False Gods: A Personal Sampler (1948 - )

by Robert Rubino

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Mommy, Daddy, Howdy Doody,

Mickey Mouse (Club), Mickey Mantle,

Batman, Spiderman, Alfred E. Neuman, Marlboro Man,

Johnny Walker, Bob Marley, Carlos Castaneda,

Freud, Jung, Eric Hoffer, Hugh Hefner,

Broadway Joe, Moe, Larry Flynt and Curly,

The Man of Steel, I.F. Stone, Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron,

Uncle Sam, Papa Hemingway, Mother Teresa, Brothers and Sisters of Sacred Heart.

Emma Goldman, Amy Goodman, Jane Goodall, Jane Fonda in Barbarella,

Arthur Miller, Henry Miller, Norman Mailer, Peter Fonda in Easy Rider.

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The Armstrongs: Louis, Lance, and Neil,

Gibran, Ghandi, and Muhammad (Ali a.k.a. Cassius Clay),

Jimi, Janis, Dylan, Mr. Spock, Dr. Spock,

Jack Johnson, Jack London, Jackie Robinson, Paul Robeson,

George McGovern, George Romero, George Carlin, Gorgeous George,

Brando as Stanley, Kubrick’s 2001, Orwell’s 1984,

Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Rome’s John XXIII,

Ian Fleming’s 007, Barry Bonds’ 756,

Abraham, Martin and John Lennon’s Imagine,

RFK and Oliver Stone’s JFK.

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Al Gore, Gore Vidal,

John Muir, Michael Moore,

Charles Bukowski, Charles Atlas,

Pauline Kael, Citizen Kane, Herb Caen,

Steve Allen, Allen Ginsberg,

Woody Guthrie, Woody Allen, Woodward and Bernstein,

Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Bergman’s Cries and Whispers,

Bop’s Bird, Big Bird, Larry Bird,

Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Santa Claus,

The Father, The Godfather, The Son and Sam Kinison.