A tribute to Harpo Marx

Harpo Marx remains the most widely-known silent comedian. Able to say more with a few quick gestures than morons like Chris Rock can say in a half-hour speech, Harpo almost never spoke on film. One thing that keeps me awake at night with some frequency is the question of what great artists or thinkers of years gone by would think of the world we live in now. Considering the manner in which children on the autistic spectrum are being treated, my guess is that Harpo, and probably his brothers too, would not think much of us.

Users of the "You don't know what it is like to be the parent of an autistic child" defence, listen to this quote from a recent chat that says it all: "I tell them that Harpo Marx didn't either, but he knew what it was like to be set apart from the rest of a society, abused without actual cause, and marked for total destruction by a powerful entity, so I submit he knew more about what it was like to be an autistic child than any autistic child's parents ever will". Is that enough of a spoonfeeding for you to get the conclusion?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• autism
• civil
• rights
• anti-curebie

[jahaantarbiat]

I'm neither Jewish nor Christian nor Muslim (nor a supporter of an organized religion of ANY KIND), but I think what made Harpo so adorable is he didn't go around touting that he's Jewish as many do. He simply lived his life as a decent human being, who became impossible not to love. If there is immortality and a heaven somewhere, I have no doubt Harpo is sitting in the middle of it, whistling and honking his horn! And this beautiful image is the only reason why I might wish there'd be a god.

[aspie182]

I am pretty certain there is a realm where we all go and mull over what we learned in life. Men like Harpo and his brothers would be professors there.

Indeed, the only time I remember Harpo saying anything about being Jewish was in that quote I put in the video. The fact that he said it so rarely, and obviously under extreme provocation at that time from the Nazi regime, is what made it count for so much.

Harpo is one of many people I wish I could tell how much I admire them.

[homeagent]

Your point isn't very clear.

Jenny McCarthy is against over vaccination which causes autism.How is she a 'curebie' ? but I AGREE THAT GOV. SHOULD STAY OUT OF PERSONAL BEHAVIOR LIKE "HYPER KIDS" BEING DRUGGED. What is your beef w/ Cris Rock? Oh I just thought of this...

BucketHead is also silent.

[aspie182]

Jenny McCarthy is an ignorant little bitch whose mouth should be sewn shut before her voice box is ripped out. Every word that has come out of her mouth on the subject of autism is without the slightest scientific merit. The vaccine theory is not only soundly rejected by every real autism expert on the planet, scientific peer review has found it to be devoid of any actual science.

But just for shits and giggles, explain to me why I am the only person in my entire family who is autistic.

[sillypoochi]

oh Harpo I would fell in love with you if I was born in your times

[UneducatedGenius]

Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin could only be silent comedians because there wasnt any sound when they started making movies, and when sound got invented and they started making talkies i feel that Charlie and especially Buster Keaton lost a lot of there magic and didnt reach the hights that they did in the silent movies. Unlike Harpo who i feel who has never lost the magic and truly is the best silent comedian.

[TheSoulMan8]

Buffalo Bill goes iceskating?

[RockTheNight8]

Harpo is one of my favorite comedians ever

[pearsedoran]

Religion or colour has no bounds when it comes wonderful people, only Hitler and now our mini Hitlers try to tell us otherwise. DO NOT listen to them. Mankind can only survive if we stand as ONE , if not , then religion will bring the world to another war and the end of what we know now as civilisation. Mark my words ! Islam is out take over the world or destroy it. Pearse

[emceeAMile]

@homeagent Vaccines don't cause autism, though.

[emceeAMile]

@UneducatedGenius Interesting note about Keaton and Chaplain, I didn't know that. Harpo is one of the funniest comedians there ever was, especially to go without saying a word.

[gibbdreamer]

@aspie182 Yes, I agree. I tell my friends....I am a Marxist. Harpo is my leader AND I am a loyal follower. Yes, in many ways the brothers were very differant from each other yet were loyal to each other and loved each other . Not ever haveing met any of then I am asumeing Harpo took a lot from both parents in that he could be playful but also took commitments like marriage very serious. Notice not one of his 4 kids ever bashed / trashed him and he been dead sine 1964. He done something right

[aspie182]

@gibbdreamer *laugh* Yeah, apparently Harpo was quite a keeper, which is a funny contrast to how several ex-wives felt about Groucho. :S