It has been interesting to read the controversy regarding Jane Fonda’s recent use of the C-Word on telly in America while discussing the V Monologues with the author, Eve Ensler.

My late grandfather regularly insulted us – his granddaughters – using the Gikuyu translation of the word. The Gikuyu version sounds 10008 million times worse than the English version. We were not special. My grandfather was an equal-opportunity abuser; any real or perceived slight (spilling his beer unintentionally which was what I did once constituted a colossal insult where my grandfather was concerned) was enough to get the old man swearing at one and all. I have subsequently learned that that side of the family are universally known for their bulls-eye insults.

I have one friend who swears all day long using the F-word and yet cannot bring herself to use the C-word – she calls it C U Next Tuesday. Interestingly, my friend is the most morally upright person I know.

I don’t swear and don’t know how to swear. I sometimes wish I did.

 Retweet This Post