Public Eye Meet Potty Mouth

Jeepers, I sorta feel like a dud.

I discovered today that I have been forever immortalized in print as saying, “I’m going to kick some ass!” (in fundraising, just to clarify)

I attended Friday’s press conference for the Alzheimer’s Society of Central Alberta’s annual Fundraising Gala. I met some lovely people, including other local public personalities who will be working the event. We had a few pictures taken for promotional purposes and will do our best to help out.

It was meant as a light-hearted joke. The person recording my whopping 30 second interview asked how I got involved with this event. I told him that Real Woman had been contacted by Donna Durand back in early 2009 regarding the remarkable, inspiring and resilient Faye Stephenson. (She suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s.) I said we featured her in the Mother’s Day 2009 issue and then I said that I had been asked to participate in the Gala and that I would gladly do so to raise funds and awareness…

and then I finished with a cocky, lighthearted dig for my fundraising team-mates about my serving prowess.

And out of all of that, what they quoted me as saying is ‘I’m going to kick some ass.’

Niiiiiice. Classic, Kim.

I can feel my mother shudder and cringe from here.
Worse, I am cringing at myself.
Jeeze Louise.
Way to go.
Smooth move.
Real professional.
Good public representative.
How can you be taken seriously when you are quoted in public cursing?

Lord almighty, who’s voice is that?
Is it mine?
How on earth did I get so nasty to myself?

It’s the word ass, Kim. Chill out. I mean, for goodness sakes, Elton John is being torn to shreds for his personal vision of Christ as a gay man… relax.

It’s a sensitive spot for me though. A few months ago, I was asked to speak at a luncheon and in the same breath asked to refrain from swearing. Like, what? Every second word of mine is insane profanity? Not quite.

It makes me wonder: Would philanthropist, business man and Dragon’s Den star Brett Wilson be considered vulgar and inappropriate if he was quoted as saying “kick some ass”?

Or what about former president, Bill Clinton? If he’d been asked to lend his hand to a cause and was quoted as saying, “I’m going to kick some ass!” – would he feel awkward? Embarassed? Would he be seen as crude?

Or might he be recognized as being relaxed, at ease, jovial and even, playful?

In any public role, there are expectations for your behaviour. (Think community politician, school principal, pastor)

A good public role model must -
Get involved
Roll up their sleeves
Dig in
Volunteer
Lead
Give
Stretch
Support
Risk

Just don’t say ass in public!

Like somehow my choice of nouns negates my ability to be smart and contribute.

Is it that same old double standard that eats the chrome off my bumper? Women must be presentable, ladylike, demure, appropriate and intelligent, mild mannered and well behaved to be thought respectable.

Yet I’ve done it. I do it. I’ve  judged other women based on vulgarity. Recently.

Moral? Never say anything into a tape recorder that you wouldn’t want played back at your funeral. That’s funny! I personally think that ”I’m going to kick some ass” would elicit a huge laugh from my friends and family.

I have trouble conforming. I find it downright boring. Anyone who knows and loves me, knows that what you see is what you get with me.  I yam what I yam.

And now… I’m taking this ass to bed.