More eloquence, less cussing needed

Obama’s speech and the Gettysburg Address: No they are not equivalent. What is relevant is exactly why all these people are ranting. The same reason Washington and Patton cussed “like troopers.” We accept Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, all the stars cussing in the movies and then we behave “properly” in circles where people don’t know us. Among friends we tell our off-color jokes and do our cussing. If that’s who you are, be like Rahm and Patton and do it in public. Let us see you in “the Light” (John 3:16-21) .

The night of Obama’s speech and that November day in Gettysburg were the same in that people were listening. The president was given an eloquent, respectful introduction, the crowd applauded in appreciation and they were finally ready and willing to listen. The introduction was accurate. Obama is all the things the college president included in his introduction of our chief executive. Obama delivered and nobody (save fools like Sarah Palin) would have the hubris to take a knife to the speech. It was, to say the least, eloquent, poignant and accurate.

A few months back I was speaking to my mother’s 70-something neighbor. Mom is 85. My mother hates when I get cussing. She doesn’t have iPods, computers, Rick Santelli and 24/7 news cycles to scream over. The neighbor dropped the “f” word. I called her on it. She said, “Frank, until you drop the “f” word in this country, nobody listens.” She is generally a very civil, pleasant and respectful lady.

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46). For God’s sake, why don’t we just behave?

Frank Kowynia

Schaumburg