A popularly shared text, often referred to as the “I’m tired” speech is usually attributed to Bill Cosby. Today we’ll take a look at the “I’m tired” speech and its actual origins.
It was not written by Bill Cosby.
The words were actually written by former Massachusetts State Senator Robert A. Hall.
In fact, Cosby himself went out of his way to issue a statement on September 9, 2011 about the words wrongly attributed to him. The statement entitled, “If you got the BOGUS email, it’s time to hit DELETE!” reads in part:
There’s an email floating around – entitled “I’m 76 and tired” – purportedly sent by me. I did not write the email, I did not send the email, I’m not 76, and I don’t subscribe to the ugly views expressed in the email. We are coming up to an important anniversary on Sunday, which is a day when we should all come together. Whoever wrote this email is not thinking about our country, or what is important. If you get the email, it’s time to hit DELETE.
Recent incarnations of the “I’m Tired” speech lists his age as 83, although he is only 77 as of this writing (born July 12, 1937). Let’s take a look at the lengthy “I’m Tired” tirade often misattributed to Cosby:
I’m 83. Except for brief period in the 50’s when I was doing my National Service, I’ve worked hard since I was 17. Except for some some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn’t call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and Madrasa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand, UK, America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other
Arab country to teach love and tolerance..
I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful
mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
I’m really tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination
or big-whatever for their problems.
I’m also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20’s be-deck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making
themselves unemployable and claiming money from the Government.
Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 83.. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for
my granddaughter and their children. Thank God I’m on the way out and not on the way in.
There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on!
This is your chance to make a difference.
” I’m 83 and I’m tired. If you don’t agree you are part of the problem!
Robert A Hall
The text above, with some slight variations, was written by former Massachusetts State Senator Robert A. Hall. It was posted to his blog on February 19, 2009. That post began with the Senator’s proper age, stating, “I’ll be 63 soon…” Some readers who attempted to correct the wrong attribution to Bill Cosby have incorrectly stated that Mr. Hall was also an actor who appeared on C.S.I.. That is a different Robert Hall.
History
As you can see in the Google Trends report below, the “I’m Tired” speech had its initial surge in early 2013. It reappeared in heavy sharing in late October 2014.
Bottom Line
The “I’m Tired” speech was not written by Bill Cosby, but by former Massachusetts State Senator Robert A. Hall. Bill Cosby has issued a statement referring to the text as “ugly” and “bogus.”
Updated October 24, 2014
Originally posted January 2013
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