Language, Reality, Whatever

I wrote the opinion piece for the upcoming issue of the Talon. I was assigned the position that "swearing affects faith," but, because I swear like a sailor, it was something of an intellectual exercise to figure out how to defend a position I not only disagree with, but actively resist. This is the result.
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Words are powerful. The words we speak define the types of thoughts that we can express, and it is through words that we explain to those listeners around us who we are. Seen in this light, language itself defines me as an individual and also peoples’ perceptions of me. Words exist, both written and spoken, as the most common and efficient means of communication with others. Thus, language use should not be taken lightly, because in a very real way language works to define both personality and integrity.

This same principle applies to the use of profanity. By swearing (or conversely, not swearing), we are making a statement about the kind of individuals we are. Whether we like it, or always realize it, people do judge character based on the language a person uses and how it is used. Ignoring this fact can result in sloppy, unintentional impressions which do not accurately reflect the true nature of a person. I don’t think this is necessarily an issue of whether swearing itself is right or wrong, but of appropriate behavior in certain situations and of us, as speakers, being aware of the kinds of effects those behaviors have on others.

Expressing faith is no different. When I was attending community college, one of the ways I chose to express my faith to my peers was through my choice not to swear. Profanity runs rampant on most campuses, so my choice to show that I was different was through speaking differently than my peers. This approach was inoffensive and implicit; it didn’t push Christianity down anyone’s throat, but instead introduced my character through my language use. In this way, I was able to set myself apart obviously, but still subtly.

Profanity is also contextual. Words often exist on a scale of ‘better’ or ‘worse,’ and although these standards are arbitrary and change with time, geography, and situation, the capricious nature of words needs to be considered. There is nothing faith-like about offending a person through needless profanity, so in order to avoid the possibility of causing undue offense and harm to one’s testimony, it is better to avoid the use of swear words at all. In this way, one’s own faith is unhampered and one’s impression on others also remains intact.

Language presents a unique opportunity to witness without being invasive, threatening, or overly evangelistic. If faith should come through actions and not just professed declarations, abstaining from swearing can only have positive effects on both faith itself and on perceptions of faith by others. Therefore, if we want to portray images of being people of faith, our language should also reflect that goal.

Water for Elephants: A Review

Water for Elephants, a novel by Sara Gruen, tells the story of young Jacob Jankowski as he reminisces about his transition from upstanding veterinarian-in-training to fully integrated circus worker. The novel involves Jacob as an old man in a nursing home, struggling to cope with his wavering vitality and familial connection by filtering his surroundings through the memory of his youth in the traveling circus, The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

After Jacob loses his parents in a fatal car crash, he runs away from his orderly life at Cornell, where he has been studying to be a veterinarian. Penniless and lonely, he jumps a train in the middle of the night - a decision that places him into the hands of fate. This train ends up being a circus train, and through the goodwill of August, the equestrian director, and the rough but lovable dwarf, Walter, Jacob becomes a vital part of circus life, as he uses his knowledge of animals to become the circus’ very own veterinarian.

Jacob’s newfound sense of belonging is jeopardized, however, when a friend becomes irreversibly ill and Jacob works to prevent him from being ‘redlighted,’ when the circus goes into debt over a supposedly stupid elephant, and when Jacob falls in love with Marlena, August’s wife and the circus’ star performer. Jacob shows his resourcefulness by befriending and training Rosie, the elephant, who becomes the show’s biggest money maker after Jacob crosses her language barrier. However, his desire to do the right thing and to protect Marlena pits him against the politics and shady practices of greedy Uncle Al, the manager of the circus, and against August, whose jealousy and violence ostracize him from both his wife and his friend.

This novel presents a vivid and delightful insider’s look at circus life during the 1930’s, while still engaging with the class and ethical issues of that setting. Jacob is unendingly likeable as a protagonist, and the cast of colorful supporting characters provides entertaining and haphazard scenarios of both humor and loyalty. However, the overall plot remains rather formulaic, occasionally feeling rushed and shying away from the details which would really bring the story to life. The dual development of Jacob as both an old man and a youth progress the novel on several stages with depth and delight, but underdeveloped main characters, such as Marlena, who acts more as device for Jacob to do good than anything else, and predicable plot devices keep this novel at the level of enchanting, but not challenging.