Mailbag

     Lots of email about yesterday's column on Gov. JB Pritzker unleashing an f-bomb on the president. I tried to answer each one intelligently, and think you might enjoy glimpsing that process rather than anything else I might write. 

     I was ecstatic when I saw our gov say that to Trump. Bless him!
     No better way to get your point across.
     Ginny M.

     We are still a free people allowed to speak freely. What good is that right if we don't use it? Thanks for writing.

     NS

     I read your article this morning and find that Governor Pritzker and his language to be offensive. The Governor is obviously frustrated with all the drama the state of Illinois is under. We all want to return to normalcy . The Governor in expressing his disdain with trashy language lessens him as a person. Remember he’s the guy that avoided taxes and removed toilets from his house. We can do better without him shooting off bad language.
     Patty L.

     Luckily, I'm not responsible for what you choose to be offended by. Though given what's going on in this country, led by a chronic liar, bully, fraud and traitor, friend to dictators and pedophiles, I can understand a person deciding to take refuge in quaint attitudes, complaining about naughty words. But please don't mistake it for virtue. It's a form of escapism and — no offense intended — cowardice. Thanks for writing.
     NS

     Most readers stop writing at this point, but Patty took another swing.

     At least someone finally standing up to all the democrats who have pulled the covers over peoples eyes.

     I wouldn't dream of arguing with you. Thanks for writing.

     Italians have a saying regarding foul language: “ Quando ci vuole, ci Vuole” translation: ( When it is needed, it is needed.)  💞 your columns.

     Bob A.

     Ooo, I like that. I'm going to tuck it away for future use. My favorite Italian saying, used to explain whatever is going on in the current clutter, shortcoming and disorder of life, is Tengo familia — "I have a family." Thanks.

     NS

     Hi Neil, I’m curious if there is one ST writer who can say one positive thing about the President. There are many to be said and written! You and the ST are so savagely slanted against him it would be nice to hear other views especially from a service that I have so respected until recently. You stand behind our Governor to tell him to F off? Really? Is this what you teach aspiring writers and reporters? Come on we can all do better in some areas. You can’t tell me Kamala would be a better president? It’s laughable! Things are looking way up especially getting criminals out of our cities. Unless you guys like this? Please offer other views for us for us long time loyal readers. 

      Best, Kevin L.

     Sorry, can't help you there. Of course Trump has positive aspects, and I've written about them — he pushed for a vaccine against COVID (that he later minimized). He got rid of the penny. And Hitler built the Autobahn. So what? Your email is the classic red herring argument — "Boo hoo, you're mean to my president, who is so great." Let me state the situation plainly, since you seem to be confused: Donald Trump is a liar, bully, fraud and traitor trying to dismantle the American democratic system so he can stay in power forever. That you are blind to the fact and want to be catered to so you feel better, well, that's your misfortune, and ours. Kamala Harris would have hands down been a better president. Again, your being blind to it doesn't change the matter — colors don't wink out of existence when a person chooses to wear blinders. I'm glad you are, supposedly, a long-time, loyal reader. But given that, you aren't reading too closely, are you? I mean, it doesn't seem to have helped you much. I'd say try reading for comprehension, rather than begging the news to be skewed to suit your pitiful misunderstanding of life in America today.

      NS

     I’ve always been curious with lexicology and, specifically, swear words. What actually makes a swear word a “swear” word? Why is “fuck” a swear word and “wish” isn’t?
     Yvette C.

     Now, that is an excellent question. My off-the-top-of-my-head guess is it has to do with oaths — "By God's wounds!" or whatever — which were the initially "forbidden" words and terms. You were swearing, as in an oath. But let me look into that on tomorrow's blog. Thanks for asking.

     Bingo. In my OED, the first 11 definitions of "swear" — nearly two pages — have to do with oaths. Finally, we get "12. Swear at — a.To imprecate evil upon by an oath; to address with profane imprecation; gen. to utter maledictions against; to curse."

      Which is why, now that I think of it, they're also called "curse words."

     My wife said that Neil Steinberg is the best columnist in Chicago. 
     And I said, “No shit!”

     Dodd B.

     Tell your wife "thank you," and she is too kind. Part of me wants to demur with "Well, yeah, because I'm the only columnist in Chicago at this point." That gives the short shrift to esteemed colleagues, such as Eric Zorn and his invaluable Picayune Sentinel, or Lee Bey, who does an incredible amount of excellent work. I'm still shaking my head in awe and smiling over the fantastic piece he did on painting the Edgewater Beach Apartments. (I mean really, who even does that? Writes about a building being painted?) And such a wealth of detail, from the hue of the paint (sunset pink) to the amount (500 gallons) to my favorite, the seaplane that the adjacent hotel once had.
     But I digress, as is my wont. Thanks again.
     NS

     I found your discussion to be fascinating. In Eric Zorn's blog, we Joe Schmo readers have been having quite a discussion. I would say debate. But most of us primarily elderly white and mostly on the liberal side readers seem to be on the same page. When I was a young lad on the south side, I lived in fear of certain words. They were likely to bring down the wrath of hell(Oops- can I use that word) from my very socially conservative parents. Did you know that having your face slapped hurts and soap doesn't taste very good. But as a senior citizen, I have arrived at the view that even though words can be a powerful force, I am a lot more concerned about actions than potty mouth. Trump is a fine example. He is boyishly proud of himself for the killing of those on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There has been no trial or proof evident of their guilt. There are many other examples of those he has harmed. Cleaning up the language has not helped any of them. I'll bet their families and friends would be more than happy to listen to a few nasty words to have them back or otherwise doing better.. So while I admit words can have a powerful effect(quote Lincoln and MLK) I am personally more concerned about actions than F's, H's, S's and D's.    
     Laurence S.

     Good, good — "fascinating" is what I'm going for. I too admired Eric Zorn's treatment of the topic. And yes, despite having liberal Jewish parents, like you, I know both what it's like to have your face slapped, hard, and to have your mouth washed out with soap.
     I too am a senior citizen, barely. I can ride public transportation for half price. And while I fancy myself something of a wordsmith, I like to use the full range of words, and find censorship is never ending. Allow certain words to be off-limits, and the ring grows. We start with the "n-word" and get to the "f-word" and very quickly the reader has no idea what you're talking about.
     I can't understand the horror that supposed adults have over these words. I recently wrote a profile on Cynthia Yeh, the percussionist at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She used the phrase "beating the shit out of" a drum. Said it twice. I thought the usage was charming, and contrary to the pretense of high culture that gets draped over classical music. I liked it so much I asked my boss if we could print the actual word?
     We dashed it. And the CSO was so aghast that I quoted the musician saying that word, which she actually said, twice, they said, in essence, "Beat it. We don't want to work with you on stories anymore." I've never written anything about the CSO since. I found it very sad. Then again, there's a lot of very sad going around. Thanks for writing.

    There's more, but that should do for today. See you tomorrow.