I watched a clip of a video of VP Kamala Harris speaking to a group of young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Her message was clear – don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot accomplish in life. In this short clip, she was urgent in her hopes that they would not allow people to limit their possibilities; a great message for anyone, especially those who face bias. Then she dropped the F-bomb. They all laughed, as did she, and then she apologized for her language. To me, a person who does not use profanity, it was just one more drop in the full bucket of disrespect that has been filling for the last 30 years. You might think I am being a prude, and maybe I am, but I don’t apologize for that. Language is so full of expressive and interesting words; why use profanity?
It isn’t that I haven’t used words I shouldn’t. I have hit my finger with a hammer, which seems to be an automatic trigger for foul language. I have heard lots of politicians and celebrities drop the wrong word when they thought the mic was off. I have even known some clergy who have told a raunchy joke when they thought nobody else was listening. And yes – I know the whole thing about the history of, as George Carlin called them, the “7 words you can’t say on TV” – the countries that lost the words had their language turned into profane utterances. But seriously; why has the use of nasty language become so prevalent? What has happened to the culture that has turned us into a bunch of foul-mouthed miscreants? (I write that tongue in cheek). I noticed it 25 years ago as we watched “Friends” with our then 5-year-old; it was like there was a competition to see who could say “a$$” first and most.
Today’s truth is that we have become a vulgar country. We have allowed crassness to take over everything. What used to be only found in strip clubs and firehouses is now everywhere. Kids shout these words at sporting events while their parents chuckle. They pepper political speeches and adorn t-shirts. And sure, for a long time we were too far to the other side of this; we were so uptight that our shoes squeaked. Even basic television has had to get nasty to keep up with cable – it’s as if they think we won’t watch shows that aren’t filled with provocative language. We can see why Christian television and music has thrived, can’t we?
I don’t expect to walk through life with only rainbows and butterflies, but I do expect to not be assaulted everywhere I go with offensive language. Call me cranky or old-fashioned, but I think there are plenty of great words; we don’t need to use profanity to make sense or be taken seriously. If we think we do, maybe we aren’t all the serious to begin with.
Prayer – Teach us to use our minds and words to lift people up, not to tear them down. May the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable to You, O God. Amen.