Pubdate: Tue, 08 Jul 2003
Source: Tennessean, The (TN)
Copyright: 2003 The Tennessean
Contact:  http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: Linda Ashford

GIVING SLANG PRESS COVERAGE GOING TOO FAR

To the Editor:

It looks like I risk being called ''uncool'' by refusing to ''acquire'' the 
slanguage (sic) of the hip-hop generation. (''School for the uncool,'' July 
3) From a close look at the dictionary in A. Tacuma Roeback's article, it 
seems like a portion of these words belong to a probable drug culture.

Now, I am highly supportive and downright chauvinistic when it comes to 
celebrating our youth today. For example, I am not interested in devaluing 
our real track stars who slog it out day in and day out on the high school 
track by taking that moniker for a coward.

When The Tennessean publishes slang words for a jail cell, lips that have 
smoked too much marijuana and a police helicopter, I would say that they 
have mastered yet another type of language and that is talking out of both 
sides of their mouth at the same time.

How can our youth take us seriously about saying no to drugs when we are so 
cavalier about the very trappings of this culture?

So, Tennessean, take it from one of your own - it's now time to ''pump the 
brakes.''

Linda Ashford

Nashville 37212
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