Keeping It Clean

Maybe it’s sign of getting older but I am definitely more aware of how profanity has now become an almost acceptable part of our daily language. I can throw four-letter words around with the best of them but there is the old adage about a time and place for everything. Yet today you can be almost anywhere in public and witness typical conversations in which the language is at least “R” rated if not worse. It’s the ease at which the profanity is spewed and it does not seem to matter whether the speakers are male or female, young or old. I seem to remember a time when if you felt uncomfortable with such language you might say that to someone who would apologize…now they are likely to look at you with disdain.
It’s a trend that shows signs of only getting worse.

Businesses have become very cognizant of sexual harassment in the workplace and most if not all of them have policies that warn against such behavior. It appears that Madison Square Garden officials didn’t even read their own handbook because a jury has awarded a former New York Knicks top female executive more than $11 million after finding that Coach Isiah Thomas and MSG sexually harassed and then later fired her out of spite. The losing side has vehemently denied the charges and plans on appealing but it really does not matter. A once-proud franchise has become a shameful example that poor leadership can run even the most successful empire into the ground. I grew up such a fan of the Knicks that I would write the numbers of my favorite players on white tee-shirts….19 for Willis Reed, 10 for Walt Frazier and 18 for Phil Jackson, an unathletic appearing left hander like me. Those days are sadly over.

I often wonder why anyone runs for any reason other than getting in or staying in shape. I say this because I’ve never looked at the face of a runner and seen a smile. Often you see this sort of distorted grimace of pain and agony with the only joy coming when you finish.