With so much violence in our daily lives, it should come as no surprise that the violent language which accompanies so many violent acts has become a part of our society s cultural landscape. As the language of our culture changes it is reflected in every form of media we encounter. A poster from the popular cartoon South Park has the caption Please excuse me, I have explosive diarrhea. Shock jock Howard Stern has become an idol to millions who listen to his radio show. Last year, Americans watched media icons like Dan Rather and Barbara Walters fumble for words as they were forced to discuss oral sex before the camera.
Some words offend people by conjuring up frightening thoughts.
But they are merely words. Their power over the reader is only as great as the reader s deepest fears and darkest secrets. If a physician can feel comfortable sticking his hand inside a patient's rib cage and holding a person's beating heart between his fingers, then words should never threaten him. Blunt and crude language comes with the territory. Listening to that language is part of our work.