Susan Dench of Falmouth is my newest heroine.
Her essay in today’s Bangor Daily News is perhaps one of the clearest and most concise pieces that dares to tackle the soft and fuzzy slush associated with “politically correct” speech.
An excerpt:
Politically correct linguistic gymnastics is part of our everyday conversation. As panderers promote victimhood, multiculturalism and identity politics we’ve had to become excruciatingly careful how words trip off the tongue. It’s exhausting. After all, a little slip-up, and bam — you could find yourself on the unpleasant receiving end of a sermon, a scolding or even a lawsuit.
Read the full piece here: If you need to perform linguistic gymnastics, is it really free speech?
Ms. Dench offers us a wake-up call. I wonder how many of us are going to just hit the snooze button.
LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 
I think she’s being petty because she’s pissed about the Christmas tree. Yeah, okay, sometimes politically correct language is cumbersome, but it’s not as though anyone’s “free speech” is being censored. Everyone is free to be as politically incorrect as they’d like to be in their own personal expression. Those of us who care about fostering a culture of inclusion will be just as free to think those who choose not to participate are being willfully ignorant of cultural diversity. It’s not so much about politics as it is about having basic human empathy and expressing it through word choice.
It’s perfectly politically correct to talk about god or religion, so long as one acknowledges (even tacitly) that their own god may not be the same one as everyone else’s and, so, using god or the bible may not be the “be all end all” argument. Basically, political correctness boils down to having the common courtesy not to assume that you are not the only type of human being who matters.
LikeLike
Bre, with all due respect, we all tend to overreact, but I like to believe that a little common sense and common courtesy goes a long way. Whatever happened to: When in Rome, do as the Romans do? Too many people who yelp for diversity, really don’t care much for real diversity: they only like the diversity that suits their particular taste. For example, a real diversity panel would have to include sharply different viewpoints in order to be truly “diverse.” Sorry, but I think we have taken things too far, and will concede that it’s a damn slippery slope we perch upon in our attempt to offend no one.
LikeLike
I agree that censorship is a slippery slope, but I think there’s a concrete difference between not saying something at all and saying something with the understanding that others feel differently and are still valid.
To that end, I think political correctness (and, in particular, sensitive word choice) empower people to have divisive and potentially uncomfortable discourse about diversity without making any other participants feel “less-than” because of their cultural/social identities.
LikeLike
It took me a long time to figure out that none of us have the power to “make” someone/anyone “feel” anything. We can be respectful and dignified, but your feelings are your own responsibility. I can sleep well at night saying that members of the KKK are bat-shit crazy and could give a damn how any KKK member “feels” about my commentary. Of course, when I do this, I am not being inclusive or “diverse,” am I?
LikeLike
Why is bullying a problem if no one can “make” anyone feel anything? Why would social niceties have any relevance at all if our outward actions have no bearing on anyone else?
Further, calling the KKK bat-shit crazy isn’t inclusive or politically correct–not least of all because it’s misappropriating mental illness. There is nothing politically incorrect about calling a KKK member bigoted, intolerant, and anti-social, however, because that is their stated purpose.
LikeLike
Bullying is a problem because of inflicted pain (physically or mentally). But the fact remains that no one but you controls your response, your feelings. Being polite, civil and respectful of differences is highly noble and laudable, but imposing censorship on speech is a slippery slope. In our attempt to offend no one, we offend everyone.
The KKK is bat-shit crazy. I am a mental health consumer. So, tough cookies to the KKK. Would you want to include a member of the KKK on your diversity panel so they could share their viewpoints, really?
We have taken diversity and political correctness to absurd levels. Every kid is not a standout athlete. Every kid doesn’t get an award at the science fair. We must learn to recognize greatness and the ability to compare. If everyone is special, logic suggests that no one is special. (I lifted that from The Incredibles)
Me describing the KKK generally as bat-shat crazy is an opinion. Me calling your idea stupid is an opinion. When we cleanse speech, we impose our values/belief systems on someone else.
Justice Stewart Potter said it best. “I cannot define pornography, but I know it when I see it.” Again, political correctness is all well and good until it bites you in the ass. Let’s all strive for decency, respect and civility, but let’s also learn how to ignore the cow that moos in a pasture. That’s just what cows do. No of us should feel compelled to correct the correct or to respond in kind by mooing.
LikeLike
But who is imposing censorship? Who is being bitten in the ass, here?Everyone is free to say what they want. Politically correct-minded folks are just as free to view politically incorrect speech as ignorant. Much like your knee-jerk reaction to keep the KKK off a diversity panel (I’d rather not have them as dinner guests, but I’d be interested to hear how they’d act on a panel!), others are free to say “politically incorrect speakers don’t represent our values. Not having them at our university.”
If everyone is special, then no one is. That much is true. Not every kid is a star athlete or deserving of a prize, but there’s a difference between “everyone gets a prize” and “everyone deserves to be referred to in dignified terms.” I’ll stop blowing up your comments thread from here, but my main point is that the push for political correctness generally stems from a desire to further decency, respect, and civility. Words matter (or else we wouldn’t write them)!
LikeLike
Bre:
1.) Please never apologize for commenting on this blog or for disagreeing with me. I enjoy and value both, especially when it comes from a worthy opponent.
2.) I share what I describe as “provocative, pithy and perfunctory” musings here. That is the tagline of this blog. Generally, I fall short only by not being very pithy. I expect reactions and want others empowered to share contrary views.
3.) We both agree that there are lines that should not be crossed; but like most rational, open-minded, thinking people we stumble to determine where those lines are drawn. That get damn fuzzy, damn fast.
4.) I will answer your first two questions (“But who is imposing censorship? Who is being bitten in the ass, here?”) in an upcoming post.
Thank you again for reading and for offering your perspective. Writers would not be much without readers, and the real value of opinions is the prompting of other opinions and the weighing of the respective points of view. Best, R
LikeLike
The following is the 2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.
This year’s term: Political Correctness.
“Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal 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.”
– See more at: http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2007/12/a-3.html#sthash.b78tAGei.dpuf
LikeLike