Persona

Jeremiah wrote often of the voice of the Lord and the people.  His shepherds and owners of the flocks appear to have sworn at the weather. It was part of their response to God in a cultural practice.  To find the equilibrium each person ought to have, and from which that person lives and works there ought to be a conscious understanding of one’s own tolerances and boundaries in which he or she lives and functions.  It surprises me that the pattern seems to be foreign even to many well educated professionals.  When I am asked my opinion of current society as it may be related to that which I knew in my formative years, my answer is always the same: In some factors and ways it is better, and in some factors and ways it has declined.  That will always be the answer that opens the subject for discussion – or ought to be the background of understanding.  Perhaps I can illustrate with reference to the uses of language.

I was taught, both in secular and divine contexts that swear words were taboo.  My mother would not permit such language in our home.  Our roomers and boarders so respected her and with some concern for developing children that I never heard a swear word in the context of our home.  I did, as I grew older, catch those words from some of the men roomers when they were outside our home.  The episodes were few, but striking to my remembrance and caused some rearrangement in my young mind for the men.  They seemed a bit different after the episodes.  The difference was not complimentary to them.

The radio, films, published materials avoided the use of the four-letter words.  If some forbidden word was necessary to the presentation in print we might see something like #e/xxx representing the unprintable word.  The first influential crack in the code was the closing line uttered by Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) in the film, Gone With the Wind.  The matter was major one for the censors, but permitted in that it was taken as a vital line that would have happened in serious life, giving force to the scene.  I have watched the changes to the present day from that period in 1940, over 75 years ago at this editing.  What has become the style since?  In the last week I have read a major magazine with an admirable history that uses in a number of citations, words that are offensive to a great many persons in the culture we share.  I have been reviewing a magazine that is touted as the best for women readers.  An author, female, uses one of the words, unnecessary to the meaning of her theme, and adding nothing for thoughtful consideration of her point.  It moves consideration of her point, honesty, from mental treatment of her point to an emotional feeling about it.

I have read studies in the use of swear words, and oaths.  They deal with humanistic terms in swearing and religious terms in oaths, both relating to a negative accent.  The conclusion is that in the materials reviewed there are represented lesser values, uncertain meanings, mixed clarity of thought, and other negatives.  Nothing seems to favor them, except a sense of freedom that the person has said or written what the speaker/author wants to appear.  Any subject may be addressed in literature using language arising in respect for clarity with thoughtful learning and persuasion.  There is gutter language, cultural language, and definitive language.  The physician may use definitive language in referring to a medication given me.  I use cultural language in referring to the same things – eye drops or pain killers.  We can do everything we need to do with acceptable language.  In the film, The King’s Speech, King George’s coach at the outset of World War II, helped to reduce his stuttering problem by having the King shout strings of obscenities.  As a teacher of speech I used a similar technique that I believe served well and helped students by having them shout acceptable words that related to the sounds on which they were likely to stutter.   Does the coach reflect a sub-group permitting obscenity?  We have declined in respect for language, and its uses for the good of society.  This has not only served in word choices but in the speeding up of our delivery of words, in time of delivery including texting, so that persons take less time to think.  Much must be shortened, including that of a writer who tries to get a theme addressed on one Page, so to catch persons for a few minutes to consider each day what effective and fulfilling life, especially Christian life, can be.