George Carlin left his impact on everyone, from housewives to kids and even Supreme Court judges as evident in the landmark “Carlin Case” (more officially known as the Federal Communication Commission vs. Pacifica Foundation), where Manhattan radio station WBAI-FM was sued for broadcasting what the FCC called “obscene words” in its airing of a Carlin broadcast titled “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television”. WBAI-FM lost the case 5-4 according to the vote count on the Supreme Court bench. But this was the case that defined the power of the government over broadcasting that it termed “indecent” and Carlin was widely remembered for this case due to the fact that it centered on the issue of free speech as a basic human right.

Though Carlin’s preferred medium was through comedy and satire, he touched other aspects which are fundamental issues in life as we know it today. He had a witty insight into issues concerning politics, religion and a mélange of other topics and subjects. He had something to say and he said it well and in a funny way which left even those who did not agree with him, laughing. With the death of Carlin, broadcasting and the world as a whole has not lost only a comedian, but a philosopher, an advocate of free speech and a trendsetter whose landmark statements and observations will remain points of reference for many for centuries to come.