From ancient byways to modern highways, glimpses of faith are everywhere...

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Limbaugh vs. Maher: Personal fouls


If life were a game (and some swear that it is), then contact with other players could be greatly enhanced by some basic rules of civility.

Those biblically inclined might pipe in just about now and exclaim:  “But we already have Ten Commandments!”  Perhaps, then, an Eleventh should be added:  Thou shalt not engage in profane name calling…  Those philosophically inclined might then offer this commentary:  But isn’t all
‘name calling’ – in a sense – profane?

If by “name calling” we’re referring to “Bob” and “Sue” and “Billy” – then no…  But if by “name calling” we’re referring to such terms as “stupid” and “crazy” – then those “s” and “c” words can be every bit as damaging
as the ones that have been making headlines lately on both sides of the political fence.

Wikipedia explains that the Latin word “profane” originally meant “in front of” or “outside the temple” – and referred to “items not belonging to the church.”  In everyday usage, it once sounded something like this:   “Although the monastery predates it, the fort is the oldest profane building in town.”  Because things (in this case, literally) that were outside the church began to be associated with “secular indifference” or with “desecrating what is holy” - the word “profane” began to take on a sinister character.  In today’s society, the term “profanity” has become practically synonymous with “a show of disrespect, a desecration or debasement of someone or something…”

Using words that have been commonly deemed “foul language” in order to describe someone therefore falls (way down) into the modern-day category of “profanity.”  Doing so in the media makes it all the more intense.  The fine line between freedom of expression and freedom to bully seems somewhat blurred insofar
as profanity is concerned.

What instead seems perfectly clear is that these “personal fouls” are a poor substitute for logic, reason, and – dare we say – inspirational examples of leadership.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion/msg/c688d30bd5e8356a?pli=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_foul_(basketball)

Copyright March 6, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved 









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