"Political correctness is a doctrine,fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,
and rabidly promoted by an
unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition
that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd
by the clean end."
— Texas A&M
"Texas A&M" is your source for this quote? The whole university?
ReplyDeleteOr, more likely, is it the part of the university that charges non-white students more to enter its clubs, chose the site for its livestock facility according to the race of the local residents, and whose students are remembered for posting blackface videos online?
Please, Ed, as a champion of fairness and clear thinking, tell us more. Obviously you're the only one around here who can see the fine line between "political correctness" and "calling out racist bullshit".
Funny, I always thought that political correctness was simply being polite and sensible enough not to use vile racial epithets and sexist language in official documents. I always thought it was about allowing people the dignity of choosing the label others use to refer to them instead of some perjorative stereotype and not allowing people to promote hate for minority groups.
ReplyDeleteSilly me, I forgot how terribly oppressive it is for us white middle aged men not to be allowed to talk about the department secretary's tits or tell "Polak" jokes at faculty meetings or to refuse to rent appartments to people from Pakistan because "those people are dirty" or to use any hurtful enthic or racial slur we want.
Silly me, I forgot that simple common sense, good manners and not being a bigot were just like Stalinism.
"Political correctness" is in itself a slur against all of us who have taken seriously the need to change our own and society's thinking and language toward inclusiveness and away from racism and sexism. By denigrating such effort as merely "politically correct" this term trivializes the commitment involved in making an important and worthwhile change.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone who is walking his mutts in -30Cs Alberta, by the the dog has crapped and moved on, it's solid enough that there is no dirty end.
ReplyDeleteMoral: cooling shit down and understanding the issue more fully leads to an easier life for all.
harebell FTW!
ReplyDelete"Political correctness" is in itself a slur against all of us who have taken seriously the need to change our own and society's thinking and language toward inclusiveness and away from racism and sexism."
ReplyDeleteAw, Cathie, lighten up. It's difficult being the vanguard of the proletariat, to be sure. You missed the point in your rush to assume the role inherent in politically-correct behaviour: the role of the sanctimonious scold. The Lucy Van Pelt of politically-correct.
But, you're right: racist and sexist thinking has to change, and is changing.
However, in making these changes, sometimes, perspective gets lost.
It's like seeing somebody driving along with a BABY ON BOARD! sign in the back window: a presumption, a demand on others.
Excellent. The only possible response from the privileged white male bigot for being called out on his bullshit? "Lighten up." No attempt to address the issues brought up. No defence for the racist slime he's posted here. If you don't agree with the intolerance or bigotry he posts, people, that's your fault. Just lighten up.
ReplyDeleteAnd Cathie, don't you feel better now that Ed's given you that little pat on the head? You can see that he's taken your objections seriously, and even deigned to throw you some platitudes. Now lighten up, because there's no way his thinking is going to change. Best you just deal with it.
Yes, Ed, racist and sexist thought is changing, but it's no thanks to you and your fellow-travellers at SDA, GOTR, and the like.
Jesus fucking Christ Ed. 1990 was a long time ago. Get over it.
ReplyDeleteI'm old enough to remember when the phrase "politically correct" was an in-joke in progressive / socialist / red circles instead of a favourite rhetorical cudgel of Rush Lumbaugh's army of Dittoheads. Before it became a means of defending shitbird platitudes & paradigms & a means of bullying progressives into silence by mocking the offence they took at offensive attitudes & behaviour, it was the lefty version of that Monty Python "nudge-nudge-wink-wink-know-what-I-mean-say-no-more" sketch: being accused of being "PC" then was code for "You're chickening out by falling back on doctrine & parroting rhetoric instead of letting us know what you really think/believe. You need to switch up your hustle & elevate your game if you want to step up to home plate & bat w/ the rest of us heavy-hitters." The unironic use of the phrase "PC" in the mouths of reactionaries is shorthand for "I'm a walking, talking haemorrhoid, & I've just told you everything you need to know about what an unrepentant asshole I am. Let me prove it some more. No really! I've got nothing else to do."
Ed, you post some well thought-out, beautifully-written material that is a joy to read. & then you post shit like this & the former comes crashing down w/ the sound of all the breaking glass in the world. Bill Maher pulls the same act, but he gets paid to do it. What's your excuse?
Calling You Out W/ Love,
Smartpatrol.
p.s.: What Paperboy, Cathie & M@ said.