The “Clenched Fist of Truth” is already being used…by Hunter S. Thompson
Stare into the infinite depths of Hunter S. Thompson’s void-glasses. If you dare. Buy the ticket. Down several shots of Chivas Regal. Feel the uphill pull of the roller-coaster. Feel the contact buzz of a hundred thousand flaming bars of hash, set alight by an exploding propane tank, exploded by a gun. Now stare into the eyes of this NRA freak-nut.
Whoah, whoah, whoooooah. Rewind a bit there, Hoops. “Clenched fist of truth?!” No, I am sorry. You cannot have that, no matter how mentally unbalanced and well-paid off you are. See that poster below? Someone beat you to it – 47 years ago!
Yeah, sorry Dana. You’ll just have to use some other body part that clenches.
When I first heard the deranged fist clencher’s angry bleatings, something about the very catchy phrase “clenched fist of truth” stirred my memory. When I couldn’t think of what it was, I gave up and watched an episode of Adventure Time. The next day, however, it suddenly came to me as I was out in the compound shooting empty vodka bottles with my shotgun.
The real clenched fist of truth was designed for Hunter S. Thompson’s 1970 campaign to become Sheriff of Aspen. A closed fist with two thumbs clutching a button of peyote, this logo became synonymous with gonzo journalism. Why two thumbs? No idea. But this logo – like the man himself – stood for fighting the corruption and the nonsense of the world (aka The Terrible) while having insane amounts of fun and getting high as f**k.
Now this livid and frothing-at-the-mouth wind-up NRA doll is trying to co-opt this image? Is that what’s happening here?! Then I say thee NAY.
As a writer and a journalist, Hunter stood for truth above all else. Thompson based his style on William Faulkner’s notion that “fiction is often the best fact.” No matter how gonzo and exaggerated the reporting, Hunter always strove to make sure the take away of every story accurately reflected the truth. He himself loved guns, as you can see here in this insane Conan remote.
What he did not love were greedy and repugnant propaganda-spewing mouth-pieces or corrupt politicians with vile, evil agendas. Pretty sure he loathed both the ignorant and the dangerously insane. Outrage came easily. Because he cared. If he came back to life today, he’d take one look around and immediately re-shoot himself.
Gah, I’m depressed now. Time for more Adventure Time. Let me leave you with the words of two great men whose profound insights shall resound throughout the world for generations to come.
“America… just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable.”
“If you shake your fist, the other guy will shake his too. But if you extend your hand to shake their hand, then they will extend theirs also, and you’ve made a friend.”
I AM FERGUS THE JUSTIFIER!
