Dad and I have been watching the Leave It to Beaver series at night. It's interesting to see how language has changed since the 1950s. Some words and phrases don't carry the same meaning today as they did back then. For instance, the word creep had a much more benign meaning back then than it does now. And refreshingly, I have yet to hear one bit of profanity used on the show.
Leave It to Beaver actually teaches morals, etiquette and manners. It's a cool show and I would recommend it. I recommend very little because very little is recommendable. But I will recommend this show. It's entertaining, funny even and exemplifies family values and good family dynamics.
When Beaver feels like someone has wronged him, he calls him a rat. When Beaver gets upset and angry with someone he will yell "rat rat rat!" at them. I find this to be an accurate and descriptive portrayal or depiction of someone who has wronged you.
I wish more people nowadays had as great a command of the English language as little Beaver did. Nowadays when people get upset they just tend to spew nonsensical profanity that has nothing to do with the situation.
When Beaver called someone a rat, they knew exactly how he felt about them and what he thought of them. Now, when people spew profanity at you you just know that they are angry and have no respect for you.
Beaver knew that you could be extremely upset with someone, descriptively express your anger, yet still respect them. Lowering yourself to spewing profanity just shows your lack of communication skills and extreme disrespect to the target of the profanity. Profanity is highly offensive and disrespectful.
Another interesting thing about Leave It to Beaver is the way they dressed. Ward Cleaver, the father, was usually in a suit and tie. June Cleaver, the mother, was always dressed nicely in a dress and pearls. With well set hair. To me this also indicates a level of respect for others. To always try to look your best.
The Cleavers represent idyllic family life, yet each episode portrayed problems that needed to be solved or some kind of conflict that needed to be resolved.
The Cleavers represent the kind of nuclear family that families today should strive to be like. The parents weren't perfect, yet they tried their best to be good parents. The kids weren't perfect, yet they respected their parents and their decisions.
It's amazing how much television depictions of family life have changed over the past 60 years. It's quite sad how families are portrayed now. And how much families have actually changed. I don't know if it's life imitating art or art imitating life. Either way, it's tragic.
By the way, if I ever say "rat rat rat!" to you, you will know I'm extremely upset with you. :-)
That's my two cents
It is very sad and tragic that there is such lack of respect in language now days. People in public don't even think anything of spewing vulgarity around others. It is very tragic how some people's self worth is so low they allow people to refer to them with degrading terms and foul language and they think it is "normal." I wish the values in society were what they were back in Beaver's day. Pretty sad the reality.
ReplyDelete