The F Word

 Yes, that one.  The "F bomb".  The one that some find amusing when they hear it from the very young or the very old.  The one that made several comedians and actors famous.  The one that the show "Battle Star Galactica" replaced with "frig" in all its literary glory.  The one that Saturday Night Live almost but didn't spell in their "Jingleheimer Junction" skit in 1998 (Season 24, Episode 1).  Ostensibly, the word is meant to mean "to make love".  While that is the cleanest and mildest definition, it is certainly not the only one.  While it's versatility is almost without equal, it is almost always used as a verbal underline or exclamation point.  Despite its versatility, in the U.S. the word is banned in certain media formats - usually based on time of day and type of broadcast.  The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) will fine any media outlet that airs the word outside of the defined context.  While still banned (or at least frowned upon) in many situations, it has become more and more acceptable to use it directly if not by abbreviations such as WTF.  So much so that even kids will often say "What the?"  and not finish the whole statement.  What the what, Timmy? You can't end a question with a question.

At the same time, another phrase has become more and more acceptable.  One may recall the final scene in "Planet of the Apes" where Taylor realizes what mankind has finally done and pleads with God to condemn mankind to eternal damnation.  Jeremiah Wright, a pastor, once came under fire when he suggested that America should be damned instead of blessed by God.  While shocking to many at the time, the phrase G.D. has become even more acceptable than the F word.  G.D. can be heard on prime time television, PG-13 movies, and public radio - whereas the F word is still avoided or bleeped out in those same contexts.  The ancient Jews revered the name of God so much that they removed the vowels from his name so that it could not be pronounced.  This helped to avoid violating the 2nd commandment: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."  As a child, I was taught that this meant to always say his name in reverence and never without reference to God himself.  To even say "Oh my God!" was considered disrespectful.  

As I have grown in age and experience, I have long since learned that not everyone holds to these same tenants and beliefs.  Many grew up with the same teachings as I but have since discarded them and many more have never held to these beliefs to begin with.  I have heard almost every way of using both the F word as well as using the Lords name in vain both separately and together.  While I refuse to adopt either into my prudish vocabulary, I have long since stopped being shocked when others do.  Until today.

I read online where someone was thankful for a particular outcome and especially that it was not any worse than it was.  Who did they thank?  Did they thank God. No.  Did they thank "goodness".  No.  They said "Thank [f-word]". Are you kidding me?  I could not believe it.  Still cannot believe it.

I am starting to wonder if maybe Taylor and Wright may have been correct.  God help us all.