Today I continue the Bagwine Retrospective utilizing a post I wrote on February 16, 2008...
Seems that Jane Fonda had just uttered the "cunt" word. I'm aghast!!
Yesterday, in media outlets everywhere, fallout continued to rain down over Jane Fonda’s use of profanity on the Today Show…
Specifically Fonda’s use of the word, “c*nt.”
One of the morons leading the charge of turning this “shocking” incident into an Apocalyptic attack on the wholesomeness of our children is of course, Bill O’Reilly.
He has been all over Fonda’s back since Thursday, and the ratings whore continued his moral diatribe last night.
As I watched and listened to Falafel Boy, his rantings faded into the background, eventually becoming inaudible.
My thoughts turned into more of a wonderment mode. I began to ponder the following:
Exactly why is the word “c*nt” such an uber-offensive word? Why does the word “c*nt” elicit such rage in some women?
A lesser pondering led to me ask myself, why do I bother spelling the word “c*nt” with an asterisk when everyone knows damn well that I am talking about cunt??
Seriously…I asked Schmoop, who is indeed a woman, what is so offensive about this word. She had no clue. I suggested that it is no more offensive than bitch, prick, mo-fo, etc.
I postulated, that the word was somewhere at sometime, manufactured in to being the Grand Poobah of Offensiveness. (Probably by some cunt.)
I did some research, and sure enough, my theory was somewhat corroborated. I read an article that stated that the word “cunt” has been around for centuries, most notably used by Geoffrey Chaucer.
It has only relatively recently carried its negative connotation.
The word began to morph into being a disparaging term only after appearing in DH Lawrence’s 1928 novel, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”.
Interesting. ..With that being said, I still would like to know from the women out there…If you find the word “cunt” to be highly offensive, why is that?
And if you do find the word “cunt” offensive, isn’t it ironic that it’s because a MAN’S writing made it so?
Ha. I dig irony. Still any haters? And if so, why?
Cheers!!
The last couple of days I have talked about language.
I have discussed the allegedly “offensive” uses of the words, retarded and gay.
Let’s get into the crux and impetus of the matter of said “offensiveness” today, shall we? Cool.
Let’s take a look at the word, “cunt”…
“Oh, no he didn’t?!!” some of you just said. Pfffffft. Big deal. You know where the word comes from?
Cunt means, vagina or vulva, etc. It is clearly derived from words of such from many ancient Indo-European, Hittite, Sanskrit, and Latin-based Romance languages.
Even Chaucer used it in a well accepted sense in, The Canterbury Tales (The Miller’s Tale, line 90, "queynte") to describe the vagina. It’s been around for centuries, but exactly what happened?
Someone (some cunt, no doubt), decided along the way (and in lieu of brevity I am not going to get into the details) that the word, in spite of its history and etymology, was a derogatory term for a woman.
Whatever…
Most women I know do have a vulva, but if that upsets you…Have at it, but most men want it, you control it, and you’re not enjoying the full power of your cunt.
Now, let us turn our attention to the word, “nigger”. “Haaaaaaaaaghast. No he didn’t!!?” Yeah, I said that.
This word comes from Latin (niger) and a Spanish derivative (negro) meaning black. It was, for centuries, not a derogatory term.
It referred to dark-skinned people, mainly Africans. But guess what happened?
Someone, decided along the way, that the term, in spite of its history and etymology is a derogatory word for people of dark skin and/or African descent.
Whatever…
I know…I know…But “black” people aren’t all black or “niger”, some will say. Yeah, well white folks aren’t all white. Some are pasty white, and some are more of a peach color or variations thereof.
Whatever…
It’s just a general description, people!! Does that really annoy you? If it does? Have at it, and revel in your racial superciliousness.
Listen, I am not advocating the use of the aforementioned words, but try this…
If a person calls you a cunt, just laugh and say, “Yeah, I have one and you’ll never get it.”
If someone calls you a nigger, just laugh and say, “Damn, I am black. You’re not as stupid as you look.”
My point is this…
Derogatory terms are only derogatory if we give them credence in that way. If one believes in him or herself these words shouldn’t have any effect.
In fact, if someone directs either of these terms at you in an angry sense, you probably don’t give a shit about that person anyway.
People who use terms in an attempt to elicit an angry response are a prime example of this adage:
“The greater the ignorance, the greater the dogmatism.”
If we react in an angry way towards the slings and arrows of those types of slurs, we devolve into a level of their ignorance, especially if their words are baseless.
(In fact, I’d rather be called gay, retarded, a dickhead, or a son of a bitch, rather than be referred to in a more mundane yet concrete way as someone who doesn’t care, is lazy, or is selfish and uncaring.)
If however, we believe in ourselves, walk away, and without response, realize that we are good people…
Over time, those words used in a derogatory fashion will lose their effect, and much like the original meaning of those words, will fade into the past.
Cheers!!
As I watched and listened to Falafel Boy, his rantings faded into the background, eventually becoming inaudible.
