Jerry Pittman, second from left, probes the water of St. Louis Bay with a stick to determine its depth. He and brothers Ernest, Jerry and Chris Willhite and Les Pittman (not related), from Starkville, Miss., traveled 300 miles to Bay St. Louis six weeks ago to work construction jobs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. On their day off, they walked to the end of a pier on St. Louis Bay and deliberated about whether to jump into the water. Concerns included water temperature and depth.
Click "play" to see and hear them arrive at their decision.
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Baghdad envy
Ok so I read the comments first and was expecting some really bad language. If that kind of language is what these people are so affended by, how do they get by day to day? I hear worse than that on my junior high school bus route. You can't shield the world. I think they had some fun during a difficult time.
Joanne (Sent Nov 13, 2005 9:31:13 AM)
My daughter hears much worse on the school bus. I was a little leary to listening because of a couple of the comments. All I could do was grin. I third Fred's comments. Thank you, young men, for your unselfish work. Actions have always spoken louder than words.
Rae from Brunswick, Maine (Sent Nov 13, 2005 9:52:28 AM)
I can not even believe that you people have nothing better to do than complain about innocent swearing from some young construction workers who are helping to rebuild a completely devastated area. And if that is the worst language your kids have heard then they are living quite a sheltered life and I feel bad for how they are going to grow up.
Michael Thomas, Philadelphi, PA (Sent Nov 13, 2005 10:34:11 AM)
Lighten up.
unkown (Sent Nov 13, 2005 11:06:58 AM)
Give me a break! If your so concerned with the cussing, then why don't you check out the clip before hand. It's always nice to hear some laughter in an area that has experienced so much grief.
Rosa from Yardley, PA (Sent Nov 13, 2005 11:11:05 AM)
You and only you are responsible for being the filter. Not a website, tv channel, radio station, newspaper, or any other form of media, puiblic or private. Accept the responsiblity, pony up and be the filter your #$@$# self. Of course, the longer you filter your kids from what is really everyday normal life, the harder that fall from grace will be. Hear no evil, speak no evil, just makes evil more inticing
Emily, FL (Sent Nov 13, 2005 11:15:14 AM)
IT IS REALLY SAD TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED ON WHAT IS BAD OR GOOD. I PERSONALLY, DON'T GET IT.WHEN I SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE FACING MY HEART BREAKS AND I FEEL SO THANKFUL FOR MY HOME.I BELIEVE IF WE ALL WOULD EXTEND MORE GRACE WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER OFF.
LISA LIGHTFOOT HIGH POINT NORTHCAROLINA (Sent Nov 13, 2005 6:41:27 PM)
I hate to say it but if children aren't home schooled, they probably already know all the words! Why is it that someone has to take something so simple as a few guys enjoying themselves and turn it into a debate on language habits. It seems to me that is the least of our problems right now!
Judy, Kilgore, TX (Sent Nov 14, 2005 3:22:49 PM)
Close your "virgin, hypocritical ears and eyes" if ya'all don't like the language. I think these boys just out there having some fun and talking the way they talk. I am sure those opposed to a little language have some issues of their very own? Issues like hate of another person perhaps due to their religion or skin color that is not just like theirs, or against someone who does not attend church or the same kind of church as they? Wow, there are some truly better things to waste your time on than trying to "protect little Johnny do good" from the language of real life.
Sorry, but kids are going to hear it, whether at home on television, or at school. I do not care how much a parent tries to teach their children about "foul language" as a parent of an autistic child that readily repeats everything like a "mimic" he hears all kinds of words at school that we have not even heard before! So again, teach your kids that just because they hear it does not make it right. Life is about being a part of the world around you and not being influenced by those "evil" wrongs such as bad language. There is always also, the good ol' mute button.
Suzanne, California (Sent Nov 15, 2005 4:10:27 PM)
FRED HUNT...You are sooo right!
We should take ALL children of schoolage, and BLEEP every bad, potentially "evil" words right out of textbooks too. This includes the Holy Bible, the Koran and ANY written material that they may get their hands on, and BLEEP every word that may induce a dislike, a hate, or a fear or anything and anybody that could appear to be negative. Then, we can take them and blindfold them to and from school in case they may see some "reality" that could scar them for life such as homeless person or robbery or a very bad auto collision or any other bad thing they may happen to see...Oh let us not forget the earplugs as they may hear something they were so sheltered from at home that could upset them.
And let us take these do-goodie mommies and daddies with their "virginal, pure, naive, ignorant ears" and remove all televisions, computers or anything that they may become offended by from their homes and offices...Yep, we could be like China, and let the Government tell us all what we can and cannot watch on television or listen to on the radio and read. Yep, life in America, where freedoms are being whittled down by these "do-gooders"...Gotta love it.
Val (Sent Nov 15, 2005 4:23:53 PM)
Of 32 comments, 31 were concerned with some mild cussing of the guys. No one responded to the comment regarding the safety of the Bay's water. It's making a lot of the people in surrounding communities sick. SICK!!! and dieing. Why are you all so concerned about a few words and not about the pollution of our water?
Elaine Bay St Louis (Sent Nov 16, 2005 8:47:43 PM)
Yep, forget about the water and concern ourselves with some BAAADDD words..."OUCH! My poor sensitive, virgin ears!" LOL...really now, the water is very dangerous. If you wouldn't drink it you certainly should not go into it. Well, boys will be boys after all, so hopefully they had their shots for any diseases that can be in the water, or very quickly got them and whatever else you can get from foul water they will not get sick.
Again about the cussing...seems our society is so worried about "foul language and other "immoral acts" that the real danger goes almost unoticed or simply brushed aside such as bully punk kids assaulting another child in school that may be physically and/or mentally challenged or kids that just beat up other kids for whatever reasons they may have. Another example as many know, it seems the worst of the worst of crimes for a five or six year old boy to kiss a little girl on the cheek, but if he were to hit her or shove her this is simply brushed aside...but this is NOT the blog for any further comments on that particular issue.
Thank you for those that remind of us the fact that this water is BAD and should not be swam in.
Hope everyone is staying safe and hopefully all will be cleaned up efficiently and quickly and may all have the best in their future endeavors.
The Harlow's, San Diego, California (Sent Nov 18, 2005 11:48:40 AM)
You have GOT to be kidding me!
I sure hope THESE are the ONLY four letter words your kids ever hear! Right! If your 11 year old had NOT already heard or even said these words, then MAN, you should write a book on Perfect Parents for Perfect Kids!
I have teenagers, and the way they talk to each other today, is AWFUL AND UNNACCEPTABLE! in my presence. They were taught to be nice, and not use foul language, but I have learned that peers have more power than parents in some situations.
Believe me - THERE ARE WORSE THINGS IN LIFE!
Like a couple of other comments, just use incidences like this to educate your children. Think of it as one of those few, precious, warm and fuzzy moments you get to have with your child.
sherry, fayetteville, ga (Sent Oct 9, 2007 4:26:56 PM)
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