God is not a putz!
To the editor:
I love Aroostook County and her people. One of the things I like best about my Maine neighbors is their sensitivity to other’s feelings and beliefs.
The past few decades have seen a rapidly rising use of profanity in movies, music and other media. Myself, since I’m offended by vulgar words and the taking of God’s name in vain, I avoid as much of these as I possibly can. However, as these media are seen and heard by the populace, it seemingly has become more commonplace for people to use profanity and there seems to be no filter when it comes to doing so in public places.
It’s very disturbing to me to hear some of my fellow Aroostakans swearing or using profane words at a restaurant, an automotive repair shop or a retail store, for example. One particular instance happened in a large retail store while I was Christmas shopping in the toy department. Two men several aisles over from me loudly dropped what’s come to be called the “F-bomb.” Really, people? In a public store? In a children’s department? In a loud voice with no consideration of anyone else?
It used to be, if one had no scruples about something, they respected other people’s morals and feelings, at least in public places. One person’s right to do what they want, ends when it conflicts with another person’s right to not be exposed to it. So I would appeal to my fellow Mainiacs to curb the profanity when they’re in public.
Taking this to a spiritual level, church-going, “good” people who curse and use profane language as a matter of course. They believe that, since they confess this to a minister or priest, they’re golden and heaven-bound when nothing could be further from the truth.
They’re called the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions and one of them is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
God’s grace is amazing, but He is not a doormat. He forgives freely, but not without a sincere determination to turn away from sin, in this case vulgar, profane language.
I write this not to condemn my fellow Aroostakans but with the prayer that once you are aware of the effects your language is having on others, you will at the least keep such communications out of the public ear, so to speak. But even further, that you’ll be aware of the danger to your immortal soul and cease such language altogether. After all, it’s not necessary and it’s not cool.
Profanity – “The feeble efforts of a minute mind trying to express itself forcefully.” Let’s all endeavor to keep the pristine air in Maine squeaky clean!
Clare Kierstead
Presque Isle
