I am generally fascinated by people whom, while on the fringe of society, endure to fight for a better world. It seems like an increasing trend that the insane are the only ones that manage to see past the people and money and really understand that it is the enduring spirit of freedom that makes this country great, not our economy, our military might, etc.
One person whom falls squarely in to this category is Hunter S Thompson. On one hand he was a drugged up gun nut that put his best effort in to spawning craziness every where he went, there’s no denying that. However, on the other hand, he generally used his antics to try to expose the flaws in what our society was turning into in the 60’s and 70’s, and to some extent, where it’s going today. He did everything he could to rally against Nixon, including attending and covering the Watergate hearings. He was there in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention riots. He participated in the campaign to elect McGovern. He attempted a run for sherif against an incumbent that was openly held to be corrupt. And, in moments of clarity amongst the confusion he would sit back and poetically pontificate on how the country was being torn apart by the power mongers, and apathetic masses of the era(s).
Sure, he may have just been trying to establish a world where he could be a drugged up gun nut in relative peace, but at the same time his writings gave a subtle nod that makes you think he was doing it, at least to some degree, for the good of everyone else as well.
Keep in mind that this country still had the taste of rebellion in it’s mouth when our forefathers drafted the framework for this nation. In a lot of ways I think HST saw that as being part of the framework, and not just a contributing factor. Say what you will about the man, he would encourage it, however a great number in this country could learn something from his romantically idealistic and rebelliously patriotic spirit.
Anyways, there is a new documentary covering his life that will be playing in St. Louis at the Tivoli on 7/11/2008. In this day and age of the return of mass disillusionment I urge people to see how one man tried to fight the same a generation ago.
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