What the....!?!?!

I swear like a sailor.  I try to tone it down on here because this is a blog focused on children's literature.  However, in real life, my language is a lot more colorful.  I've heard two opposite opinions on the use of foul language.  I get it when people say that there are better ways to express yourself, that choosing swear words is lazy, etc., etc.  But goddammit sometimes the best words are the kind that come in only 4 letters. Last weekend at the Horn Book Colloquium, Andrew Smith addressed the use of "profanity" in his book Grasshopper Jungle.  His point of view, and one that I strongly support, is that words are not bad.  It is the way words are used that make them bad.  He argued that words like ugly, stupid, idiot, etc, were far worse than shit, damn, and fuck.

Today, I saw this new advertisement from FCKH8.  It has the same basic idea.  Yes, the "f-word" is a "bad" word.  But their list of words that are far worse include "pay inequality" "rape and violence" and "be pretty."  (Sorry grammar friends, just couldn't figure out the commas there.)  I'm with 'em.  I could probably clean up my language but is that really important?  Am I using those words in a detrimental way?  Maybe I am.  Maybe I should stand up for equal rights and use words that are less offensive to some. Or maybe society does need to take a look at where our priorities lie.  I could start a list of other things that would take a higher spot on that list than curse words. How about finding value in education?  Let's talk about class in America.  Who gives a crap what words I use when there are kids who, from the moment they are born, are dealt a pretty shitty hand in life?  Knowwhatimean?  Or not. What do you think?


This video reminded me of the book The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch.  And this is a blog about books really.  So let's talk about that.  Have you read this?  Elizabeth and Ronald are a happy prince and princess couple until a fire-breathing dragon destroys everything, including Elizabeth's princess clothes, and takes Ronald off to his lair.  Elizabeth, through her brains and cunning, thwarts the dragon and saves Ronald.  His response?  

"Elizabeth!  You are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag.  Come back when you are dressed like a real princess."

To which Elizabeth responds by telling Ronald to fuck off.  Well, she calls him a bum.  Could/should/would Robert Munsch have included a different word? I mean, we all know what she really meant. *wink

Ronald is about to get what is coming to him.