"Membership in the family of God is neither inconsequential or something to be casually ignored. The church is God's agenda for the world. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The church is indestructable and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it."
- Rick Warren
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A good friend loaned me a copy of the book "Game Change" on CD. It is an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the presidential election of 2008. And you know what? Everybody cusses. A lot. All the time. The candidates, their spouses, their aids, their advisers, their staff, the reporters covering the campaign, everybody. I'd say that they cuss like sailors, but that wouldn't be kind to sailors. The new expression needs to be, "Cuss like a politician."
Why?
I think I've discovered that for politicians, profanity is a commonly expected part of communicating with others involved in politics. That's how they talk to each other.
I'm also currently reading "Decision Points" by George W. Bush. And you know what? I'm only on chapter 3, and there's already been two occasions where the "f-word" was a major component of a story about how politics functions "behind the scenes". Out of the public eye when the politicians are doing the mechanics behind what the public will see, they use the "f-word" as a major means of communication.
In the one scene, Bush is talking about trying to compromise on legislation with Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, and Bullock uses the "f-bomb",not as an adjective, but as a verb. In other words, it wasn't just added descriptive for emphasis, the "f-word" carried the strategic point across. And Bush deflected it with humor, but used the "f-word" right back. Let me put it another way, in order to give us an idea of the working relationship between him and Bullock, he chooses a story where he deftly turns the "f-word" around on Bullock like verbal jujitsu, and uses it right back.
Later, the "f" word is used as part of a term to negatively describe how the organization of Bush's White House is functioning.
To his credit, Bush never spells out the word, but he refers to it both times in such a way,that the reader knows what word he's referring to. And in each case, the "f-word" is essential to understanding the story he's telling, so just leaving it out wouldn't make sense.
And here's what bugs me. In both of those circumstances, Bush seems comfortable with the term. He knows enough to leave it out of the book, but in the eye-to-eye, man to man world of politics, he seems as comfortable with it as anybody. My guess is that he has to be, because that's how those people talk.
I believe that Bush is a godly Christian man. I also think that profanity is par for the course in politics. Remember those incidents where a major politician was accidentally captured by a microphone uttering profanity? Cheney, Clinton, Bush, McCain, Kerry and many more have all been caught. Guess what... I don't think those were just occasional slips. That's how those people talk to each other when the public isn't listening.
Again I'll ask, "Why?"
Here's my guess: I think that's how the world talks, and I'm just sheltered because I hang out with church people. And when I'm not with church people, people watch their language around me because I'm a pastor. For those of you who live out in the real world, what's it like? Is it 24/7 profanity? Or is that just for sailors, construction workers and politicians?
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Comments on "Politicians Have Potty Mouths":
2. Chris Blackstone
- 01/12/2011 7:43 am CST
At my job, there is quite a bit of swearing, but when in meetings people will apologize in front of me for swearing, even though I've never said anything about it. I'm assuming they do that cause they know I go to church and am a prospective church planter. I'm somewhat amused by it.
3. Raindream
- 01/12/2011 7:50 am CST
Isn't it interesting that in the context of all of this foul language use Rahm Emanuel was said to be the foulest mouth of all? So much of this is relative to the speaker or even speaker's own spin. There's a lot of pressure on Capitol Hill, and barely any of it is positive. No wonder people use language.
And of course people watch themselves around you, Phil. I mean pastors can zap you. Get on a pastor's wrong side and KaBlam! He will smote us with the rod of Ebeneezer!
4. Quaid
- 01/12/2011 8:08 am CST
"I think that's how the world talks"
I tend to think that's the key contributing factor. Having worked briefly doing bill analysis at the Texas state capitol, I can say that not everyone is like that behind the scenes. Still, there were, at times, stories of incidents that left me wondering how far closer to Sodom and Gomorrah the capitol was than a shining city on a hill.
What I'm saying is that it's not just language that characterizes the politician lifestyle (and their staffs), but sex, drinking, etc. There are, in my opinion, a few contributing factors to such a culture, at least with the state of Texas, since this is where the illustration is sourced:
1. Time: the State legislature meets for six months every two years. If something important needs to get done, it has to get done within a relatively narrow time frame, absent a special session called by the Governor. This means long days, short nights, little sleep, high stress, etc. (especially towards the end of session). Little sleep, high stress, etc. lead to poor decision-making on a micro scale, so things like proper word choice get thrown out the window. Bullock was a governmental genius (really) and probably could have made his point better (although I am not aware of the specific incident) without resorting such terminology.
2. Cowboy spirit. For lack of a better term, there's just something about the culture of cowboy that drives politics in the State of Texas. Extremely independent, blunt to the point of excess and a certain ribald manner that saturates every office of the legislature, (even the women).
3. Money. There is so much money that surrounds the process in Austin, I would hate to see what DC is like on a normal basis. And we know that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. There are a lot of people who love a lot of money in Texas' state government.
All in all - our government is of the people and, as you surmised, "that's how the world talks." There are probably other contributing factors, but time, money and the Cowboy culture, I think, probably have the most sway when it comes to brass-tacks conversations.
5. BiF
- 01/12/2011 8:55 am CST
It is how the world speaks and interacts. So much so that it is claimed that the language has lost it's meaning. Which begs the question, why use it then?
I've worked at newspapers nearly all of my adult life, I'm 53, and spent much time on college campuses. Cursing is common in both places. Particularly campuses.
6. Dave
- 01/12/2011 9:51 am CST
One of the most popular posts I've ever done on my blog was about this issue. I pastor a church and I have people cuss in front of me from time to time. They "slip" when they are talking, and it doesn't bother me in any kind of personal sense. I am not personally offended by foul language. If they cuss in front of my kids, then I have something to say about that. And if it's overbearing, I deal with it. But I grew up with it in the neighborhood and no one is going to say anything I haven't heard before.
I see it kind of two ways. 1. If someone cusses in front of me, it probably means that they have become relaxed enough around me to be honest, which is a good thing, in it's way. They aren't trying so hard to hide who they really are. BUT, 2. If someone doesn't have control over their mouth, with cussing or gossip or a lot of other mouth issues, it seriously limits their place in church leadership, etc. You can't have someone cussing at people in a church setting, just like politicians and teachers and service industry people are usually smart enough to know not to cuss in public.
I suppose my feeling on it is that cussing has developed into such a prominent aspect of our language because we've lost the art of truly communicating with words that matter. These days having a good vocabulary makes a person an object of ridicule. And if you're going to communicate with people, you have to seriously consider the fact that people are very ignorant about language.
There are some movie scripts that nearly half the screen time is taken up by cussing, which is pretty easy money, and these films often have very little to say of any import.
It's more of a cultural thing than anything else, and a sign of deeper problems. If someone knows enough to not cuss at school or in public or among other church people, then they're showing they could refrain from it, but they are choosing not to because they don't really believe there's anything wrong with it. But if cussing qualifies as "unwholesome talk" (Eph. 4:29 "rotten, rot") then it is as wrong as any other wrong.
7. Deacontrek
- 01/12/2011 10:34 am CST
Oh my is it EVER a public thing. I was heavily involved in various parent things with my sons' school sports and music and had my ears burned on MOST occasions and not seldom by the teenagers. The f-word is as often used as words like "THE" and "AND" and in the teen culture "Like". The high school principal was especially adept with curse words. Many, maybe most parents that I was involved with in these settings had no problem using that kind of language as well (most likely why the teens were so free with using it). I was raised differently than that and I personally don't use anything more harsh than "crap" or "dang" and those very rarely at that, so like Chris many would apologize to me after using the language (though not the teens).
9. Bobbi
- 01/12/2011 12:30 pm CST
My daughter wouldn't let me volunteer for the PTA basketball game snack booth when she was in high school because she knew what I would say if I heard anyone using bad language. If they use the Lord's name in vain I let them know that Jesus is a friend of mine and could they use another expression?
10. nhe
- 01/13/2011 7:43 am CST
Its funny, I've been married to my wife 25 years and I've never heard her swear out loud.
I think that's kind of a badge of honor for her, because it is such an anomaly. It's not like she's not around it all the time - she teaches in public middle-school. She says those words have just never come to her mind - which is amazing.
I don't have a huge problem with it when I hear it, except for the c-word, which I find highly disrespectful to women - I can't tolerate it.
I just find it generally to be a poor way for people to express themselves. I can't really call it a lack of self-control though, because I think that a lot of people just have a different mental grid than I do.
If you grow up in South Boston, you're likely (I think) to sound like the guys in "Good Will Hunting" - I think it really is just that prevalent there and that much a part of that culture.
As for taking the Lord's name in vain - I disagree Bobbi - I don't think that's the intention of the commandment. Andy Stanley has a very interesting sermon on that verse - he says that "taking the Lord's name in vain" means giving Him (by name) credit for something he had nothing to do with - like putting a picture of a Cadillac on your refrigerator and praying that God would give it you. He doesn't work that way, and its taking His name in vain to act as if He does. I like this interpretation of the verse a lot better, because I don't think Jesus is alarmed when he hears his name exclaimed in this way. It is disrespectful, I agree, but I don't think God would have me call people on it, unless they're my children.
11. damien
- 01/13/2011 8:44 am CST
one thing i can tell you is that prior to my very dramatic conversion i was a man of unclean lips. i thought nothing of it. when i was born again in 1974 my speech changed. people noticed. my outlook changed and my speech changed. i think it was supernatural.
scripture addresses this issue very directly. anyone who is striving to be pleasing to god and holy in life will be convicted and earnest about what comes out of his mouth, not merely the words, but the thoughts and statements as well. this is one of many ways that christians should be standing apart. we are the "called-out ones."
12. damien
- 01/15/2011 12:03 pm CST
and these signs shall follow them that believe; they shall speak with new tongues.
-mark 16:17
13. Drusilla
- 02/19/2011 7:43 pm CST
A friend just introduced me to your blog & I plan to return when I can & hope to attend the Gospel Wakefulness Conference in April. I've only lived in Houston for 6 1/2 months & the people I've encountered rarely curse, use foul language or take the Lord's Name in vain (by that I mean, when they use the Lord's Name, they really mean it -- so, "Oh, my God!" really is a cry to God.) Perhaps that's because most of the people I've met here are involved in the Church in one way or another. I moved here from NYC & there, the "F" word as well as cursing & all sorts of foul language including using the Lord's Name as if it is common & meaningless are used so frequently it's painful & exhausting. I literally feel I can relax here in TX because I will not be assaulted by foul language. (I worked in law & fashion & also taught dance, often to teenage students - I had to teach them that certain language was not acceptable while I taught them to dance.)
I do believe it is acceptable to use foul language when writing dialogue for a character that would speak/think that way & on those occasions when an expletive is appropriate because it is the only language that will be understood. But, in general, foul language is an assault on the human person & using the Lord's Name in vain is always a reduction of His majesty: it causes us to love Him less, to devalue Him. We might not realize it at the time but using His Name in vain harms our soul. In Europe, particularly in countries such as France & Spain, the use of foul language & using the Lord's Name in vain is common in all levels of intercourse & that is more & more true in the US as well. (I have been told that language in Canada is cleaner.)
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I remember being taken aback by Bush's response to Bullock when I read that part.
I've known for years, though, that Bush wasn't opposed to dropping f-bombs (if the papers can be believed), but it wasn't totally confirmed in my mind until I started reading Decision Points.
Bono is not opposed either. So there's got to be a correlation there.
Oh, neither is that little dude from A Christmas Story.
So there's a lot of that going around.