Letter: No Need For Vulgarity

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Letter: No Need For Vulgarity

Friday, 01 March 2013 00:00

171,476 - 47,156. Wondering what these numbers represent? These totals are the enormous amount of vocabulary afforded to us, both full entries and obsolete, that exists in the Oxford Dictionary, 2nd edition. So, with all these choices why is it that a good amount of today’s population opt to express themselves, and I am being gentle when I identify their language usage as “colorful” at best?

Since the birth of cable television non-censorship seems to have morphed into a “right.” There are little to non-existent guidelines with content. Recently while tuning into a network program that is viewed at 9 p.m., appearing on the screen before the credits began to roll were warnings advising that mature content, violence, language, and sexual content would be part of this program.

Family comedy shows fare no better. The off-color language used by the adults as well as the children is disheartening. Late night talk shows have a delay to bleep out the guest’s salty language but the viewer is well aware what had just been said. Music, rap in particular, has been an offender of this abuse for years. In 1968, Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, revamped the rating system. Language as well as violence received ratings that informed patrons what to expect before taking in a movie or whether a feature was age appropriate for their children. Recently, when leaving a theatre after a “blockbuster” movie, I felt like I had been beaten up for two hours, since the use of four letter words was rampant. What ever happened to a good script with a solid story line? Young grade school children are encouraged to “use your words” when trying to express themselves. Good advice for all of us, after all with 171,476 - 47,156 words to chose from, we can surely face the days challenges with a less abusive use of the English language.

Aside from being thoughtful and considerate of others around you, a marked intelligence would seem to say volumes of who we are and how we have evolved.

Diane Sciacchitano

News

Proposed School Budget Is Under Tax Cap

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00

Declining enrollment and

reserve funds are key factors

As voters in the Massapequa Union Free School District approach the Tuesday, May 21, budget vote, the proposed spending plan retains popular educational programs while keeping the rise in spending to 1.49 percent.

Despite what district officials call unprecedented increases in state-mandated employer pension contributions, as well as rising health insurance costs, the overall budget is up just over $2.7 million.

Rebuilding Together Long Island

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Rebuilding Together LI volunteers, sponsors from Long Island Board of Realtors and their associates from Albany, working on a home in Cedarhurst damaged by Sandy. After Massapequa resident Sol Goldstein and several friends helped finish building a house for a family 20 years ago for Habitat for Humanity, they had a question: “What do we do now?” They were all retired, had enjoyed working together and accomplishing something for a family in need, and wanted to do more.

“I was looking for something [to do] hands-on,” said Joe Botkin, of Williston Park, a retired principal, who had worked with Goldstein in building the home.

Sports

Coach of the Month: Vinny Zanfardino

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Vinny Zanfardino started his coaching career in 1997 when he stepped up to coach his daughter’s Little League team.

What started as a hobby turned into a full-blown obsession for Zanfardino, 48. Coaching became an outlet to do some good for children while staying close to the game he loves: baseball.

Golf Course To Be Named In Honor Of Colby

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

On Saturday, May 18, the Town of Oyster Bay will conduct a ceremony to officially re-name its golf course in honor of Joseph Colby, a resident of Massapequa Park who served as the Town of Oyster Bay’s 56th supervisor. The Honorable Joseph Colby was appointed supervisor in 1977 and was elected to that office five times in the following ten years. He was then elected as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in 1988, a post he held through his retirement from public service in 1992. The unveiling will take place at the main entrance of the course off South Woods Road in Woodbury.

“When the sign for Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course is unveiled, it will celebrate an outstanding career in public service,” Supervisor John Venditto said. “Joseph Colby has always had the needs of the public as his top priority and has been widely respected for his innovation and responsiveness. This golf course will now forever bear his name as a tribute to his outstanding legacy.”