EXPLETIVES

While watching THE FIVE on Fox News the other day, one segment focused on the healthy use of expletives and how they ease pain when blurted out. Regrettably, they used the example of a widely used one that is offensive, barbaric, rude, and crude. 

It’s not the specific word that’s spoken, it’s the force and volume that releases the pain-limiting emotions required to bring a degree of comfort. For example, I have a friend who says “Biscuits” when he makes a bad golf shot. Others say “Doggone it” “Drat” “Sugar” and others. 

One can say anything with the right emphasis to ease the hurt, whether physical or mental. You may try saying “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and by the time you’re finished yelling it out, you’ll have forgotten why you even needed to yell. 

The waxing or waning of civilization is reflected by the language its citizens use. It’s not snobby or pretentious or haughty to use polite words when alone or with others. But it is uncivilized to spout profanity in public, which is often done in the presence of ladies and children. The same is true in literature and other written media. 

Sadly many who speak or write for a living and many on social and public media seem to have no regard for civil language. The old “&%*@+” marks are now replaced by the first letter followed by dashes, which is no less offensive, barbaric, rude, and crude. I would simply omit the entire word when quoting another.

 God has gifted man with the wonderful ability to communicate with others either by writing or speaking. Our words can lift up or tear down; praise or insult; heal or harm; bring smiles or tears; teach good or bad; honor or dishonor God; display wisdom or ignorance. In short our words are either positive or negative. Let’s aim for positive!

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON