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I have cleaned up my language considerably since I became a mother. I'm sure many of you are relieved to learn this. I'm not sure if it was the kids I hung out with as a young person or the influence of my older brother or entirely my own devilish spirit, but I've had a weakness for swear words for as long as I can remember. My mother often threatened to wash my mouth out with soap, but I can't remember her ever following through on the threat (unless it was so emotionally scarring that I've blanked it out.)
I remember the flap when President Bush got caught calling someone an ---hole, and Vice President Cheney got in even more trouble for using the "f" word. I remember thinking on the one hand that that was inappropriate for the leaders of our nation and on the other hand thinking too much was made of it. Now I hear the uproar over Mayor Rocky Anderson's saying "I'm going to kick you a--" to a developer at the City and County Building, and it's not the language that bothers me, but the threat.
I guess the question I'm grappling with this morning is - is there ever an acceptable time or place to swear. What about if you stub your toe? Is it OK to swear? What if your 2-year-old is in the room? Is it OK for a man to swear, but not a woman? At what age is it OK to swear? Is it OK to use a euphemism instead of the actual word - is it just the word that is bad or is the thought behind the word bad?
I guess I've always thought that swearing is a crutch displaying a lack of class and creativity. I've thought that especially when I'm the one swearing.
Oops. Grant just irritated me. That son of a **(^&$%#@!@!!! (I think I've got some work to do.)
