- An Obama Campaign Picture -
When I learned the message and meaning behind this T-shirt originated with the campaign managers of the person who is, arguably, the most powerful person alive on this planet, I was disappointed. I want to believe "innocence" and naivete" is behind it, but I suspect the "store" selling it at barakobama.com has it front-and-center for good reason. It appeals to the limit-pushing, line-dancing, edge-walking rebellion lurking in the most base aspects of human nature....so it commands attention.
I believe in free speech. I also expect those who are the best of us, the leaders among us, will do our best to lift public discourse and sensibilities; I don't assume our leaders will intentionally drag us to the very edge of civility.
When the Vice President spoke to the President in front of an open mic and said the words "behind" this little acronym, I thought, "Great. What an incredibly irresponsible example of crude and earthy language. The whole world has just heard our Vice President light-heartedly use an impolite word in such a way that it triggers a gasp from decent people across the country."
Do I think the Vice President of the United States of America can't use that word? Let me answer by saying, even if he can, I don't want him to lean over to one of my little granddaughters, give 'em a big smile and say, "Hi Sweetheart. I'll bet meeting me is a 'Big %*^&$%#@ Deal' for you!" I'd like to think he would have more respect for us than that.
Do I think the President can't wear a T-shirt around his house with an acronym on it? Even though he's temporarily living in a house he doesn't own, I'm not trying to censor his freedom of speech, and if he wants to teach his daughters to drop the "F-bomb" whenever they're at the mall with their friends, or meeting nice people at a party, or babysitting little children, that's up to him. But I will say I'd prefer he not ask the kids in our Granger Student Ministry to put on his "BFD" T-shirt before they come to church and serve our little children in the Granger Children's Ministry.
I've been deeply conflicted even writing this blog. Why? Because I don't believe it's possible for any person old enough to read my blog to read the words on the president's campaign T-shirt without thinking of the "word" behind the letter "F" ... and that is the issue.
When I first read the letters, "OMG" on a TWEET, I actually read them out-loud and translated them as "Oh, My Goodness!" When everyone stopped laughing at me, I learned the "G" didn't stand for "Goodness." The letter was intended to lessen the concussion of taking God's Name in vain. I was told the "G" stood for "God." I mentioned that using the letters "OMG" doesn't shift intent away from the words themselves, so you may as well use the words as use the letters, I was told, "Oh, don't think that. 'OMG' doesn't take God's Name in vain. When we TWEET 'OMG' we don't mean anything by it."
Yiiii! Can't you see? That's the point! God says we shouldn't use HIS Name when we "don't mean anything by it." We are to honor God's Name, not reduce it to a common and meaningless word that communicates nothing.
Now, coarse and disrespectful language, which would have gotten any of us over the age of 40 years old, months of after-school-detentions if we would have said such things to our Middle School teachers, is common and accepted. Words that were profane 20 years ago, and NEVER uttered in polite society or used in polite conversations - are shouted in the marketplace, screamed on the sidelines, yelled on the courts and thundered from the stands of America's athletic fields. Apparently, they're also spoken in front of women and children without regret by the Vice President of the United States of America.
And was the President concerned with the new level of base and earthy discourse? Apparently not. The Los Angeles Times quoted his statement about his Vice President's lack of propriety: "You know what the best thing about yesterday was? Joe’s comment."
Hilarious.
Now the President's campaign is using the phrase to raise money. The LA Times quoted Biden as he spoke in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: "I don't know why everybody thinks it's so darn funny. I'm embarrassed as hell by it, but apparently we're selling T-shirts and making hundreds of thousands of bucks."
Well now.
I guess he's not too embarrassed to capitalize on it.
As the money rolls-in, the students and citizens wearing those shirts will be strolling our beaches, walking our streets and roaming the hallways of our schools. Wherever they go, those around them will read the "BFD" letters and their minds will immediately translate those letters into the words they mean. No one will read the T-shirts without thinking, "Big %*^&$%#@ Deal."
What's become an "inside the beltway" joke is degrading the discourse of polite society, undermining the stature of our great political leaders and fueling the aggressive rebellion of young people across the country.
I DO NOT CARE what words the president says to his wife in their bedroom.
I DO CARE what words he uses in front of my wife, my daughters, my grandchildren and the impressionable people of this great nation and watching world. I DO CARE that words are used respectfully, honoring those who hear them.
Is it illegal to wear a "BFD T-shirt" around town?
Probably not.
Is it helpful to wear a "BFD T-shirt" around town?
Certainly not.
Do I hope to see kids wearing "BFD T-shirts" to Summer Camp?
No.
The President should discontinue the public use of this explicit and disrespectful phrase. I expect better of him and I expect more of everyone elected to lead our society toward a better tomorrow.
Anyone occupying the highest office in the land should act with restraint and avoid disrespecting so many to impress so few.
Proverbs 14:3 - Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.