Four-letter fallout: Cursing goes mainstream

Manchester Union Leader ^ | December 24, 2003 | Editorial

[billorites]

WE WERE NOT too surprised when John Kerry used the f-word in a Rolling Stone magazine interview to describe the situation in Iraq. Kerry tries desperately to fit in wherever he goes, but he seldom manages to pull it off — except in Washington. His deployment of vulgarity in an interview with a pop music magazine was such a pathetic attempt to seem hip that it made him look even nerdier.

However, we were surprised at what Wesley Clark said during a stop in Derry this past weekend. Asked how he would respond if any of his rivals questioned his patriotism, he said, “I’ll beat the s- - - out of them.”

Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was being metaphorical. For a military man to have his patriotism questioned, well, as they say down where Wesley Clark is from, “Them’s fightin’ words.” The very idea is so repugnant to Clark as to make him curse just thinking about it.

Even so, isn’t it unbecoming of serious Presidential candidates to use such language publicly? Have we debased our language to the extent that there simply are no more lines that are understood to be uncrossable in front of the children?

Apparently we have. The Federal Communication Commission ruled in October that the f-word could be spoken over America’s airwaves as long as it didn’t refer to sex and was used as an adjective or an insult.

When conservatives and liberals joined forces to complain about the vulgarity of pop music lyrics, the majority of America yawned. Now we have Presidential candidates who feel that the most effective way to make their point is to spit out a four-letter word. It is indeed a slippery slope, and we are sliding hastily to the bottom.

[billorites]

Time for Lieberman to play catch-up by saying "Heck."

[sauropod]

Dang!

[fml]

It has always been taught to youngsters that profanity is a sign of a weak argument if not a weak mind, and it's true.

[HiTech RedNeck]

That's "h***inahandcart" to you.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Apparently we have. The Federal Communication Commission ruled in October that the f-word could be spoken over America’s airwaves as long as it didn’t refer to sex and was used as an adjective or an insult.

The degradation of society is lamentable alright. But it seems to me the FCC has just done what Webster's New International Dictionary had done for decades.

[Snake65]

Ay-Carumba!

[COBOL2Java]

Profanity is not unknown amongst our presidents. Harry Truman was known to make the air quite blue in the White House. And Richard Nixon was no stranger to the four-letter word. What is different this time around is how they are bringing it out into public discourse. And who better than the Democrats to lead the way?

[sauropod]

;-)

[Maelstrom]

It is time to use the names of these miscreants as substitutes...at least until the election.

It's time to expose these Clymers for the Kerrywits they are. We do not need to take any Clark from these Kerrying idiots.

[Ole Okie]

Loveable Jimmy Carter, Saint Jimmah Carter, addressing the threat that Submarine Commander Edward Milhous Kennedy would enter the primary aganist him:

"I'll whip his ass!"

That was 1976.

Jimmah also contributed to the coarsening of the presidensity.

And now you know the REST of the story.

[Montfort]

And we are not gullible enough to fall for a bunch of Barbara Streisand.

[Ole Okie]

Correction: Jimmah Cahtah uttered these words in the 1980 primary season.

(Slaps own wrist)

[Poohbah]

I don't want to hear any more f***ing profanity.

[InterceptPoint]

Have we debased our language to the extent that there simply are no more lines that are understood to be uncrossable in front of the children?

Long ago.

Hollywood got it's way. Just watch films from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and you will see a clear progression in popular films from the very very rare if ever use of what in my house is unacceptable language to the a not untypical use of the f-word several hunderd times in a single movie.

The rating system was the mechanism for this transition. Once Hollywood promised to keep G movies clean they were given carte blanc to juice up the R films with racy language. They then proceeded to make 100 R rated films for every one that was rated G and convert a 70's R to a 90's PG. A sad state of affairs. The American Mother (bless her) is partly responsible for demanding such a stupid system to "protect the children". Well, they are not getting much protection are they? The TV rating system is, as predicted, delivering the same result and the mommy-Hollywood Axis of Evil is to blame in this case as well.

[monocle]

The peons Clark and Kerry are clearing the way for Hillary to be herself. Hillary, from what I have read, has an unparalleled foul mouth.

[j_tull]

Welcome to FR, newbie

[Maelstrom]

Bush has never been public with profanity unlike your guys.

So dig in and suck it up.

[Glenn]

Yes, and anyone who believes that has never been called a "Major league a--hole" by the President.

Mr. President believes in truth at all times, as demonstrated with this utterance.