In the ongoing 'crisis' of standards of the dKos community which has been brought about by Jeffrey Feldman's
diary about the use of "profanity" in diary titles, there was an exchange in a
different diary that resulted which I think underscores some of the problems with language, context, perspective, and the free-exchange of views in the everyday vernacular.
The odd thing is that I actually agree to some extent how some of the comments and diaries which are simply the venting of anger, without much more than the crude expression of rage is not to productive in the furtherance of political discourse, or the cliched act of "winning hearts and minds." But when I posed a simple, and I posit more important question to Jeff in that thread...
continued below the fold
Which is the more obscene word?
War or fuck?
His
reply and that
of others inadvertently revealed some major problems I see with language, and how it has been grossly cheapened and abused in our culture. That abuse coming not from "curse words" or "bad language", but rather the lack of scope or appreciation of meaning and context within our anesthetized culture and the language used within it.
This is not to castigate Jeff personally, or anyone else, but rather a jumping off point. Some have claimed that the question I posed in all seriousness was insulting, condescending, childish, etc. I posit it is none of those things, and it most certainly was not my intent.
I ask that question because what does it say about our culture, and our language when the word fuck, which at its core comes from the act of sex, which to many can be the most personal, loving, joyous act people can engage in, and can and is the literally wellspring of life, is "obscene". Yet the word war, which is the ugliest, most horrific thing we as humans engage in is a word which garners no such castigation.
"We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write "fuck" on their airplanes because it's obscene!" -- Col. Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, Apocalypse Now
Yes I understand that the context of using fuck as a derogatory curse word is not meant in the same way that a loving couple engaged in coitus means, and is rooted in the darker aspects of male sexual aggression and subjugation. When we say "fuck you" we are not saying let's make love. It means, however abstracted or metaphorical, "rape you". The irony of which, is that such forms of sexual abuse and degradation are often a part of war itself. Witness Abu Gharib, which is not an isolated incident. This sort of thing has a long and sordid past reaching back to the beginning of recorded history.
Yet this phobia and simultaneous fixation on "bad words" in our culture is not only something that extends far beyond the confines of this web log or even the internet(s). I posit that this schizophrenic and unhealthy hierarchy of which words are "bad" and which are "good" are part of the vestigial puritanical roots as a culture. Not that there has ever been a fully healthy culture when it comes to sex and violence and how a culture expresses such things.
But to me it is truly amazing when one steps back and looks at what words hold visceral impact and are deemed "obscene" vs. what words, which can be the label for some of the most horrific things we humans can do, are not deemed obscene.
It is to my mind extremely ironic that in this "culture of life" that words which represent these monumental atrocious acts are used as "noble" policy of a nation. "War on drugs", "war on poverty", "war on terror" even the "war of words" are nothing. We can sing of war on the radio (both cryptically pro or con), or even overtly within the title of songs... yet if we speak of "let's fuck" well... that is beyond all "decency".
As Carlin brilliantly pointed out, we think in language and the quality of our thoughts can only be as good as the quality of our language. That we revile some words for the most ridiculous, nonsensical reasons, while letting words which represent the most vile aspects of human behavior go without social proscription is the real obscenity. That is also at the root of my question that I put to Jeff.
Yet somehow this is insulting for me to do? This is a question not worthy of an answer, or even serious discussion?
To me that proposition, that such a question is rude, condescending, not serious, etc. is emblematic of exactly how wrong and how far of rails our social discourse has become. Again, I am not attacking Jeff or others personally by saying that. We are all awash in the popular culture and the social mores and "norms" therein and I actually agree with the motive of his putting this issue out there, that we should seek to bring as many as we can into the public debate on the issues of the day.
However it is also far too easy for some to categorize, and dismiss such pointed observations by saying "well Carlin and others like him are comedians"... as if that somehow negates the validity of the proposition that there should be no sacred cows when it comes to language. Or that because such people eek out a living which we see mainly as "entertainment", that the perspective they present, the type of reflection the mirror they hold up for society to see itself with is mearly surface fluf, and since we laugh it makes it trivial or acceptable. I think that dismissing such observations is the flawed and truly the lazy thinking, not the use if "cuss words". Satire, can and when it is good, is often a powerful and meaningful commentary on culture. Of course I am no George Carlin nor pretend to be. I could only wish to have such comedic talent
It has also once been said that we have a hard enough time effectively communicating with the limited number of words we have in our language, banning some words only makes it harder. That is a sentiment that I agree with.
But comedy and those who are "entertainers" can be the best and most evocative points of entry into exploring, and hopefully changing the face of our culture for the better.
When Bono gave his "fucking brilliant" comment at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards. The FCC has reopened the case on "obscene language". Bono's response is sound. "For me, it is preposterous to have good, conservative people whom I like and respect taking on an expletive while the right to pack heavy ammo goes by. It says something eloquent, if not pretty, about where we are."
So while I understand full well what Jeff and others objections are about the use of cuss words in diary titles and/or content, and as I said, I am actually sympathetic to their points in many ways I say, and with all due respect... fuck that.