I spent a considerable amount of time at the Little League fields this weekend and was nonplused by the level of swearing that I heard. This colorful language wasn’t coming from the adults, it was emanating from the kids. Some were players, others were siblings but many peppered their speech with profanity.
Now, call me old fashioned but I’d prefer children not to use dirty words in public. I understand that when they’re with their friends they’re apt to utter expletives, which I think they’ve done since time immemorial. I imagine they do this to make themselves seem cool or because they’ve heard these words at home and can’t resist the urge to try out some spicy new language. But whatever the case, I wish they’d keep it to themselves.
And really, I’m not a complete dinosaur. I do believe that a well-placed expletive can help get ones message across. Sometimes, people really do act like the “a” word. And when you spill your entire cup of morning coffee nothing quite satisfies like blurting out the “s” word. Truth be told, if you were to visit our offices on any given Wednesday morning – deadline day – your ears might actually bleed. But every other day of the week we try as much as possible to contain ourselves. Many guests drop in to do business and we wouldn’t want to intentionally offend anyone’s ears.
Perhaps the answer for all of us lies with a young man named McKay Hatch, 14. A regular teenager, Hatch started the “No Cussing Club” in 2007 when he became fed up with his friends’ language. He says his friends swore so much that they didn’t even realize they were doing it. He challenged them to stop, they took up the challenge and the No Cussing Club was born.
Hatch’s idea has caught on and now his club has more than 20,000 members worldwide. He’s appeared on the Jay Leno show and has received thousands of emails both supporting and opposing his initiative. Those in favor of Hatch’s idea can take the No Cussing Challenge, a commitment to use better language thus improving the lives of others around them.
In Sonoma, improving the lives of those around us is part of our raison d’etre. We go to charity events, write checks and mentor, we help little old ladies and ducks from the Plaza pond cross the street. We cheer for the strong as well as for the underdog.
Speaking of cheering, I think we should do lots more of it. Whether it’s at the ball field at home, in the office or the grocery store, let’s try and put away the dirty words, take up the No Cuss Challenge and use the power of positive speech to propel ourselves, and each other, forward each and every day.
— Jody Purdom
