I went today to get a free drink from a local coffee shop that I absolutely love (Three D's Coffee & Tea) and while I waited for my simple coffee with 1/2 n 1/2, I picked up a free copy of Wyoming Elements magazine. Hey, I'm all for free!
Autumn 2010 issue. One of the articles is "Christmas in July: Wyoming's Capitol Christmas Tree Hunt". It was of particular interest to me since we (kids and I at 4H) made ornaments to adorn this tree while at the White House. The photographs throughout the magazine are well done (some are slightly blurry but I assume that these are not necessarily professional photographers and as such, they are still good). I took the magazine with me as we headed home.
I open it up to read it more in-depth and here is where I become 'unhappy'. The editorial is about "Mangled Idiocy". If that title doesn't make a lick of sense to you, you'd possibly have to see the photograph that accompanies the article. While I am not allowed to reproduce the content in any form, I cannot tell you what it actually says but can give you an idea. The photo is vandalism of Vedauwoo public lands.
Oh, I was upset when I saw the photo! I shook my head and had a few thoughts in my head about who would do such a thing. But I continued to read. The editor, Sonia O. Klein, was obviously even more upset than I. She had come to this area and had found peace, tranquility and feelings that only those who enjoy the outdoors can understand. Then when she returned to the same place and saw this vandalism, she was livid. I am sure she endeavored to control herself with her editorial (perhaps??). There are so many other things that could have been said- many more harsh words.
What made me so 'unhappy' is not the vandalism- no, I in an instant forgot about what the editorial was about. With just one word all the feelings that she had been attempting to build up where washed away in utter shock. I lost for a moment the purpose of the editorial. I cannot tell you the word that was used. If I did, I'd be no better than she for using it.
Perhaps in Wyoming they are very liberal with words or what they consider appropriate for readers. Perhaps they just do not care. Well, I certainly care. And I find no place for profanity at all.
It was my first opportunity to view this magazine and honestly, it makes me leery to read the rest. I understand the upset she felt but there was no regard for others feelings when she wrote what she did. My kids may want to read that magazine and I don't want them to see that.
I sent an email to the editor, you can bet! I hope I controlled myself but I wasn't happy with her choice of words and the fact that perhaps 50,000+ people will read it. I am only one individual but if it bothered me, it may also bother someone else who won't say anything.
It's truly upsetting when things like this happen. Way too many profane words are thrown around these days (even among Christians). And people really wonder why a large majority of our kids/youth have foul mouths?
ReplyDeleteYou would think as a writer that she would have a good vocabulary and wouldn't need to fall back on profanity. One would think that the editor would have the sense to make that article family friendly. :(
Wow! Yuck... it's the world today. The bible spells it out quite well and says this nasty old world will be done away with soon - we are living in the last days. Soon there will be a new earth - a clean world. 2 Peter 3:13 "But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell." And remember the meek will inherit the earth! Ps 37:11 "But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
ReplyDeleteAnd they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."