America's Profanity Epidemic

Today,I saw an article by a so-called sports writer that was peppered with uses of the " a " word for the human posterior,or behind. He thought he was being funny. I am not amused. I am sure many other people are not amused either. It shows that America is in a language crisis. Words that once appeared only on bathroom walls and were confined to locker rooms have invaded and hijacked the "mainstream" media, as Hollywood and the "entertainment" culture constantly bombard the American public with filth,including plenty of sex, lots of violence,and generous helpings of profanity that would make a sailor blush. Even the Vice President of the United States shamelessly used the " f " word at a news conference earlier this year. Nobody can turn on the public airwaves anymore,radio and TV,without being bombarded by almost constantly crude and profane language. CBS has a new sitcom premiering this fall titled "(Bleep) My Dad".

The decline in morality,civility,and public decency has been hastened by the open use of vulgarities in today's society. When my parents were young,if a child swore,that child was punished for doing so. Even when moral values started declining during my childhood in the 1970s, we still had standards and discipline. During the filming of "Gone With The Wind" in 1939, the producers and the studio had to obtain special permission from Hollywood's self-governing standards and practices board to let Clark Gable use the " d " word. Profanity was not widely used in movies until the late 1960s,when the Motion Picture Association of America adopted the rating system used today, and opened the door for sex,violence,and profanity in movies.

Thank God there are people who are out to do something about the decline in decency and civility. McKay Hatch,a California youth,started the No Cussing Club when he grew tired of the widespread use of profanity at the school he attended. The NCC has grown rapidly and has members around the world,including myself. Other excellent organizations I highly recommend are the American Family Association, the Parents Television Council, and Morality In Media.

We should enthusiastically support these organizations that are working to restore America's moral and civil values.