Yes, we eat with this mouth!
We need a color-coded spreadsheet to sort out our bad habits. Mozart was a child prodigy at the pianoforte. Some kids are chess grandmasters. From an early age, young Blaska swore like a Marine stubbing his bare toe on a cactus. Adults marveled at the tyke’s ability to turn the air blue.
We blame (or credit, depending on our mood) the hired men on our farm for this particular gift. Warding off eternal damnation, each instance was reported via the Catholic confessional.
In the years since, your irascible bloggeur developed new and unique strains of profanity, many of which should be copyright protected. We’d like to share them with some of you right now (you know who you are) but we’d lose the tiny advertising stream from this blogge.
Was fascinated, then, by a rigorous study conducted by the New York Times (FAKE NEWS!) on the potty mouths we have elected to high office. Turns out two Wisconsin pols rank among the top eight in dropping the F-bomb: Derrick Van Orden is Number Two. (Democrats would agree!). Damned if Dane County’s own Mark Pocan ranks third, just ahead of the execrable Eric Swalwell! (Eric Swear-well! Ha! Ha! There was always something very OFF-al about that guy! )
Mr. Pocan is a combative congressman who often feuds with the frequently swearing Republican representative in his neighboring district, Derrick Van Orden, the top Republican user of the F-word. Mr. Pocan suggested his saucy language was a product of an “average guy” upbringing and a desire to call out what he sees as the excesses of the Trump administration. — “Democrats embrace a four-letter word,” NY Times (FAKE NEWS!)
Van Orden, at least, has the excuse of being a Navy Seal (if he hasn’t reminded you, lately).
But not a breath mint
Is any word more versatile than the good old, Anglo-Saxon F-bomb? It’s a noun, a verb, an adverb, an adjective, an interjection, and something called an “intensifier.” (I really REALLY mean it!) But, unless describing copulation or abject failure (as in “we are totally …”), the word expresses ire, not reason — precipitated, The NY Times (FAKE NEWS!) reports, by Democrats’ frustration with Donald Trump.
A Democrat running for the U.S. Senate out of Illinois is F-bombing the air waves like General Dan “Raisin’” Cain in the skies over Iran. It’s the party’s mid-terms message: They’re angry. The Times (FAKE NEWS!) concludes:
Democratic politicians are now far more likely than Republicans to spice up their public statements with the particular swear word, according to a New York Times [FAKE NEWS!] analysis of social media posts made by governors and members of Congress since 2020.
The widespread embrace of the F-word also comes as Democrats try to rebut claims that they have fallen out of touch with everyday people. Sometimes it can feel like politicians are straining to sound relatable — and they run the risk of offending as many voters as they attract.
Not enough assterisks
Milwaukee police once hauled George Carlin’s a$$ (see how we get around that?) off the Summerfest stage in 1972 after performing his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” routine.
In 1964, the “sick” comic Lenny Bruce was convicted in a court of law for obscenity and sentenced to four months in a workhouse. (Bring back the workhouse!) Dustin Hoffman played him as a hero 10 years later. Charles Rocket got fired from SNL for using the word on-air in 1981.
Blaska once referred to a now forgotten political issue as a “schidtt show” (see how we get around that?) on WIBA 1310 AM radio, forcing the host to lurch for the squelch button.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Civilization needs some words to be verboten. The ancient Hebrews were forbidden to utter the name of their god. If the F-bomb ever becomes accepted like a Diner’s Club card, we should have to invent a new word.
5 responses to “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a fook”
Folks. not a swear word but it always rubs me the wrong way.
Hmmm, WIBA got all jumpy when you said “schidtt show” on the air? Now we have a tv show called Schitts Creek. I have some suggestions to replace the f-bomb, but will save them for when they are needed so as not to offend….
DB is an amateur. I learned to swear in 4 languages, but then, I was a Marine.
On my frequent strolls through the UW campus, I overhear many conversations from passers-by, and 90% of them contain the f-bomb. I still feel a lingering repugnance at hearing it issue from the mouths of young ladies, a holdover from the days when the fair sex (ahem!) was held to a higher standard.
If the good Lord didn’t want me to use the F-word, He would have blessed me with a better golf game.