Do words count?

If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it repeatedly; words count. As a retired English and writing teacher, I’ve lost track of the times I’ve used that phrase or one that was similar in meaning. I emphasized making the words convey as accurately as possible content when you wanted the hearer or reader to understand your meaning or feeling. In a public setting, there were ways of conveying your emotions that were not acceptable, and those that were.

People were scandalized by the recorded words of a former president copied from tapes made that were never to see the light of day. The commonality of the profanity, and the frequency of the usage of words usually reserved to communicate with peers in informal settings insulted the dignity and prestige of the White House. When the symbol of American pride could be reduced to the lowest common figures of speech, something of the appreciation for that institution was lost, and respect for the position was degraded. While the criminality of that past president’s actions was, and is, still debated, I have never heard anyone defend the type and tone of the vulgar language used by those who sought to be the leaders of this country.

My grandfather’s harshest language when faced with the foulest of circumstances would be an epithet such as “Good Gravy” or maybe “Mercy Me!” While helping the pastor of my church store the storm windows for the church on the rafters in the parsonage garage, a stumble and a misplaced foot ended the life of several panes of glass on several stacked units and was accompanied by a hearty Charley Brownish, “Good Grief!”

Maybe I’m a simpleton to believe that expressing ones deepest feelings can more than adequately be accomplished without the use of language that is offensive to the listener and degrading to the speaker/writer. When the language cannot be repeated in polite company, it probably shouldn’t be used in any company because habits are hard to break. The result of this current fad to use shocking language to get attention is that there is no difference between that *(&%T@ dog that made you slow down to miss him, and the (&*^%# louse that abused your sister. Words really do matter, and worse they often show what’s on the inside of the individual.