You Presume to Know Me?

I had a phone conversation, recently, with a man for whom I have a lot of respect. He's a retired Marine and Vietnam veteran. My kind of guy!

I don't really know him personally. I've done some business with him and, frankly, that's about the extent of our relationship. He's a big, leather-neck, tough, stereo-typical, whiskey drinking Marine. Yet, I can say, I find him likable.

Still, when I ended the call, I was both disappointed and offended. No, I can't say was actually surprised, though.

He was checking on a delivery he's supposed to have today and was, understandably, bothered that it seemed to be taking longer than we thought it would. I apologized, called the delivery guys and told him that they were just running behind.

The bad part was when he told me that he wouldn't have been sitting on his butt for four hours if someone had given him a...G.D. phone call to let him know they were running so late. (Yes, he used the words...not the letters.)

Well, my tone went cold and I assured him that I didn't know until then myself how late they were, but apologized again for his trouble. I really didn't say much or try to warm things over at that point and we just, sort of, hung up the phones.

I'm not really saying that I'm surprised that he would take the Lord's name in vain; I'm only saying that I'm a little surprised that he acted so familiar with me. Why would he be so presumptuous as to think that that wouldn't offend me or was it simply that he really didn't care? (I actually don't think he was trying to "hurt my feelings.")

Occasionally, I meet someone who doesn't even seem to notice the dirty words coming out their mouths. They're just carrying on conversation. They probably don't mean to be impertinent, they just haven't ever given it much thought or, at least, not in many years.

It makes me laugh with scorn at the people who try to explain that "G.D." is not really cussing because they spell it with a little "g" or don't really mean "God" or a myriad of other pathetic, lame excuses that they dredge up to try and excuse their own lack of self-control, piety and respect for our Maker. I'm sure God understands...not!

I've been in the military and worked in factories and it's not like I have heard or used bad language before. I actually hear myself when one slips out and I try to remember to ask forgiveness. Still, there are some words I won't use and some lines I won't cross.

Anyway, maybe it's because he's a Yankee or a retired Marine that it might never have occurred to him that some people are sincerely and understandably offended when hearing God's name mis-used.

There was a time when men, especially in the South, at least watched their language around strangers, kids and ladies. Regrettably, those days are mostly gone.