A Rosie By Any Other Name . . .

How one can be excused for using public profanity, in a speech nonetheless, and escape being vilified is beyond this author's comprehension. There was a time when one's speech was guarded by decency in consideration of others. Even those who weren't raised in an upscale, "proper" household knew the boundaries of decency. It seems those boundaries are now as porous as our border with Mexico.

One's right to use profanity is not in question. As abhorrent as it may seem, this author is willing to die for any ones right to freedom of speech. That, however, is not the issue. With freedom comes responsibility. Freedom, in other words, has limits. And, in a free nation, those limits must be self imposed.

Perhaps Soren Kierkegaard had it right when he said, "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for freedom of thought which they seldom use." Common sense would dictate that you think before your speak. Isn't that what grandma always told you? A preacher's wife once corrected this author by saying, "You need to weigh your words!" And, for the record, she was right.

Rosie O'Donnell has been the recipient of much justified critcism. Whether she is funny or not will not excuse her crassness and vulgarity. She represents what might be termed a new cultural order in which anything goes without regard to its offensiveness, rudeness or truthfulness.

For me, a Rosie by any other name would still smell bad.

How about you?

Always make a difference.