Nowadays, there are so many words/phrases that we should not be saying or using in our writing. Here’s some links to just a few of these words and phrases:
https://bestlifeonline.com/offensive-sayings/
https://www.throughlinegroup.com/2021/03/02/21-offensive-words-you-should-avoid/
Why some of these words/phrases should not be used is obvious. Otherwise, the reason to not use these expressions is understood by reading the explanation about the origin of the idiom. I get it. I really do.
Still, the breadth of political correctness as to who is offended by what can be pretty extreme. Is there always someone who might be offended no matter what we say or write? How careful must we be?
In that vein, I hope that I offend you not. I hope that you understand what I am writing. I hope that this column is accepted in the spirit of humor in which it is intended. Oh, no! Have I just offended miners by using a reference to long deposits or ore known as veins when I’m not even talking about miners’ dangerous descents into the mines? The origin of the phrase “in that vein,” after all, is based on miners finding lodes.
And oh, no! Have I offended comedians by attempting to be funny about what is politically incorrect these days? Who decides outside of the obvious issues? Has that very issue of subtle and unintended offenses caused comedians to stop showing up on college campuses instead of changing their act?
And, oh, no! Have I offended seers by using the word spirit to link humor to their profession, a profession they may (or may not) take extremely seriously?
I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’ll just say some of this censorship can be extreme. Oh, no! The origin of the phrase ‘beat around the bush’ supposedly arose in Britain when hunters would beat bushes in order to draw out the birds. The capture of these birds may be offensive to bird lovers, vegans, vegetarians, and PETA people everywhere. And oh, no! What if this phrase offends bushes by implying that they do not provide good decoy coverage for birds being hunted? And oh, no! Have I defended those people who hunt?
If my silliness accidentally offends anyone, I offer my sincerest apologies. In Luke 23:34, Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This would be a good basis for forgiving me, too. Oh, no! I hope I haven’t offended any atheists by quoting the Bible. And oh, no! I also hope not to have offended any Christians by quoting the Bible when not being overly serious about the matter. And oh, no! I think I know what I’m doing, but maybe not.
Beyond the attempted humor, I also just might make a few points along the way. Oops! Have I just offended coneheads by using the word points, lest they think they are being body-shamed for their pointy heads? You younger readers may have no idea about the conehead reference. And, oh, no! I might have now offended younger readers by a) guessing that they may not get the reference; or b) by making an unmerited assumption about what they may or may not know. And oh, no! I might have offended people by making assumptions about assumptions.
Abraham Lincoln began the Gettysburg Address by stating, “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Oops! Why didn’t he just say 87 years ago? His words might be insulting to people who are bad at math. FYI, I am bad at math, but not offended. Now, oops! Remember when the Teen Talk Barbie used the phrase, “Math Class is Hard,” which caused tons of backlash. Read the story here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Talk_Barbie. Sure, we can all understand the offense at Barbie’s line, but did the public outrage offend people who really do think math class is hard? Have I gone too far?
And, oops! What about the fact that this new nation took away the liberty of Native American tribes by ruthlessly pushing them off their lands?
And, oops! There are plenty of people who would disagree that despite the proposition, the actual practice of all men being created equal is easily proven to not be true, especially for people of color and women. And, oops! Have I just offended everybody?
Martin Luther King, in his most famous speech said, “I have a dream.” Oops! Is that offensive to insomniacs? They wish they could fall asleep and dream.
The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to December 7, 1941, as “a day which will live in infamy.”
Oh, no! Does that insult people who were born on December 7th? And oh, no! Does that insult the people who live in Oahu? And oh, no! Does commenting on Roosevelt’s famous words insult veterans?
Vince Lombardi, at the Packers’ Training camp, said, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Oh, no! Does this insult all the losers in the word, including the political also-rans, the racehorses that don’t get the roses placed around their necks, the Olympic athletes that don’t secure a gold medal, the pageant contenders who do not get crowns, show pigs who never win ribbons, and those actors, actresses, and directors who don’t win Oscars?
For the record, I love MLK’s speech at the March on Washington, as well as Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. I even understand that Vince Lombardi was using his words to motivate. I could go on and on and on about everything said in this column. Oops! Have I now insulted eternity? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s serious business, so if I have insulted eternity, let’s remember Matthew 18:21—22, which states:
Then, Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or my sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you not seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Now that we have circled back to math, I’ll end by saying that if you are offended by anything in this column, please let me know in the comments. We should always want to be aware of what not to say or write. We are never too old to learn—or to keep writing.