Remember the scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles in which Steve Martin, who portrays a gentile, north Chicago suburb family man finally cracks and drops the F-bomb multiple times on the car rental lady (the same actress who played Ed Ronney's secretary in Ferris Buehiler's Day Off)? The humor is all in the foul language.

I've seen edited-for-TV versions, and they deflate all the humor. It is funny because of the incongruity between who the character is normally and what he is driven to here.

Yes, dammit, profanity can add meaning to a situation.

And that's not my hand.

I really miss John Candies.

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The Sissy And The Word Defined

I have been upbraided, chastised, called on the carpet by someone who did not appreciate my attempt at humor. It was a blogger here. I'll not identify the person. It will be fun for you to guess. (It might not be the first person to come to mind.)

According to the email, I showed disrespect for the pastor who wrote the original blog as well as for the minister in my story from the 1960s. Indeed, my actions are "pharisaical," according to this person. And I ought to be showing "deference" to pastors because, well, they are pastors.

Now that last bit is a bit tough for me. I think GK Chesterton was correct in suggesting that it might be appropriate to kick the minister after the sermon is over and he has stepped from the pulpit. Some ministers say the darnedest things. (Whoops! "Darn" is darned close to "damn" and so this, too, should go, according to the letter writer.) And I will defend doggedly the sort of religious satire that appears, say, in the Wittenburg Door (some of it my own).

This was another "subtle derision of Southern Baptists," like my package store joke, according to our friend who sent the email. Indeed, I was told, "Your contempt for fellow Christians encourages unbelievers to mock Christianity, Christians,and Christ."

Heavens! I don't want to do that! (Whoops! Is "heavens" a cuss word?)

All I can say in my defense is, IT WAS A JOKE! It was A WHOLE JOKE. And it was NOTHING BUT A JOKE. So help me Gosh.

I do not have "contempt" for fellow Christians.

I DO, however, have serious issues with that rare blend of ignorance, stupidity and judgmentalism that is sometimes paraded in the name of Christian piety. THAT, in my opinion, is certain to give Christianity a bad name and is entirely worthy of all of the mockery that people can muster. Mama always said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Obviously, our humorless friend thinks it was a bad joke and in bad taste. But there was no intended "derision" whatsoever.

Look, all that prompted it was my memory of my Dad's prank with our minister way back when. I was reproducing his prank here. And the earlier piece to which this person refers--the JOKE about Baptists not recognizing each other in the package store--is an old one that Baptists with any sense of humor whatsoever tell themselves and chuckle over.

So I felt rather blindsided by the email as I did not expect anyone to have this sort of reaction. It took me back to the days of my youth, growing up in a fundamentalist church in the south. The Church Lady might have taken me by the ear and scolded me in a similar manner.

I think I speak for everyone here when I say this board has seen way too much of "potty mouth" from Dr. Muddle, and his long-standing animosity towards good, God fearing Southern Baptists is reason enough for him to be banned, Banned, BANNED!

Speaking of Southern Baptists, I heard a good joke the other day:
Why do you always go fishing with TWO Southern Baptists?
Because if you only take one he'll drink all your beer!

*rimshot*
___________
Diagnosing Denise

Two little boys decided they wanted to learn how to cuss. They went upstairs to their room to practice. When their Mama called them to breakfast, they agreed to try out their new cuss words.

Mama asked the first little boy what he wanted for breakfast. He said, "gimme some of them damn Cheerios." She smacked him and sent him to his room. She looked at the other little boy and asked him what he wanted. He said, "Well, you can bet your a$$ I don't want any of them damn Cheerios."

Tug

"I DO, however, have serious issues with that rare blend of ignorance, stupidity and judgmentalism that is sometimes paraded in the name of Christian piety. THAT, in my opinion, is certain to give Christianity a bad name and is entirely worthy of all of the mockery that people can muster. Mama always said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

One of the most patently offensive things to me is the woman on TBN with the HUGE pink hair and the ginormous (giant + enormous) fake eyelashes that cries on cue and earns millions for herself in the name of Christ. Sometimes I wonder just what sort of witness people are in their minds and how that compares to the actual people they attract to faith as opposed to the number they repel from it. But, alas, that's what makes this country what it is: A rainbow of completely unique people from the most secular to the extremely devout.

Side note: That also is why the FLDS church out in Eldorado, TX strikes me as so counter to who we are; every woman in the same dress with the same hair and the same manor; even the young female children. It was right out of "1984!" Spooky.

