional coal facilities in the U.S." (In actuality, Obama's very much in favor of new style coal plants, and nobody wants traditional coal facilities, period.)

"The NRDC is urging the court to adopt a new interpretation of state law that would require BP to get a new state permit first because with the expansion the refinery would supposedly discharge more 'pollution than the current state permit allows." (I never realized that the existence of pollution was in question. Did the Liberals make up "pollution" too?)

That was in the first six paragraphs. I'm wondering if anybody actually read the seventh.
-- Matthew Huntington

Letter to the Editor

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