Offensive Language
September 27th, 2006 by Larry D. Burton
Why is it that people who would never think of using a racial epithet have no problem at all using the names of dieties in exclamations? Both are equally offensive so why would anyone be sensitive to one’s racial or cultural heritage but not to one’s religious heritage? I don’t understand that.
Let me give you an example of what I mean. If I have an acquaintance that has just used a racial epithet and I say something to the effect of, “Jesus H. Christ, you can’t just go around using the “N” word.” I have shown appall at insensitivity to a race while denigrating a name that 80% of the population of the US worships. Is that right? Simple courtesy and respect of our fellow man should demand that I show at least as much respect for one’s faith as I do for one’s culture.
And where did the “H” come from in the above example?
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Hmm, never thought of that and I dont’ know where the H comes from.
Like most who use racial epithets, my colorful phrases using dieties not my own come from family raising. My Catholic babcia used to cry out “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” when truly frustrated. My father picked up “Christ on a popsickle stick” from a movie long ago… and the list goes on. Reckn I never thought about it being offensive to such as yourself because I learned it at the knee of (at least then) good Christian sorts.
Cat, there is a fine line between calling out to one’s god and using a god’s name as a profanity. All too often I find myself offended by the very people who should hold the name of Jesus dear but use it as a profanity.
A song of my youth by Steppenwolfe was often condemned for using the profanity “goddamn.” However, I never saw that as a profanity, but as a prayer. It’s all in the usage.
Late to the party here, Larry, but I’ve always heard the H stood for Holy…. “Jesus Holy Christ” could sometimes be heard in my ‘hood years ago.
Words… images… and the importance we attach to them. I reminded of the relatively recent Muslim outcry over the image of Mohammed being displayed. It’s a constant struggle to realize that the words and images which are emotionally charged for me aren’t universally recognized.
I recall my dear Chinese lover Jue replying coyly to a bewildered Christian guy who asked “Do you know Jesus Christ?”….. “No, should I? Is he cute?”
Human interaction never will assure me others will revere the things I hold sacred…. and shouldn’t. Laws cover “disturbing the peace” disruptions of church services and such, but restricting someone out there in “free society” from saying “Jesus Christ!” or “Goddamn niggers” or “Fuckin’ yuppie scum” doesn’t make us genteel and refined…. merely taciturn, which stifles interaction and communication…. which, in turn, thwarts better understanding and the natural respect for other opinions and beliefs.
Better for me to amend my offendedness than for others to amend their speech…. at least from my perspective.
I don’t want to restrict anyone’s speech. However, I have to question the rationale in people who are super sensitive to race and culture and go to the farthest means to avoid even hinting at something that could be offensive to one’s race or culture sprinkling their speech with offensive uses of popular dieties’ names.