How many times have you dropped the F-bomb in front of your children? Do you use the word S*%^ as an adjective? Think about it. I’m not referring to the time when you stepped on a handful of LEGOs with bare feet or took a header into the pavement when you were teaching your 5-year-old to ride without training wheels. I’m talking about regular use of curse words as part of your daily vocabulary. If you routinely use expletives in front of your kids without realizing it, then you might take note of a dad in Philly.
A father in Philadelphia apparently used his potty mouth enough that a judge stepped in to get him to shut it… only the dad didn’t listen and now he’s being made to pay—literally.
According to news reports, the foul-mouthed father, who is currently embroiled in a custody dispute, was ordered by a judge to refrain from using any profanity when dealing with the mother of his 9-year-old daughter, and using any type of language around the girl that’s “inappropriate.”
A judge mandated the order a few months ago following a custody study that showed that the father used foul language when he was with his daughter. At the time, the dad reasoned that since his cursing was directed at the girl’s mom (whom he never married, but shares custody of the child with) and not his daughter, he was justified.
A judge ruled otherwise, the cursing father kept ripping off four-lettered words, and last month the dad was slapped with a $2,000 fine for cursing in front of his daughter… again.
Now, the potty-mouthed parent is fighting back.
According to reports, the dad hired a new attorney and is fighting the fee. The dad’s lawyer maintains that the judge’s ruling is too vague and violates his client’s First Amendment rights. He filed an appeal with the state Superior Court and plans to continue his fight for his right to swear in front of his kid. Nice.
What do you make of the dad’s audacity to fight the fine?
Some say more power to the dad, who by the way admits that he did repeatedly curse in front of his daughter following the judge’s order requiring that he stop.
The problem, according to those in the legal community who support the dad’s appeal, is that the judge was not specific enough in his mandate.
The dad’s attorney maintains that orders issued in the area of First Amendment rights must be framed in the narrowest of terms so as not to prohibit or infringe on any constitutionally protected speech.
“Not only does the order prohibit clearly constitutionally protected speech, it is unconstitutionally vague and subject to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. Who gets to determine what speech is inappropriate and under what standards?”
Bottom line: The dad doesn’t want to pay the fine, and most certainly doesn’t want a third-person party telling him what he can say in front of his kid.
“People use profanity,” the dad’s attorney told news reporters. “Sometimes they use it around their children. We may not like it, but that does not mean that this broad ruling is fair.”
The dad neglected to follow a court order–plain and simple. Why shouldn’t he have to suffer the consequences of his actions? I think the dad should pay the fine, and shut his mouth.
What do you think?
Related Articles:
Parental Threat: Intention Good, Results Not So Much
Be Glad You Aren’t These Parents
“Slumdog” Star’s Crazy Father Beats Him
What Happens When Your Own Mother Thinks You’re an Abomination
What NOT to do with Your Newborn Twins
What Kind of Parents Take Their Kids Shopping on Black Friday?