…And what’s the deal with the chewing gum at Jim Morrison’s grave.
Author: Harold Pollack
Harold Pollack is Helen Ross Professor of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. He has served on three expert committees of the National Academies of Science. His recent research appears in such journals as Addiction, Journal of the American Medical Association, and American Journal of Public Health. He writes regularly on HIV prevention, crime and drug policy, health reform, and disability policy for American Prospect, tnr.com, and other news outlets. His essay, "Lessons from an Emergency Room Nightmare" was selected for the collection The Best American Medical Writing, 2009. He recently participated, with zero critical acclaim, in the University of Chicago's annual Latke-Hamentaschen debate. View all posts by Harold Pollack
The chewing gum is, theoretically, giving the finger to authority. The Greek inscription says something like Live Life Your Own Way, and people frequently do shots of whiskey or smoke pot when they visit it. Hey man, to really show some respect, they should shoot up some bad smack at the Rock & Roll Circus! But there used to be a nearby tree where they'd stick it — when I was there as a kid, there were hundreds of gum wads pressed into the bark. Duuuude, you partied to death, ave atque vale, and I chew gum, I'm nearly as rebellious as you, duuuuuuude!