A statement:
In a seemingly ridiculous attempt to not offend people by my speech, I've decided to begin saying "exclamation!" in place of "Oh my gosh!" or "gee!" or "holy cow!" because apparently all of these words are offensive. Euphemisms, they are called. A words used in place of another in allusion. This makes sense then, doesn't it? If we (as Christians, or anything, really) are trying to keep our tongues harnessed and unoffensive, words like heck, gosh, golly and geez should be banished from our vocabulary like the plague. Because obviously when we say them, we really mean every dirty curse word they could possibly allude to. Those words that we're not saying (which, by the way, only "bad" because we decided they were)...yeah....those are what we mean.
So when I say "exclamation!" instead of "golly!" I won't be substituting anything in place of God's name.
OH WAIT!
I still am. I'm saying something in place of God's name therefore the word exclamation "exclamation!" shall then be banished as well! Then I shall only gasp when I feel the need to express surprise or excitement. Oh no! But then I will be gasping instead of swearing! Therefore gasping will become a euphemism.
This is a death spiral downward.
Maybe we should remember what controlling of the tongue really is. Words are bad because we make them bad. Words are bad when used to tear people down or encourage evil. Whether you call someone a a** or a jerkface, if you say it in mean spirit, you've sinned either way. Perhaps it is not the words we use, but the intent behind them.
My stance? Be intelligent. Be kind. And if you consider words like [pardon me] damn, hell etc. bad, then don't be upset when people don't use them.
~haylee jalyn
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