Political Correctness: Cowardice With A Smile

I was engaged in a really great conversation last night with a very lovely young woman and I made the comment, “You never have to guess with me: I say what I mean and I mean what I say. Some may say that I’m not the nicest person in the world. To that I can only say that I have no intention of ever being mean, I just keep it real…if it bothers them, then it’s because they’re too much of a coward to be forthright themselves!”

I began thinking about what I’d just said…people really ARE cowards! In my 4-May post I made the statement that people lie because of cowardice…and now I’m contending that cowardice is also the culprit behind political correctness…I may have to devote some time to the concept of cowardice itself and share my findings with you at some point in the future…or maybe not…it might be boring…

Anyway, I digress. Wikipedia says, “Political correctness (often abbreviated to PC) is a term used to describe language or behavior that is intended, or said to be intended, to provide a minimum of offense, particularly to racial, cultural, or other identity groups…

…Critics often use terms such as inclusive language and civility are often used to praise language that they see as "politically correct". Those who use the term in a critical fashion often express a concern about the dilution of freedom of speech, intolerance of language, and the avoidance of a discussion of social problems…George H.W. Bush spoke out against a "movement" who would "declare certain topics off-limits, certain expressions off-limits, even certain gestures off-limits.”

Catch that? The avoidance of a discussion of social problems... Let me translate: people are too PUSSY to have real discussions of real social issues; it’s easier to hide behind “please don’t offend me”! So afraid are we of offending someone that we can barely say HI anymore…no, really! Remember the scene on UnderCover Brother when Conspiracy Brother said, “Hi? What you mean hi? Like "high yellow wanna be white"? "High" like the *white man* wants to keep us? Wait, you don't smell any weed on me, do you?”

Seriously though, why do we avoid things? Cowardice! I’m not advocating that we throw epithets around, intentionally hurting people’s feelings but the opposite extreme is just as bad. While we’re walking around on pins and needles, careful not to be offensive, no problems are being solved…we can’t solve racism, sexism or any other “ism” if we can’t even be open and honest with each other. Political correctness rubs you on the back, smiles in your face and makes you FEEL good, but it doesn’t do a damned thing to help in actually resolving real issues…

Just my thoughts…err ranting for today…