The new neighbors were moving in
down the street. The father could be
heard screaming profanity and obscenity at his son, who apparently was not
working hard enough or fast enough to suit his father. The young men walking down the street were
not angry; just having a friendly conversation.
Yet, their vocabulary seemed to be limited to words I’d prefer my
grandchildren not hear. The woman on the
home improvement show appeared to love the final result of the bedroom makeover
as she repeated over and over, “Oh, my God!”
I remember a time when profanity
and obscenity were used mostly in private.
If somebody let something slip in public, they were embarrassed and may
have apologized to those in hearing distance.
That time has passed into memory along with the notions of decency and consideration
for others’ sensibilities.
Last weekend I was talking with
an old friend about this topic, specifically concerning the question of why
profanity and obscenity are such dangers to society. Yes, I am calling them dangers. I will explain, but first let me define some
terms. The word profane is derived from
the Latin pro (before) and fanum (temple). So, something is profane if it is outside the
temple, not sacred, common. Obscenity is
a broader term derived from the word for filth or muck. Profanity, then, includes those terms that
were once sacred but are now used in a common manner, and obscenity encompasses
all the expressions that most people, even those who use them, consider filthy. I use the term vulgar to include both. Vulgar simply means common, as opposed to
refined.
I have always contended that
words mean things. Many people automatically
spew words out of their mouths without much accompanying thought. It doesn’t matter if they are precise in
their use of the English language because their listeners aren’t either. They hear what they want to hear or what they
think the person meant to say. But many
of us listen more carefully than that, wishing to understand exactly what is
being communicated. To us, every word
matters. I know I frustrate people who
are not precise, because I interpret what they have actually said, not necessarily
what they thought they were saying. I
reason that if we don’t consider every word as important, the language will
degenerate into a mushy heap of meaningless gibberish. So, I am concerned about the profaning of the
language concerning the respect for people and the worship of God. Its demeaning effect permeates the whole of
society, making every generation more ignorant of the consequences and more
debase in their actions.
I contend that profane and
obscene language are dangers to society.
How can words endanger an entire collection of people? The answer can be summed up in one word,
desensitization. The more a word is
used, the more people become desensitized to it. The more a word is misused, the further removed it becomes to its original
meaning. Let’s start with
obscenities. I will use one particular
example, but I am sure you will be able to add others to the list. Out of concern for the sensibilities of those
reading this article, and in keeping with my basic premise, I will not
specifically identify the words with which you likely are already
familiar. There was, as I mentioned
previously, a time when the so-called “F word” was so offensive to most
Americans that even those who used it were very careful to limit its use to
their own, known, accepting group of peers.
Today I see it emblazoned on bumper stickers and t-shirts. I hear it used in public venues like
restaurants and parks. I hear it at
events designed to attract children, including parades and amusement
parks. It is shouted on the public
sidewalks.
So what? Sure, it’s offensive to some people, like me,
but what real harm is being done? First,
let’s go back to my premise: The more a word is used, the more people become
desensitized to it. The more a word is misused, the further removed it becomes
from its original meaning. Consider the
word I’ve chosen as my example of obscenity.
At its root, it is a word that demeans an act that, at the human level,
involves not only an enjoyable physical sensation, but the emotions, the
thoughts and interrelations of two people.
This word reduces other humans to objects of one-sided sexual
pleasure. At a spiritual level, it
reduces the loving union of a couple who have committed themselves to each
other, becoming one with one another, to the level of a couple of dogs
gratifying a natural urge without regard for the other’s heart, mind or
soul. Why wouldn’t a young man brought
up in a society or subculture that commonly refers to sexual intercourse as
nothing more than a physical act believe he is only doing what comes naturally
and what is acceptable when he mistreats a young woman? Why wouldn’t a young woman ignore her innate
warnings about getting involved with an irresponsible young man when she has
been immersed in the idea that it’s just physical fun? We are all too aware of the dangers to
society when men generally view women as existing to fulfill their base
desires.
Again, this is just one example
of obscenity and the ramifications of its accepted use. There are other words denoting filth that are
also used and misused to the point that they have ceased to conjure up their
original, repulsive meanings.
Profanity is particularly
damaging, as its overuse and misuse desensitizes people to God and his
principles of living and his warnings about eternal consequences of sin. Damn just doesn’t carry the significance in
today’s society that it ought.
Certainly, it is still recognized as a “swear” word. But how many people, when they hear that
word, recognize damnation as a very real danger to mankind? The same is true about the use of the word
hell. And the repeated profane use of
Jesus and God relegates them to something less than real beings. The immediate response of the hearer
eventually becomes no different than when he hears any other profane or obscene
word. Consequently, when the TV watcher
hears the excited recipient of a home renovation declare, “Oh, my God!” for the
upteenth time, she isn’t prompted to ponder the omnipotence of the God of
glory. Instead, she simply understands
that a great emotional response being expressed. It is just another common (vulgar) word. This is a danger to the foundational
structure of a society based on well-defined morals derived from our
Judeo-Christian heritage. When that
foundation is completely eroded, we will be left floating in a river of amoral
behaviors, with everyone’s own standards swirling in different directions,
eventually being pulled under in a whirlpool of Humanism.
Finally, the profaning of the
language inhibits the acquisition of vocabulary. Rather than acquiring useful adjectives that
actually describe people, places or things in a way that enlightens the
listeners and leaves them with word pictures that aid in their understanding of
the situation, too many people seem limited a half dozen vulgar words. As an example, I refer to those who limit
themselves to various forms of the “F word.”
An angry driver could describe a situation as follows, “A gentleman obviously
impervious to brain damage, driving a vehicle
taken down from the blocks in his front yard way too soon, lurched into my lane
without signaling, almost causing me to careen off the road into the lush,
green pasture, disrupting the ruminations of several brown bovines serenely
chewing their cud.” Instead, all he is
capable of uttering are six nouns preceded by six variations of the “F word,”
concluding with an additional “F word” moniker linked to the other driver’s parentage. This, I believe, is a true sign of an
uneducated person, and a danger to our society’s ability to effectively
communicate.
I will add a short thought about substitutions
for profanity and obscenity. OMG is
still Oh, My God. Heck is still
hell. Shoot and frickin’ are still…well,
you get the point. The effect of
profanity and obscenity may be minimized by these substitutions, but the result
is still a level of desensitization. But
that’s probably fodder for another meal.
**I wish I had seen this article before writing this blog. There are some great observations here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/april/what.html
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