Profanity

Stevie, my 13-year-old Border Collie, and I circumnavigate the block every morning. Lately, I’ve taken to scattering a handful of peanuts (unsalted, roasted) for the crows who squawk from the power lines above our heads.

A Steller's Jay is always present, but he is never reckless enough to try to take a peanut from the much larger crows.

This morning, I was throwing peanuts to the ever-increasing murder above my head when I heard very efficient, LOUD profanity from a nearby tree. I couldn’t see the potty mouth, but I acknowledged his anger and encouraged him to show himself.

With my encouragement, the Jay hopped down, grabbed a peanut from the roadway, and carried his prize back to his tree. I must say he glowed with pride.

What? Anthropomorphize a bird? Not me!

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The current brouhaha over the rating of Harvey Feinstein's "Bully" needs to be resolved so that children of all ages can see this film. Having worked in a high school, I can tell you that the most naive student is well-versed in profanity, whether they themselves use it or not. I've heard third graders use words I don't use, and I am far from prudish. Despite an eloquent plea by one of the bullied students whose experiences are documented in the movie, the MPAA refused a PG-13 rating by one vote!

Hopefully, the rating folks will realize that obscenities are part of bullying, part of the intimidation factor, and leave the film its realism. We need to leave piety at the door and step into our children's world.