Foul Language

I received some polite but critical feedback on my decision to use a certain "bad word" in some of my social media posts. Someone suggested that I might be harming my reputation by doing so.

You may recall that Mr. Trump was caught on video using this particular word while describing his spontaneous sexual advances toward women. He bragged that he could grab women in the genitals and get away with it because he's "a star." 

I used the same word while discussing Mr. Trump, and that offended some people.

Well, here's another word for you to consider. If you've seen any video or still photos from Mr. Trump's campaign events, you might have seen this phrase inscribed on signs and T-shirts. This phrase was very popular at those events.

"Trump That Bitch"

Get it? Because Hillary Clinton is a woman? Oh, how subtle those Trump supporters are!

Mrs. Clinton has been the victim of vulgar misogyny for many years. Republicans demonized her mercilously in the Nineties. Newt Gingrich's mother (!) even got in on the act when she shockingly referred to Mrs. Clinton as "a bitch" during a network TV interview.

Let that sink in for a minute. Imagine yourself shouldering the raw, bitter hatred and derogatory language that this lady has endured since 1992. Imagine this type of language being directed toward your wife, your daughter, your sister.

Hurtful, vulgar language has become a normal part of our political discourse, and much of it has been hurled at the Clintons and the Obamas. I'm fairly bold in my commentary, but I'm not going to repeat the disgusting words that have been used to insult our current President and his family.

This is one of the reasons why I, like many others, are so bitterly disgusted with the results of this election.

A woman who spent her entire adult life enduring a nonstop torrent of vile, misogynist criticism has been defeated by a man who openly and proudly bragged about sexually assaulting women. It's like watching a battered woman press charges against her abusive husband, only to have the judge say, "Go back home and be a good wife and let him beat you some more."

The smear campaign finally won. Despite the hope that we as a nation could rise above the effects of negative campaigning and listen to our better angels, the decades-long smear campaign against the Clintons finally delivered its ultimate knockout blow. She was down. She was out.

I am disgusted beyond words. I am angry enough to break things.

So, yes, I used Mr. Trump's own foul language while discussing him. It speaks to his character. And it speaks to the character of his supporters, who were apparently willing to forgive him for not only saying the word, but for actually assaulting fourteen victims and counting.

This person is an abusive misogynist. His election to the highest office in the land is a historic catastrophe and a disgrace to all that is decent. If I water down my criticism to make it more socially palatable, that's when you can start to worry about my reputation.

Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved