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Foxnews...
Just ‘Go the F*** to
Sleep’ -- When Did We Become So Crude?
By Eric Metaxas
June 17, 2011
I’m the author of several books, including children’s books. But my
latest children’s book -- a gorgeously illustrated lullaby titled “It’s
Time to Sleep, My Love’ -- was recently parodied by someone... The
parody is a #1 bestseller, and the title is, umm... “Go the F*** to
Sleep.” Sorry, but I’m not joking. Perhaps you’ve seen it? It’s been
hard to miss.
It’s all a bit bizarre, especially because the author of the F-bomb
book never admits it’s a parody of my book, which is illustrated by the
famous children’s book author/illustrator Nancy Tillman. But if you
look at the two books for yourself, it’s screamingly obvious! Check out
the similarities here.
Admittedly, his book is funny and cleverly done, but the idea that a #1
bestseller has the F-word in the title really does bother me. I’m
almost flattered that this guy thought to parody my book -- even if he
won’t admit it -- but did he really need to use that word in the title?
I recently read in the newspaper about a man kicked off a Delta flight
for using the F-word loudly enough for other passengers to hear. I’m
often amazed at what people say in public and I’m old-fashioned enough
to think that no one -- my wife and daughter, for example -- should
have to hear such things in public settings. Delta did the right thing.
There are such things as public standards, and they need to be
enforced, and Delta should be congratulated. Bravo, Delta!
But this is still a complicated issue. Just this morning I got an
e-mail from a man who was upset as he read my bestselling biography,
“Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy,” accusing me of using “cuss
words” in my book. He said he has stopped reading and will not read any
more of my books! He ended his miffed missive with “I thought you were
supposed to be a Christian?” I’m guessing he was offended by quotes I
included in the book of some of the vulgar things that Martin Luther
said. And yes, that part of the book is pretty salty. But “cuss words”?
My book was recently named “Christian Book of the Year,” so you can see
that this really is complicated. Who’s to decide what’s vulgar?
I think the fact that I use salty words in my Bonhoeffer book would tip
you off that I’m no prude, exactly. And oddly enough I’ve written a ton
of humor and parody myself. As an undergrad I was the editor of the
Yale humor magazine and since then I’ve published humor in the New York
Times and Atlantic, among other places. I’ve even written parodies of
children’s books! Including Dr. Seuss books... Perhaps you’ve heard of
“And to Think that I Saw John Gotti on Mulberry Street?”
So what’s my beef? I guess I’m concerned that vulgarity has now
officially entered the mainstream of our culture and I think people
have to respectfully stand up and say “no thanks.” Does the fact these
things are in the eyes of the beholder mean that we cannot have some
public standards? Or that we shouldn’t at least try?
I think we always have to ask ourselves: What kind of a culture do we
want to live in? Because if we don’t think about that, and we don’t
have the guts to speak up in a gracious and civil manner, then things
will inevitably continue to slide in the same direction. Isn’t that
obvious already? Do we really want these words on shelves for our kids
to see?
Besides, a book with the title “Go the F*** to Sleep” is only one short
step away from a hypothetical book written by a husband about his
nagging wife, titled “Shut the F*** Up!” Couldn’t that be hilarious?
Tons of guys would buy it and talk about it. But why wouldn’t I write
such a thing or purchase such a thing? I wouldn’t, but I’m sure many
people would say “C’mon, dude! Lighten up! It’s just a joke. And it’s
soooo hilarious!!!” The book might even be witty and clever, somewhat
mitigating the vulgarity of it all, just as the cleverness of the “Go
the F*** to Sleep” book does to some extent. Fine. But at what point do
we say, “Thanks, but no thanks”?
Also, can’t we admit that “Shut the F*** Up!” could slightly encourage
spousal abuse? Don’t we think “Go the F*** to Sleep” might conceivably
encourage child abuse? Not even slightly? Really? So the question is,
where do we draw the line and when do we just say “no thanks”?
With this F-bomb bestseller, I’m afraid I’m at that point. I have
nothing against the author, who is obviously talented, nor even against
people who think I’m being fussy and over-reacting. Perhaps I am. But I
reserve the right to draw my own line in the sand, for myself and my
family. I think the F-word doesn’t belong in mainstream venues and I
think using it publicly is out of bounds. Is it out of bounds for me to
say that? If so, why? Please discuss.
Read it with links at Foxnews
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