Hunter S. Thompson Interview

Salon.com ^ | 2/3/2003 | Salon.com

[Texian First]

The godfather of gonzo believes America has suffered a "nationwide nervous breakdown" since 9/11, and as a result is compromising civil liberties for what he calls "the illusion of security." The compromise, he says, is "a disaster of unthinkable proportions" and "part of the downward spiral of dumbness" he believes is plaguing the .....

[marty60]

No it's the digusting way the media and a few seem to think this guy is some literary giant. It's called drawing atention to the absurd with absurdity.

[Chi-townChief]

Sounds like Thompson was speaking for himself.

[CaptSkip]

...his 'work' will be locked in this era with Boomer fans for all time. Outside of this time and this place, he will have no meaning for generations to come.

Just like that worthless "flapper" F. Scott Fitzgerald.

http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html

F. Scott Fitzgerald died, [1940] believing himself a failure. The obituaries were condescending, and he seemed destined for literary obscurity. The first phase of the Fitzgerald resurrectionò“revival” does not properly describe the processòoccurred between 1945 and 1950. By 1960 he had achieved a secure place among America’s enduring writers. The Great Gatsby, a work that seriously examines the theme of aspiration in an American setting, defines the classic American novel.

WCF, you may want to recheck your crystal ball.

And all generations have a right to nostalgia. Also, many people LOVE things from previous generations. Ever watch "Antiques Roadshow"?

BTW, what's your problem with Boomers? I'm a Boomer and my 16 and 22 year old kids love me. I'm proud to be a Boomer. With the exception of Olive Loaf, I can't say I agree with you on much.

BTW, wasn't Olive Loaf a Boomer thing? ;>/

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I am younger than that- I have read many of his works. I enjoyed him. Altho- I agree that he was not always right in the head, like many great artists throughout history, he did provide some interesting material to our society.

Well- Rest in Peace Hunter. I hope you have some peace wherever you are.

It could be your blind hatred of America ended up putting you "over the edge".

It was sad to watch it happen to you too...

[P_A_I]

You should read some of his many books. He was for America in a way that America needs.
10 complex

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What "way" would that be?
13 WCF

---

He was for America in a way that America needs; -- he was for individual liberty.

[unbalanced but fair]

If you can name one redeeming quality of HST that I should admire other than his support of the 2nd amendment, fine. But even Neo-Nazis support the 2nd amendment. HST was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a second rate writer, and an old man who couldn't leave the 60's. He was bitter and unforgiving. He was no better than Ward Churchill. I am from his generation and am ashamed that he, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, and Jack Kerouac are what people have to remember us. I'm sorry when any one dies, but I don't have to admire them. And that is not being hypocritical.

[P_A_I]

Reading some of the posts in this thread reminds me of why FreeRepublic detractors are sometimes correct about the hypocrisy of the "Christian Right" as to compassion, forgiveness, from stone throwing glass house dwellers, and the inability by many here to find absolutely NO redeeming qualities from people with whom they disagree.
38 CaptSkip

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Well said bump.

[discostu]

Well he was nicer to dead people than you.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Same reaction I had when Susan Sontag died. What a waste of talent. What a twisted mind.

[najida]

RIP

We are all mixes of beliefs, some more than others.

Prayers for those who loved him.

[BenLurkin]

Kerry Will Come Through (By Hunter S. Thompson)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1266838/posts

[CaptSkip]

HST was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a second rate writer...

I disagree on his writing skills. His first-person "gonzo" style was to me like quicksand. Once I started reading one of his LONG Rolling Stone articles, I was sucked in. Forget the politics. You were along for the ride on many hilarious adventures. Great fun. Hate the sin, love and forgive the sinner my Mom always says.

[evets]

In a 1994 obituary for Nixon, Thompson called him "a liar, a quitter and a bastard. A cheap crook and a merciless war criminal."

[unbalanced but fair]

Don't bet on it. When former President Nixon died, HST wrote this:
"If the right people had been in charge of Nixon's funeral, his casket would have been launched into one of those open- sewage canals..."

[angkor]

FreeRepublic detractors are sometimes correct about the hypocrisy of the "Christian Right"

Just a reminder to you that Free Republic is about freedom, not Christianity.

Conservative? Yup. "Right-wing"? Yes, indeedy. Christian? Nope. Unh uh. No way.

Many here are Deists in the spirit of Jefferson, Adams, and Paine. Many are Jews. Many are whatevers. Many are atheist. And, yes, many are Christian.

But that's not what FR is about.

[P_A_I]

Your point?

[discostu]

90% of which are thing Nixon admitted to.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

But not a word about Lyndon Johnson.

[unbalanced but fair]

I remember reading his tirade about Nixon. The only thing good he said was that he wouldn't be able to criticize Nixon any more. And I don't understand when this rule started that you can't criticize the dead. I guess we need to stop criticizing historical figures too? HST was a public figure. That gives the public the right to criticize or praise him.

[angkor]

I saw no reason to prolong it with HST.

His early works were good, GWSH was not. His Rolling Stone writing was usually good, but after 1980 I lost complete interest in him.

His more recent columns - and I mean over the last several years - were banal and atrocious. In fact I recently checked some of his ESPN material and it was flat-out unreadable.

It is true however that his early and better writing was inspired to some degree by Mencken, HST said that himself. Most of the better social commentators will say the same.