Why do people, especially young people and women, yes, WOMEN, curse so much these days? I am so very tired of hearing things that I don’t want to hear. I am appalled that otherwise sweet, intelligent, attractive women open their mouths and sound like sailors on shore leave. My mother would have washed my mouth out with soap for half the things they say, and would have disowned me for a few of the choice words they use with abandon.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind this careless use of crude, rude language. Are they trying to sound more macho? Are they trying to prove they are strong and invincible? Are they trying to make a point of being “free to do and say anything they choose”? Or are they just limited in vocabulary and lacking in manners?
One of my kindergartners asked me yesterday, “Is this the bad finger?” My reply was, “I don’t know, I never use a bad one.” And I don’t. Why would I copy an obscene gesture used by people with more anger than wisdom? The fact that the child asked was evidence that he has seen that gesture made by someone and has probably heard words he shouldn’t hear.
I recall one very poignant moment in my childhood when my father demonstrated his respect for my mom’s values and standards. He was trying to fix our broken-down car and things were going very wrong, so he very loudly uttered a curse word. Then he came around to the window and apologized to my mother. It wasn’t the first or last time I heard him curse, but he tried not to do it around mom because he knew she was offended by vulgar language. It seems these days that women aren’t offended by much of anything, and some of them go out of their way to be offensive!
I remember as a smart-mouthed teenager I tried to get away with using the phrase “I don’t give a dam.” I read that a dam was actually a 16th century copper coin and I thought that was not only a clear license for using the phrase, but would also impress my friends. My mother was not amused and I quickly abandoned the idea.
I know cursing has been around as long as there have been people. However, the fact that it is used with such casual abandon in ordinary conversations and on public websites is becoming a bit alarming. I’m all for “keeping it real” and I understand why it is used in books and movies when the language clearly fits the character. But I don’t want it to fit MY character. I don’t want to read it and hear it so often that it starts slipping past my conscience and out of my mouth. So I not only try to avoid using it, but seeing and hearing it. That’s becoming nearly impossible!
Of course the terms that are most offensive to my ears are the ones that use the name of our Lord. Whenever I hear someone trash his name I just try to stop and pray for them. Perhaps they didn’t have a mother who took them to church. Or perhaps they just didn’t listen to her. Or perhaps they are wandering in the dark and just need guidance.
I am not perfect and I have my own sins to acknowledge, but I try not to make cursing one of them.
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