Dave Hall wrote:
On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 07:49:35 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Dave Hall wrote:
On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 20:02:21 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:


Who has criticized the networks? Besides jps, that is. You mean to say
that a decent movie about war can be made *without* foul language?

Save those facetious questions for someone else, John. Movies without that
language were made at a point in history when the country was still living a
fairy tale existence. But, they can still be historically accurate in their
own way.


So you feel that when we lived in a time of greater respect, and
consideration for other people, and had better manners, that was
living a "fairy tale" existence?

You obviously are not well-read. The language to which you are objecting
has always been in use.

In use in places which were not considered "public". Hence the term
"locker room talk". It was considered extremely rude and impolite to
use such expletives in the presence of a lady (Of course, nowadays's,
females can trash talk with the worst of the gutter set)

Sorry, Dave, but you're wrong. Cussing precedes the establishment of
locker rooms. Your knowledge of language and how it is and has been
used simply is not based upon fact. The Romans cussed. I will admit,
however, that the first time I ever heard absolutely public utterances
of certain swear words in a political arena came about because of
Messrs. Dick Cheney and Dubya Bush.

Curse words have been with us for a long, long time, and have been in
common, public use for precisely that length of time. Cheney's favorite
cuss word is easily found in literature going back to the 15th Century,
and Chaucer, a 14th Century man, was quite ribald.

Oh...and women cussing? Probably as old as Eve.


All that really has happened is that much of
what is called "censorship" has been eliminated. In days of old, "cuss
words" were kept out of movies because of the censors, not because such
words were not being used in ordinary discourse.

If by "censors" you mean people who applied good manners, then I guess
you're right. If having respect and good manners is no longer
important, than I guess I can understand your desire to be able to
"let it all hang out" in public for all the world to see.....

No, by censorship, I mean censorship. Censorship and good manners are
not the same thing.

This only underscores my point that class, respect, and desire for
civil discourse has eroded in this country.

Dave

Class is demonstrated by deeds, respect is earned, and civil discouse in
politics went out the window with the advent of reich-wing radio.




--
A passing thought:

"Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." -- W. H.
Auden