We enjoyed your humor, and look forward to more of it.

Cheers,

Kevin "Hack" King

My father-in-law, now a retired Presbyterian minister was telling me about his 30 or 35th high school reunion and said he was asked by one fellow (who was maybe not three sheets to the wind but was at least two sheets) what he did for a living, he replied that he was a preacher and the guy says" G--D--- that's wonderful".

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Some people need to lighten up. I didn't see any disrespect whatsoever in your stories or the package store joke. I did see the humor though! I guess the rebuttal you received came from someone who feels Christians should indeed be puritanical, staid, boring, no fun, etc. No thanks.
Deference to anyone because of their "title?" Not from me.

Who can forget the jail cell talk in "My Cousin Vinnie" when Joe Pecsi and the kid are talking about completely different topics and when you take out the profanities there's no humor left.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

How is the family and your sis in particular? We've been thinking about her and praying daily. It's about time for another get together (even if it's hammering the dents out of the Cyclistmobile). Come to think of it, that ain't a half bad idea. It can be like "Monster Garage." And when we're done, we'll have a white Ford Ranger with custom Crylon paint that tracks down the road at an angle and wears out tires in 5,000 miles due to the inability to align it. What do ya think?

Kevin "Hack" King

Thanks for the prayers, I do appreciate them. I'm more of a carpenter then a metal guy, but what the hell, I'll give it a shot, I don't have to drive it. Don't tell anyone but I'm about to sneak off to the golf course. Cheers to you brother......hutch.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

from the insurance company? I have my own tools and work pro bono!

Let me know!

Kevin "Hack" King

Chuckle. Do you think your all-purpose leatherman tool thingy is up to the job?
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You're the kind of guy that even my wife, who hates getting under the hood thingy, would bust her knuckles for!

Kevin "Hack" King

from the their adjuster yet. It's got a lot tin damage back on the empanage area. Now if this was an Braniff aircraft we would use a lot of 600 MPH beer can tape and kiss it out-of-town. Boy, those were the days.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Hey! I read about your accident. SO GLAD you are okay, along with son (Not sure which one was with you at the time). If you need anything, let me know... You know where I am. I was going to invite everyone down this past weekend for a sod laying party LOL. Right after we laid the last piece the FC water truck drove through the neighborhood. Guess he was watching to see if we would play by the rules for watering. Yep, I am... was out there this morning in the chill, hand watering with the hose for 25 minutes. That is all I am allowed. But again, glad you are okay. Another truck will come along that you will fall in love with all over again.

I seen you out there with the family. Nothing like laying sod for a family bonding exercise. You know when that sod starts growing you got to cut it. That's expensive now-a-days. I've got to get over and get some gas in my little 5 gallon jug. That will cost $20 soon.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

You know I enjoy cutting the grass.I get on the rider,turn my MP3 on & think. Cutting grass is my time. I don't have to listen to anyone LOL. I hope the new grass takes soon, so I can cut the whole yard again. We just moved the monster of the hottub out by the pool this past weekend too! NOW that was a job... Hubby & I moved it by ourselves. Should have gotten that on video. You & family needs to come down & enjoy it sometime. It's great... You know you are always welcome!

CBS news is reporting that former President Jimmy Carter laid a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat, who in 1973 ordered the death of U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel and Foreign Services Officer George Curtis Moore.

According to news reports, Former President Jimmy Carter laid a wreath of red roses at the grave of PLO leader Yasser Arafat during a visit to the West Bank City of Ramallah Tuesday.

He and Mrs. Carter and his son Jeff wanted to pay their respects to Arafat.

WHY?

I guess cussing in that case would be due to surprise, anger, shock, etc. I didn't say any because I completely expected the hopelessly naive and ignorant Carter to honor a dead terrorist and scumbag like Arafat.

Next will be Obama's speech to Jews claiming that he doesn't support Carter's actions, but having face-time with the lunatics in Iran is OK.

This reminds me of when I was in junior high, after basketball practice one night we came out the front dorrs of the gym and there was the volkswagon that belonged to our coach parked in the front of the gym.

We, me and several of the players bounced the car up on the sidewalk and between two of the massive pillars that held up the overhang in the front, then we hid around the corner until the coach came out, that's where the cussing comes in. We had planned to help him move it out, but he was so mad, we just hit the road instead and left him to work it out on his own, which had to be hard because there was only about six inches of clearance at either end. Needless to say we lived in fear for several days afterward.

I yam what I yam....Popeye