The PC of Being PC is so . . . PC
Posted: Saturday, December 13, 2008
by Jeff Brown
Inner Projection
You've heard the argument. Is it Asian or Oriental? Is it Hispanic or Latino? Is it black or African American? Is it white or Caucasian?
In answer, here's what I've heard.
I saw a concert in Texas in which Cheech Marin asked the crowd if it preferred Hispanic or Latino. They liked Hispanic. On other occasions, I've met people who prefer Latino. My wife from Colombia likes both.
On another point, I've asked African American students if they liked black or African American. Some liked one, some liked the other. One student said "I usually use black, but I also like African American because it has "American" in it."
At a particular high school, the mascot name of "Redskin" was frowned upon by the "politically correct" in town. However, someone came up with the brilliant idea that they should actually ask the Native Americans in town what they preferred. Most said that they never thought about it and didn't care, that it was a "white issue."
What is also interesting is that even if they were called the politically correct name "Native American" it would still be quite off base. The indigenous people are not "Native," "American" or even "Indian" for that matter. All those labeled "Native American" came from other continents before ending up in the Americas. And the name "America" came about only because the first map maker to make a map of America arbitrarily called it so after his favorite explorer Amerigo Vespucci. And, finally, they are called "Indians" because Columbus thought he'd discovered the West Indies when he found America. American Indians come from many different tribes that were never grouped together until the European settlers did so. (And please don't comment on the accuracy or exeptions in the points I make here. I only go into detail here to state the arbitrary nature and innaccuracy in the labeling or naming of groups.)
Personally, I had a PC run in that turned my head and set me on the path of seeing PC for what it really is. I was performing in North Hollywood for a show that was going to be on TV and did my normal, goofy, white-boy act, finished and got off stage. I watched a few more acts and then parted for the restroom.
When I got back a woman was performing. All of a sudden, she was getting quite upset about a "misogynist" who performed a few acts back. She spoke vehemently about the guy who hated woman and that that kind of humor should be done away with. I was right with her because I prefer women to men and see them as exceptional for their generally greater emotional strength and for the key nurturing, centering role they play in the family. That is until I realized she was talking about me.
What's odd is that she in her blinders-firmly-in-place, PC perception was focusing only on one joke in which I spoke of a "Cindy," a woman, of course, who was really dumb. Actually, there was no Cindy. Comics often give names to "types" to make light of human nature in general. And what's odd is that if this comic had listened to my entire act, she would have realized that I spoke of stupid men, stupid women, stupid people in general. I never limited my commentary to just women.
With more on the PC phenomenon, years ago I read about Charlton Heston speaking at Harvard on "Winning the Cultural War." Here's an excerpt.
"I've come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land, in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and speech are mandated.
For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 - long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist.I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech, when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite.
Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my country.
But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.
From Time magazine to friends and colleagues, they're essentially saying, "Chuck, how dare you speak your mind like that? You are using language not authorized for public consumption!"
But I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys - subjects bound to the British crown." (nrawinningteam dot com / harvard dot html)
So there is no right or wrong in labeling race, only the ignorance of intolerance for misunderstanding the arbitrary nature that people apply in their limited effort to label so that they in their limitation can point to difference as an arbitrary factor in giving or taking from a particular group for mere personal gain. But ain't that America?
Ain't that America for you and me
Ain't that America somethin' to see baby
Ain't that America home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me
Ain't that America somethin' to see baby
Ain't that America home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)hi jeff,you know, i bet those that are offended by certain words or labels, are much less happy than those who don't give in to such minor infractions, compared to finding out you have cancer, or being laid off after 30 years, pension gone, or one's house burning to the ground.if we're going to get angry, we should at least put our efforts in the right place, and make sure our government works for us.thanks for sharing,sueYes, I'm not sure of all the particulars, but people "looking" to get angry often have their own issues. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Jeff.It's a tricky subject for sure. And having recently written an article on labeling people and things, I think I might know how you are feeling. I can't really, but just think I might.In general, the point of my article notwithstanding, people are too darned thin-skinned when it comes to others calling it as they see it.You can say, "black" or "African American" and mean it in a nice way. You can also say it with vehemence and impart to these exact same words an essence of negativity. There never will be a solution as long as people get bent out of shape in response to another person's opinion. And politically correct is only correct for those in a particular group that have decided it is. As you so well pointed out.What we can do is refrain from calling others things like bitch, a**h***, f****r and all those other words that the majority of our population agree are not very nice. No one, to my knowledge, ever talks about the political correctness of swearing.Thanks for the great and thoughtful article.DianneDianne,
Yes, I've read articles by experts over the years who've said we've just lost all common sense. In years gone by, if a sign said don't trespass and you did, YOU were the one in trouble not the person for having the sign up who now gets sued for it. And I remember a Congressman using the word "niggardly" and someone called him a racists. Of course, it wasn't a smart word choice, but labeling him a racists when nothing he'd ever said or done before indicated as such or the fact that the word doesn't mean what you may think but "stingy" is just downright ridiculous. Thanks for stopping by.
I equate the 'PC' crowd with those who enter a supermarket, grab a basket, and read every single ingredient on every single item in the store. Almost as if they are purposely looking for something, anything, that will harm them. These shoppers end up leaving the store empty-handed.Good article, Jeff.Yes, the paralysis of analysis method of never getting anywhere.
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