I recently read an article that listed the most obnoxious politically correct offenses for 2008 in our educational institutions (click HERE).
After reading a few of the case studies, your head begins to spin in terms of the stupidity involved. Evidently, our educators do not want to be accused of offending anyone, and as a result are shaping our youth into perhaps the most bland generation to come down the pike. It appears political correctness begins in the classroom and cascades into the corporate world and our daily lives.
This got me thinking how something becomes politically incorrect. First, the Media picks up on something meant to be humorous or avant-garde and, depending on their interpretation, determines if it is suitable for public consumption. Consideration is given to whether it offends a handicap, a sexual gender (except heterosexual men), race (except whites), religion (except Christians), or politics (except conservative Republicans). If it affects anyone in this regard, then it is condemned by the Media and labeled “politically incorrect.” The exceptions are, of course, fair game for attack as they are perceived as the suppressive superiors causing all of the problems. In other words, it is no longer acceptable…
- to celebrate your Christian faith (Christmas, Easter, etc.).
- to respect the sanctity of marriage between men and women.
- to exercise authority as it might be perceived as a master/slave relationship.
- to ridicule or attack liberal Democrats.
Instead, you are meant to feel guilty or embarrassed for who you are. By doing so, the Media is trying to turn the majority into a minority. Make no mistake, political correctness is nothing more than social engineering in sheep’s clothing, whereby our attitudes, perceptions, and moral values are being constantly tweaked by the Media.
Interestingly, some people still refuse to believe in the notion of political correctness, that it is not a valid concept. I don’t think such people have visited our schools or the corporate world lately. If they did, they would see substantial changes in our speech, customs, fashion, work habits, and socialization skills, all because the Media is telling us what is acceptable and what isn’t. Consequently, the Media has replaced our religious institutions as the social conscious of the nation.
Frankly, I sense a backlash to political correctness in the offing. As a small example, last December I noticed a lot more Christians saying “Merry Christmas” as opposed to “Happy Holidays.” In other words, they were tired of being ashamed of their religion and want to celebrate it as opposed to watering it down. Basically, they have grown weary of being told how to think.
I guess what disturbs me about political correctness more than anything is that it attacks our identity. Instead of celebrating who and what we are, political correctness wants us to feel ashamed instead, which, as I alluded to earlier, leads to blandness. Just remember one of our Bryce’s Laws, “Never trust a person who doesn’t have at least one known vice.” If they do not either drink, smoke, or swear, then they are in all likelihood hiding something and are as interesting as a box of rocks.
Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.
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Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the field. He can be reached at [email protected]
For a listing of Tim’s Pet Peeves, click HERE.
Copyright © 2009 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.