This review was originally used to comment on Hunter
Thompson’s Songs of the Doomed. Since
most of the points I made in my review of that book apply here I will let that
review stand here. Obviously each book is formatted differently but whether
Thompson was skewering the Nixon era, the Reagan era or the Bush eras the song
is the same. And it aint pretty.
***********
Generally the most the trenchant social criticism,
commentary and analysis complete with a prescriptive social program ripe for
implementation has been done by thinkers and writers who work outside the realm
of bourgeois society, notably socialists and other progressive thinkers.
Bourgeois society rarely allows itself, in self defense, to be skewered by
trenchant criticism from within. This is particularly true when it comes from a
known dope fiend, gun freak and all-around lifestyle addict like the late,
lamented Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Nevertheless, although he was far from any
thought of a socialist solution and would reject such a designation we could
travel part of the way with him. We saw him as a kindred spirit. He was not one
of us- but he was one of us. All honor to him for pushing the envelope of
journalism in new directions and for his pinpricks at the hypocrisy of
bourgeois society. Such men are dangerous.
I am not sure whether at the end of the day Hunter
Thompson saw himself or wanted to been seen as a voice, or the voice, of his
generation but in any case he would not be an unworthy candidate. In any case, his was not the voice of the
generation of 1968 being just enough older to have been formed by an earlier,
less forgiving milieu. His earlier
writings show that effect. Nevertheless, only a few, and with time it seems
fewer in each generation, allow themselves to search for some kind of truth
even if they cannot go the whole distance. This compilation under review is a
hodgepodge of articles over the best part of Thompson’s career. As with all
journalists, as indeed with all writers especially those who are writing under
the gun and for mass circulation media these works show an uneven quality.
However the total effect is to blast old bourgeois society almost to its
foundations. Others will have to push on further.
One should note that ‘gonzo’ journalism is quite
compatible with socialist materialism. That is, the writer is not precluded
from interpreting the events described within himself/herself as an actor in
the story. The worst swindle in journalism, fostered by the formal journalism
schools, as well as in other disciplines like history and political science is
that somehow one must be ‘objective’. Reality is better served if the writer
puts his/her analysis correctly and then gets out of the way. In his best work
that was Hunter’s way.
As a member of the generation of 1968 I would note
that this was a period of particular importance which won Hunter his spurs as a
journalist. Hunter, like many of us, cut his political teeth on one Richard
Milhous Nixon, at one time President of the United States and all- around
political chameleon. Thompson went way out of his way, and with pleasure,
skewering that man when he was riding high. He was moreover just as happy to
kick him when he was down, just for good measure. Nixon represented the ‘dark
side’ of the American spirit- the side that appears today as the bully boy of
the world and as craven brute. If for nothing else Brother Thompson deserves a
place in the pantheon of journalistic heroes for this exercise in elementary
hygiene. Anyone who wants to rehabilitate THAT man before history please
consult Thompson’s work. Hunter, I hope you find the Brown Buffalo wherever you
are. Read this book. Read all his books.
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