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When politicians of either party use profanity to connect with their “base” and win votes, I wonder if they stop to consider the negative example they set for younger generations. What message does it send when those in leadership normalize swearing in public life?
Will impressionable kids feel emboldened to curse at their parents to make a point? Will profanity toward teachers become the norm (more than it already is)? Will workplaces eventually accept swearing as part of everyday interactions between employees and supervisors?
News flash: That is exactly what we are teaching them.
Yes, profanity may have a time and place, but when it seeps into every part of our communication, it isn’t harmless — it erodes respect. To me, it’s another sign of how our society is slowly sliding downward: hate becomes acceptable, bullying is excused, violence is justified.
Hearing and seeing these trends makes my body recoil and my mind feel unsettled, even nauseous at times. I can only hope the politicians setting this example feel proud of the legacy they are leaving.
David Winslow
Brewer
