Country Savvy

I have continued to unfollow folks on Twitter who insist on using foul language, even though I have ask them politely to not use foul language or modifications of the word that leave no doubt as to what they are saying.  But last night, I was listening to a Preacher as he delivered a great message, when he made a reference to the usage of foul language in business dealings outside the Christian world, it got me to thinking.  He had been in a class where the instructor used a wide variety of foul words.  He had ask him not to use them and was not having a lot of good results since the man could not talk a normal sentence with out the usage of curse words.  A few weeks later the Preacher ran into the man and in their conversation, the man indicated that he was trying to clean up his language.

My father had a very foul mouth, and no matter what I said or my Mother said, he just said that he had learned it early in life and would use till he died. Well, he did. It had nothing to do with anything he said, but he just could not change.  To him, it was like a smoker who cannot quit even though he knows smoking is not good for him.

In working for various people throughout the years, I was exposed to much language usage that would have been inappropriate for anyone to hear.  As a Marine, I fell into using language that was not proper. When I went to work for the  telephone company, I had to relearn how to speak without curse words when dealing with the public.  I can certainly understand how easy it is to fall into the usage and how hard it is to have to think about every word you say. Now that I have rediscovered Christ in my life, I find that language offensive.

The understanding of the proper use of the English language goes beyond our interaction with others in every day life.  How we use it, when we have a conversation, when we write a letter, and when we are alone, tells a lot about our character.  What respect do you get, what willingness to cooperate, what understanding of the conversation is gained, is all dictated on what words we use. We degrade ourselves when we use curse words. There is no circumstance to warrant the use of a curse word, there are too many none offensive words available to use in their place.  To be understood and respected as a person is one of our rights in life.  Do not forfeit that right.

While, I would encourage you to find Christ as your Saviour, I also would encourage you to use proper language in all your dealings with people, personal or professional.  You do not have to be a Christian to be a socially acceptable person, but you do need to have a mouth that speaks good of you as a person.

One last thought, when speaking in the presence of children, do you want them to sound like a garbage can mouth when they speak, it is you that learn from. It is you who will influence who they become in life.  Children are great listeners and quick learners as well. Speak only those words you want them to learn. A college education and a foul mouth leads to unfulfilled ambitions. A college education and proper usage of the English leads to enhanced achievements.  Which do you want for your children?

May God Bless you and may I only hear the good in you.

This is the time of the year for reunions, family reunions, class reunions, military unit reunions, etc.  I have already been to one reunion this year, and still have three more I could attend.  I will probably go to only one more, which will be my 50th class reunion for the school from which I actually graduated.

First let me discuss the one reunion I attended last week.  It was the 50th class reunion for the graduating class of 1959 at Fort Sumner, New Mexico.  Now I did not graduate with that class, but I did attend elementary school with these students.  It was a privilege to be invited to their class reunion.  I was amazed at how well we all remembered things from the time we spent together.  And I was amazed at the ones I could still recognize.  Many had changed to the point I would not know them, and a few had turned into their father or mother, who I would have recognized.  There were three of us who attended, who had graduated elsewhere. The immediate acceptance by the class was truly astonishing.  We had a great time reminiscing about the old times, spent time remembering those who had not lived to be with us, and generally renewed old friendships. Given the opportunity, I would recommend that all of you, who attended schools other than the one from which you graduated, should go to those reunions. I thank the Fort Sumner class of ‘59 for the invitation and the great time I had with them.

In July we will have our annual family reunion.  I have decided not to go this year. Each year we see family that we have not seen all year, but the truth be known, many are now so distant in kin that I really don’t know them and it is getting more and more difficult to communicate with them.  Those that I do enjoy seeing, and can communicate with well, are slowly dying off or in poor health and cannot attend.  I had the opportunity to visit with most of those in April at my uncle’s birthday. Maybe next year.

The Clovis, New Mexico class of ‘59 will have their reunion in August.  I will attend this one. My classmates have done an outstanding job of communicating over the years.  With an outstanding web site (http://rednett.com), a great network of email, and some on twitter and facebook, it is a fairly tight class. Of course, we still talk about the same old events from school, but do manage to talk about other interest a little more than may occur at most reunions, because we communicate all year long.

Then there is the VMF(AW) 542 reunion.  These Marines served together in El Toro, Calif and in Iwakuni, Japan.  I joined them in Japan.  I have not been to their reunion since it is in Branson, Mo. It is usually scheduled at a time when it is hard for me to get away, and cost a little more than my meager pocketbook really does allow.  Although these were a great bunch of guys to serve with, I was never really close to any. Maybe in the future I will take advantage of their reunion, but the time is not right for me now.

In general, I really do recommend that you attend all the reunions you can.  Part of our lives are wrapped around all the people we have been associated with over the years.  Some were good and some were bad experiences, but all shaped who we are today.  As I get older, I realize the importance of those in my life. Also, I think that the knowledge that old friends and acquaintances still care about us, and with that knowledge, it makes the days, weeks, months and years a little less lonely when we feel a little blue and neglected. It attributes to our mental health to be able to reminisce about old times and old friends. Memories are forever.

God Bless and keep you.