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A stand-up comedian, Bill Hicks was born December 16th, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. He died of pancreatic cancer on February 26th, 1994, aged just 32. <sup>1</sup>
== Indroduction ==
A stand-up comedian, Bill Hicks was born December 16th, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. He died of pancreatic cancer on February 26th, 1994, aged just 32. <sup>1</sup>
"…a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Here’s what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defence each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace." <sup>3</sup>
"…a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Here’s what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defence each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace." <sup>3</sup>
== On Drugs ==
Hicks took exception to the news media's focus on the negative aspects of drug use. He felt that many users' positive experiences of various substances were being purposely ignored:
"Wouldn't that be newsworthy? Just once? 'Today a young man on acid realised that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration and that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There's no such thing as death, life is only a dream and you are the imagination of yourself. Here's Tom with the weather.'" <sup>4</sup>
He believed that it was hypocritical to condemn drug use, whilst lauding artists who had clearly been inspired to some degree by their use of illegal substances:
"If you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favour. Go home tonight, take all your albums, all your tapes, and all your CDs, and burn 'em. Cos you know what? The musicians who made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years... rrrrrrrrreal f___g high on drugs. Man, the Beatles were so high they let Ringo sing a coupla tunes." <sup>5</sup>
3. http://commonground.ca/iss/0504165/cg165_Hicks.shtml
3. http://commonground.ca/iss/0504165/cg165_Hicks.shtml
4. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article191932.ece
5. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article70656.ece
6. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article70656.ece
7. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/article68789.ece