Okay, David, Kim and Rob... I know I haven't done this in a while... I know... but I'm coming back with an "in your face" kind of post! Not sure why after all these months I'm starting here, with this thought, but what the heck... here it goes...
As a high school teacher, I have to deal with swearing all the time. I categorize swear words into 2 groups: 1. hateful/hurtful and 2. emotive adjectives that ARE NOT meant to be hateful or hurtful. I tell my students they are not allowed to use hateful words in my class- thus, their homework is not "gay" because that would mean homework=gay=stupid=gay people are stupid. No. Even if they don't mean it this way, it is hate talk at the core... and it will never be okay in my class. However, I also explain to them that our language is amazing, beautiful, fun and one of our greatest gifts... so they better not abuse it. I tell them that if they overuse the "F" word on any given day, "F-ing weather- F-ing teacher- F-ing homework" that when they get home and slam their finger in the car door, the most essential word- the only one that really allows for any relief of the pain, much less can fully encompass the gravity of the moment, has lost its power... words are like that... if you overuse them, they lose their potency. I NEED the "F" word for certain moments in my life... but I save it for when I REALLY need it. Then, when it is the ONLY word that my brain can wrap itself around, everyone around me knows the serious nature of the moment. I like that. I like the "F" word... it, like so many things has its place and time...
Last night we went to an AMAZING one-man-band-concert by Matt Barnhart of Green is for Go at The Station restaurant here in town. During the evening, he had driven from Eugene (2 1/2 hour drive) to Rogue River, locked his keys and all his instruments in the car... then realized he'd also locked his belt (desperately needed to keep up his pants) in the car as well. He began with a small, quiet crowd, on borrowed instruments and with no mic or amplifier... and he was amazing. Funny, talented, and full of musical brilliance, he amazed us all... then the guys got his car unlocked, and brought out his stuff... he introduced us to his violin- the one he just bought in Spain because he wanted to learn to play violin... he had carted it down because he'd learned a song on it... his first song: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"... and as we listened to the beginning violinist, we all felt he was brave for doing this in front of an audience; still, (you might be wondering where the swearing part of this story comes in...) the best moment sounded something like this: acoustical version of Mary Had a Little Lamb- sing it in your head, "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow..." then he slammed his kick drum and yelled "M*ther F*cker!"... and somehow... it was glorious... we all laughed with him and revelled in the frustration, resolution and celebration that is everyday of our lives.
