Don’t Tolerate Bad Language

Sat., May 4, 1996

Mary Jo Wiese Special To Opinion

I’m a stay-at-home mom and the children in my neighborhood all know that. I have three sons, ages 11, 13 and 15. Their friends and acquaintances usually end up at my house after school and on the weekends. They play sports in my yard and in the neighborhood. They play basketball, baseball, street hockey and kick the can.

They know they are welcome at my house - if they follow my rules. My most important rule is respect and they show this respect through their language. They know that “please” and “thank you” are mandatory in my house. And when one enters the front door of my house, all foul language is left outside.

Due to past experience, I know what verbal abuse can do over a period of time to a person’s heart and soul. I am passionately opposed to it. My sons and their friends are exposed to a great deal of foul language every day, everywhere they go. And they bring that language right on home.

I realize it isn’t just young people who have this habit of using foul language. One evening an adult called my home, using profanity. I said: “I won’t listen to this.” I then decided to put this message on my answering machine: “No foul language will be tolerated on this answering machine. Now if you choose to leave a message, please do so in good taste.”

So the young people who come to my home know the rules about language. And they do respect them. Occasionally one foul word will slip under the door or through the phone line only to be followed by an apology.

Adults need to clearly send the message that young people will get nowhere in life using foul language. Adults also need to tell others when their language is inappropriate.

One afternoon, I was at a gas station and a young man used the “f” word. I looked him in the eye and said in what my boys call my “military” voice: “Excuse me, there is a lady present.” He cut it out right then and there. Three fellow female customers were very supportive. One said: “Ditto, lady present here.”

As adults, it is our obligation to lead our youth with a clear head and the conviction that respect is essential. This is the gift my parents gave to me and what a grand gift to pass on to the next generation. Don’t you think so?

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

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