This California fad bears repeating
They say all the weird trends start in California and work their way inward to the Midwest. If that's true, here's one West Coast fad we'll be happy to imitate.
And note this, too: It comes from a teenager.
Indeed, 15-year-old McKay Hatch managed to get his mission for cleaner conversation on the docket of the Los Angeles County Board this week, leading Supervisor Michael Antonovich to declare the first week of March "No Cussing Week." It's a darned good idea.
Not that we're offended by a little colorful dialogue now and then, but you don't have to be a pious prude to rue the ease with which vulgarities find their way into everyday conversation these days. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and wife Patti suffered a storm of sanctimonious criticism for their wiretapped vituperations, but how many of us really believe that lawmakers, talk show hosts or, to be sure, journalists are any less likely to make use of a blue adjective than, say, a much-maligned longshoreman?
Which is not to defend the former governor's - or anyone's - vulgar outburst. It is not exactly with pride that we note Blagojevich has done more for the parenthetical (bleeping) than Richard Nixon did a couple generations back for the parenthetical (expletive deleted).
So, we long ago recognized that even the highest strata of society were not immune from the crutch of vulgarity. But we've also come to accept profanity to be so commonplace that even the former so-called family hour on prime-time television is now peppered with salty words and phrases.
Sadly, profanity has become a too-handy substitute for wit and a too-frequent source of humor. Perhaps if stripped of it for a week, we might find more creative and more effective ways to express ourselves - and to respect others.
Young Hatch believes that people who talk more civilly to each other will work more effectively together to solve problems. And who can deny that speakers going out of their way to be respectful of their listeners have a better chance of winning concessions and influencing change? We have to believe that, if nothing else, the infamous memo that led Mark Metzger to step down as president of the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 board teaches the value of discretion even in - perhaps especially in - contentious discourse.
Hatch further hopes his campaign will gain momentum and expand, becoming perhaps statewide in California before spreading nation- and worldwide.
"It's not about forcing anyone to stop, just to bring awareness," he says. "If you can do a week without cussing, maybe you can do two weeks. And then maybe a month."
Well, let's not get carried away, McKay. But we do have to admit that you're on to something.
A week without swearing doesn't have to lead to a dull and colorless language, but it might just be an opportunity for us to spend more time thinking about how we can all make our words more effective, respectful and powerful.