D
DeniseR
Guest
We just spent a week with our entire family (our family, sister’s family, brother’s family & my parents) out of town for a wedding.
My brother-in-law constantly uses J**** C***** and G** in vain. His teenage girls also use the tems constantly. We were in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in front of the Cathedral were palm readers. While one in the group was having her palm read others were watching and taking it all in. However, my mom and I wanted to see the Cathedral. My bil and brother and sister refused to enter because they are athiests. My mom mentioned to me that she was surprised my bil didn’t want to enter since he talks about God all the time.
Later, on the way back to the hotel from the wedding. I was driving a van load of family members, including my bil. He was complaining about the “hoity toity dressy” wedding (to which he wore a brand new pair of blue jeans for the occassion) and using JC and G** as he usually does. I guess it was after hearing it all week I couldn’t take it any longer. Finally I said, “Would you please stop taking the Lord’s name in vain?” He said it’s just a word and doesn’t mean anything. I responded by saying that it does to some of us and was very offensive used in that way and could he please try to find another word to use. I didn’t hear him use it any more during the trip.
My brother-in-law constantly uses J**** C***** and G** in vain. His teenage girls also use the tems constantly. We were in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in front of the Cathedral were palm readers. While one in the group was having her palm read others were watching and taking it all in. However, my mom and I wanted to see the Cathedral. My bil and brother and sister refused to enter because they are athiests. My mom mentioned to me that she was surprised my bil didn’t want to enter since he talks about God all the time.
Later, on the way back to the hotel from the wedding. I was driving a van load of family members, including my bil. He was complaining about the “hoity toity dressy” wedding (to which he wore a brand new pair of blue jeans for the occassion) and using JC and G** as he usually does. I guess it was after hearing it all week I couldn’t take it any longer. Finally I said, “Would you please stop taking the Lord’s name in vain?” He said it’s just a word and doesn’t mean anything. I responded by saying that it does to some of us and was very offensive used in that way and could he please try to find another word to use. I didn’t hear him use it any more during the trip.
. I don’t mind swearing, but I do have a problem with blaspheming, and I’m working on that. As others have noted, other cultures, particularily European ones, use cuss words an awful lot in everyday speech, regardless of social standing. I actually think that one of the reasons it is considered “low-class” in American culture is because immigrants from Europe (often devout Catholics, mind you)generally started out at the bottom of the social ladder, and they brought their speech patterns with them to this country.
