Sunday, February 15, 2009

Profanity and Respectability

"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips" (Colossians 3:8).

"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance" (Titus 2:2).

In an article in the sports section of the Tulsa World today titled "Profanity Remains a Sports Curse" (www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=93&articleid=20090215_29_B1_Profan567422), sports writer Bill Haisten writes about the prevalence of profanity in sports today.

The problem is not new. I had football coaches in middle school in the early 1980s who did not seem to know how to refrain from profanity in their normal conversations. I'm not sure that they ever knew that they were not nearly as respected as my coaches who demonstrated self-discipline.

The article singled out two great coaches who never used profanity: Tom Landry and Tony Dungy. While other coaches are mentioned in the article, I'm not sure that any are more respected than those two men.

If we want to stand out as respectable in today's society, we must watch our language and maintain high standards for ourselves.

2 comments:

Christy said...

I couldn't agree more.

Terry Laudett said...

Thanks, Christy!