As a writer, I consider words, all words, tools of my trade. "Bad" words do not offend me. A "bad" word, to me, is a word used against another human being or animal to disrespect or degrade them.
I am offended when I hear God or Jesus’ name taken disrespectfully. All other words have a time and a place.
Words taken out of time and place are another matter. Thus, I found the Letter to the Editor (below) expressed my feelings exactly. I suspect I am not alone. It is a reprint from an email I get from Andy Andrews, a favorite speaker/author, of mine.
Letter to the Editor:Blue Ribbon Letter: Plenty of bombs during WWII, but they weren’t F-bombs
Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010, 5:27 AM
I am an 88-year-old veteran of World War II who served proudly with the 1st Marine Division in Okinawa and China.
As I viewed the recent series, "Pacific," on HBO, I was angry and embarrassed at the constant use of the F-word while depicting Marines in battle.
I went into the front line in Okinawa on May 9, 1945, with the 1st Marine Division. The fighting could only be described as pure hell. I never heard the F-word.
We lost 70 of our 160 men in one push. I never heard the F-word. During six days of vicious fighting at Kunishi Ridge, I never heard the F-word.
It may be commonplace for people to use that word nowadays, but it was not commonplace during the 1940s (when most everyone went to church on Sundays). I resent the fact that modern movies shed a disrespectful light on the Marines and those of us who were actually there.
We have been called the "greatest generation" and given Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. We are not the generation who spoke the F-word in every other sentence — even when in battle.
Help me set the record straight for history.
H. PAUL BAILEY
Reprinted from Al.com
http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2010/06/blue_ribbon_letter_plenty_of_bombs_during_wwii_but_they_werent_f-bombs.html
