Some years back, a lot of people had this idea that nobody should say things that offended certain groups, namely blacks, homosexuals, and other such minorities. We were told that this was so important that it didn't matter if we had to give up part of our right to free speech. This idea became widely known as "Political Correctness" and was rightly opposed and denounced.

     Now a lot of the same people that were against the old "PC" regime seem to be trying to start up their own; it's no longer acceptable to say things that offend certain groups, namely George W. Bush's administration, neoconservative Republicans, and other such minorities. I believe I'm right to oppose and denounce this new Political Correctness, as I did the old.

     The closer we look, the clearer the comparison becomes. The old PC was the result of a noble idea carried too far. Yes, I do believe it is a good thing to be polite to people who are different from us, and to try to understand them and not intentionally offend them, because we are all part of this great family we call the USA. But when this was made mandatory, with speech codes at universities and so forth, the real spirit of respect and civility was lost. The important principle of treating everyone with fairness and dignity became a narrow-minded set of rules. People who questioned these rules were treated as heretics, and accused of being racists and sexists and Nazis and other nasty things.

     The new Political Correctness is also the result of a noble idea carried too far. Yes, I do believe that loyalty to our country is important, and that George W. Bush is in fact our lawful president, whatever the unusual circumstances of his election. But it's starting to feel compulsory to say the Pledge of Allegiance and wave the Flag and support all the policies of the current administration, and I'm afraid the real spirit of patriotism and unity we all felt after 9/11 is being lost. The important principle of service and loyalty to our country is becoming a narrow-minded set of rules. People who question these rules are accused of being traitors and communists and Saddamites and other nasty things.

     The old version of Political Correctness backfired, discrediting a lot of valid ideas about fairness, and helping to contribute to the current political climate where it is just fine, even expected, that people are intolerant of anyone on the "other side". The new Political Correctness is starting to backfire as well. We had the chance to create something really positive in this country after 9/11, but too many people seem to care more about how many flags their neighbors are waving or whether the Pledge of Allegiance is required at city council meetings than about what they can do to make this country a better place.

     I hope we start seeing today's political climate for what it is. Let's get back to the truly important principles. Let's be fair to all people and treat them with dignity, and not be overly concerned about who uses what words. Let's all buckle down and help get our country out of the mess it's in, without having to worry if we're showing anough of the accepted outward signs.

back

home

email