Do words define who we are? The adage states: “Actions speak louder than words!” – that’s true in and of itself – but words are the expression of what most readily comes to mind for one to say. Words – our Dictionaries contain more than 450,000 of them. It is the way one verbally communicates with others in a constructive, cogent and discernible manner. How did profanity become the acceptable language of our day?
CMI (Culture and Media Institute) in a report by Nathan Burchfiel on June 7th, 2010 regarding the MTV Awards Program uses this sub-headline: “Music Network’s Movie Award Show Features 100 Swears In 122 Minutes.” The article contains the following: “Ready to make the censors’ ears bleed? That’s how Anna Kendrick summed up MTV’s attitude toward decency June 6 during the network’s annual Movie Awards broadcast. It wasn’t just the censors who endured a two-hour swear-fest. The television audience had the pleasure of hearing 30 percent of the vulgarities uttered throughout the night. A Culture and Media Institute review found the 122-minute show littered with at least 100 bleep-worthy words – that’s more than one per minute not including commercials…The network’s censors caught 70 curses…It would be difficult for MTV to claim these were accidental. The show seemed obsessed with using offensive language…” The response by MTV is contained in the following: “Update - The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that MTV has apologized. In a statement, the network said the show is a live televised event known for irreverent comedy and a party atmosphere where our guests speak more freely than they otherwise might…We sincerely apologize to those in our audience who were offended by any objectionable words that might have slipped by [the censors] for the live airing. The statement conspicuously lacks any pledge to tone down future shows.”
Moving from The Entertainment World to The Political Culture, there are critics of the President who state that he appears too cool and aloof – such as the BP issue in the Gulf of Mexico – and that he should show more emotion. How does that statement resonate in the President’s mind? How best can he - will he display more emotion? Will it be by his actions? Will it be based on his determination to remedy that which has been a failure for the past 51 days in the Gulf environmental debacle and disaster? What would you do to show you are “tough” when that is the order of the day? How does the culture respond when it wants to be seen as “tough” in the circumstances and situations of life? One has a glimpse of the attempt of the President in an Associated Press Release for today, June 8th by Tom Raum. Their headline (slightly edited by this Blog writer): “Obama Talks Tough On Spill; Derrieres In Peril.” The report states: “President Barack Obama says his talks with Gulf fishermen and oil spill experts are not an academic exercise. They're so I know whose derriere to kick. One target for the presidential foot: Tony Hayward, the embattled chief executive of BP. Obama was asked by Matt Lauer of NBC's Today about Hayward's past comments that: I want my life back, that the Gulf was a big ocean and that the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to be very, very modest. He wouldn't be working for me after any of those statements, Obama said, according to excerpts released by NBC. The interview was to air Tuesday. NBC aired portions and put out some excerpts Monday night. It was part of a stepped-up White House effort to show Obama is actively engaged in dealing with the worst oil spill in the nation's history, and to distance itself from the London-based oil giant…” Is that valid emoting? Is that toughness?
Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) states: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” The NIV renders it: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” The President is a man who loves to “talk” and does it well – but rhetoric is a far cry from practical action. There is an old Hymn that contained a lyric: “What you are – Speaks so loud – the world can’t hear what you say! They’re looking at your walk – not listening to your talk…” The enjoinders of Scripture are: “Speak the truth in love…let your yes, be yes and your no, be no…respond with kindness – not anger…” Ecclesiastes 5:2 teaches: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Consider these things with me!
CMI (Culture and Media Institute) in a report by Nathan Burchfiel on June 7th, 2010 regarding the MTV Awards Program uses this sub-headline: “Music Network’s Movie Award Show Features 100 Swears In 122 Minutes.” The article contains the following: “Ready to make the censors’ ears bleed? That’s how Anna Kendrick summed up MTV’s attitude toward decency June 6 during the network’s annual Movie Awards broadcast. It wasn’t just the censors who endured a two-hour swear-fest. The television audience had the pleasure of hearing 30 percent of the vulgarities uttered throughout the night. A Culture and Media Institute review found the 122-minute show littered with at least 100 bleep-worthy words – that’s more than one per minute not including commercials…The network’s censors caught 70 curses…It would be difficult for MTV to claim these were accidental. The show seemed obsessed with using offensive language…” The response by MTV is contained in the following: “Update - The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that MTV has apologized. In a statement, the network said the show is a live televised event known for irreverent comedy and a party atmosphere where our guests speak more freely than they otherwise might…We sincerely apologize to those in our audience who were offended by any objectionable words that might have slipped by [the censors] for the live airing. The statement conspicuously lacks any pledge to tone down future shows.”
Moving from The Entertainment World to The Political Culture, there are critics of the President who state that he appears too cool and aloof – such as the BP issue in the Gulf of Mexico – and that he should show more emotion. How does that statement resonate in the President’s mind? How best can he - will he display more emotion? Will it be by his actions? Will it be based on his determination to remedy that which has been a failure for the past 51 days in the Gulf environmental debacle and disaster? What would you do to show you are “tough” when that is the order of the day? How does the culture respond when it wants to be seen as “tough” in the circumstances and situations of life? One has a glimpse of the attempt of the President in an Associated Press Release for today, June 8th by Tom Raum. Their headline (slightly edited by this Blog writer): “Obama Talks Tough On Spill; Derrieres In Peril.” The report states: “President Barack Obama says his talks with Gulf fishermen and oil spill experts are not an academic exercise. They're so I know whose derriere to kick. One target for the presidential foot: Tony Hayward, the embattled chief executive of BP. Obama was asked by Matt Lauer of NBC's Today about Hayward's past comments that: I want my life back, that the Gulf was a big ocean and that the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to be very, very modest. He wouldn't be working for me after any of those statements, Obama said, according to excerpts released by NBC. The interview was to air Tuesday. NBC aired portions and put out some excerpts Monday night. It was part of a stepped-up White House effort to show Obama is actively engaged in dealing with the worst oil spill in the nation's history, and to distance itself from the London-based oil giant…” Is that valid emoting? Is that toughness?
Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) states: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” The NIV renders it: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” The President is a man who loves to “talk” and does it well – but rhetoric is a far cry from practical action. There is an old Hymn that contained a lyric: “What you are – Speaks so loud – the world can’t hear what you say! They’re looking at your walk – not listening to your talk…” The enjoinders of Scripture are: “Speak the truth in love…let your yes, be yes and your no, be no…respond with kindness – not anger…” Ecclesiastes 5:2 teaches: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Consider these things with me!
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