THE EVIL OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
Ah yes, political correctness. It is the spine of a civilized society, the moral compass that keeps each us from inflicting verbal injury to our companions in this great country. Yes? Well let’s have another look.
Today, possibly more than at any other time in our great history, our personal freedoms are coming under attack, hijacked by a pervasive cancer. Our birthright to think and say what lives in our hearts is being appropriated by special interest minorities who covet the power to decide what you and I can and cannot say. Certain accepted thoughts and speech are being dictated to each of us. We have become Americans afraid to speak our minds, being told that some of our language is not politically correct.
Martin Gross said, “Blatantly irrational behavior is rapidly being established as the norm in almost every area of human endeavor. There seems to be new customs, new rules, and new anti-intellectual theories, regularly twisted on us…” Down deep in our hearts Americans know something is amiss and it is disturbing. We all know the examples, from Don Imus to David Howard. Telling us what to think has evolved into telling us what to say so telling us what to do cannot be far behind.
Why do we continue to put up with those who would claim to be the champions of truth and political correctness? In the future who will guard the freedoms of intellectual thought and ideas? If we lose the freedom to say what we want, when we want, to whom we want, have we not lost a basic freedom our forefathers won for us with their blood? We need to loose the fetters of political and cultural correctness by overturning onerous laws that weaken personal freedom.
Does this mean we have to abandon common decency and respect for others and their feelings? Of course not. Should we still speak out societal ills such as child pornography, mental and physical abuse, hate groups and their language, and poverty? Absolutely! What it does mean is that as members of our society we need to take the chip of our respective selves and quit whining that someone or some group said something we did not like. We must protect this most basic of freedoms.
In the past, disobedience has freed peoples, even founded religions and defeated dictators.
It even helped create this great land of ours.
I agree mostly with the tenant of this blog. But what can we do about it? I don’t know who the oppressor is? Who or what is the entity that restricts our speech? Is it the government by way of legislation? Is it politics whatever that may be? Is it society or the media? Is it just our own personal fear for being rejected because of our beliefs? I suspect it is a compilation of all of these things. I’m not likely to hit the ball by swinging the bat unless I can see the ball. I’m not sure I would even get in the batters box.
I agree that the cancer of political correctness often metastasizes into widespread intolerance and insecurity. Those who “worm” their way up the political ladder find themselves in an uncomfortable perch. Their authority is neither earned nor deserving. In their insecurity to embrace the truth and what is fair and right, they impose their values and demands on others. They do so not because they are right…but because they can!
Keep on writing to stimulate the dormant mind of those that yearn for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
The problem for all of us “incorrect thinkers” is how to change the lay of the land. My feeling is that it is hopless to try to change the system, like standing on the beach and trying to hold back the tide, pointless and impossible. It’s not always comfortable to feel like Don Quixote all the time, tilting at windmills. But are people of conviction to do otherwise?
Excellent post – and, even though only using the US trait, I agree with you.
It is those who allow political correctness to have a say at the forefront of political doctrine. The very people you vote for bring forth the legislation that stops you speaking your mind, so it is the government who you vote for that oppresses you – the irony of that?
The media follows through on the side that they choose – you have left-wing and right-wing fighting a pitched battle for your thoughts. Look at the neocon and the neoliberal – both espouse how they know best and you should think their way – they never do seem to grasp that you can think for yourself, which is what they should be saying in the first place and stand by that mantra – forcefully!