Political Correctness - A Blight On The Quest For Freedom

A dangerous threat to our freedoms is through a popular movement known as Political Correctness. Basically, a censoring of any speech, thought, or action that can be considered hurtful, vile, evil, racist, sexist, or in any way, shape or form offensive. The problem, apart from that fact that it violates freedom of speech and the press, it is also applied very unevenly.

Case in point. Look at most of the popular forms of media in television, movies, books, magazines and radio. To be as outrageous and offensive as possible is expected and almost always encouraged to get top ratings.

However, in private industries, businesses, schools, or government offices, anything that can be remotely considered offensive can result in expensive lawsuits, dismissals, suspensions, and bad professional reputations. How can one form of freedom of expression get as offensive as possible with applause while in other industries it is vilified?

Most of what is considered not up to PC standards involves language. Instead of calling people a name that is considered derogatory, call them by a PC name and it is okay. The problem I have with that concept is, although it is a new name given to that person, the thought behind the name is still the same. Wouldn't it be better to call the person by their name instead of some phony PC title?

Face it, if you are truly sensitive to the plight of those who are not the same as you might be, you will not be hung up on the name to call them. If a person is confined to a wheelchair, whether you call them disabled, unable, physically challenged, handicapped, or whatever, the name to describe the condition they are in is not the person. If a person is of African descent, does it matter if you call them black, African American, Negro, or whatever? When done in a respectful manner to describe the person, the label is still not the person.

There is always a person behind whatever label you call them, PC or not. Someone could still feel offended if called by a PC name if the manner said was meant to be derogatory. The PC movement tends to be more concerned with labels than the feelings behind the labels. Then it goes to the other extreme of hypersensitivity. Those who are hypersensitive love to wrap themselves in the PC pity. Some will go out on a limb to find something to offend them. There are certain personality types that love to have people pity them or feel sorry for them who tend to abuse the PC laws.

Yes, there are people, women AND men who are actually sexually harassed on the job. A coworker or boss may make sexual advances or outright rape while on the job with the security of that job on the line if compliance is not followed. That is sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is not when a coworker or boss has a sexy picture on their desk, locker, or closet. It is unprofessional, but not harassment. It is also not harassment when a coworker tells dirty jokes, but very unprofessional.

If a coworker pinches or pats your butt, hugs you, touches you AND you tell them after that incident that you do not want such treatment, first time around is an unprofessional mistake, second time around is sexual harassment. The problem tends to be the one who is offended by such behavior seldom comes right out and says something. They will let it slide and keep the negative feelings bottle up until they explode and it will seem like it came out of nowhere.

If you work in an environment that people tend to enjoy the right to express themselves in such a non PC manner and you find it offensive, consult the management and let them know your position so that others will know you are easily offended and perhaps you can find separate accommodations away from coworkers during breaks and free time.

For some people, the job is like a second home and they have come to expect such behavior. It helps them unwind and feel at ease. Walking on eggshells makes the workplace seem less cozy. However, there were some that have always worked there that kept their silence that might have felt uneasy all along that have always dreaded coming to work. The place of business should be the task at hand, not a social place. In down times when most of the jobs are done, monkey business is always going to happen. This is human nature. When a task is done, people like to have fun. If the fun going around is not your cup of tea, do something else that is. You don't have to play with everyone.

Rightfully, there are certain topics and actions that clearly are unprofessional. The foremost task of any business is to get the job done, not to baby sit a bunch of adults. If one is easily offended, maybe it is time they grew up and realize others have a right to freedom of speech, even if they do not care for it. If one knows there is someone who is easily offended, they should be mature enough to not push the shock button.

It's almost like watching children at play. There are the kids who are just minding their own business, but very sensitive and there are kids who are bullies who love to pick at the sensitive kids. The bullies note who looks vulnerable and make the sensitive kid react. The bully gets a kick out of the reaction and does it more and pushes the envelope further. The sensitive kid keeps reacting and gets more sensitive to each intrusion from the bully. It is a cycle that only stops when the sensitive kids stops reacting to the bully and the bully gets bored and moves on.

The media seems to feed on this pattern. A small, but vocal group whines and complains about all the smut and violence in the media and cry to have it shut down. Not only do these people (sensitive kid) give these form of media more free advertising, but they invite the media (bully) to want to create more publicity by making these people cry some more.

Sure, the media is extremely Politically Incorrect. People love to watch the reaction of the sensitive people overreact and want to see how far the envelope will be pushed. Kids on the playground love to watch the bully pick on the sensitive kid. Perhaps if the sensitive people would stop acknowledging what they find offensive and just let them be, the media will only cater to those who care.

If people didn't love it, it wouldn't exist in the media. Sponsors pay top dollars because they know many people will be listening to the message. Sponsors, for the most part, do not care if the message they sponsor is offensive. They care about getting their ad heard by as many people as possible. If only 1% of the population is offended by the message sponsored and 50% of the population love the message, even if all of the 100% of this group were consumers of the product, the sponsor is going to feel more accountable to the majority than the minority. This is why boycotts backfire.

Baptists were offended the Disney people would allow the same benefits to homosexual couples that they give to heterosexual couples that they wanted to boycott all things Disney. (Not to say that Disney would offer great benefits to begin with.) So they make a big fuss and try to encourage all loyal Baptist to do away with anything Disney. Instead, Disney had so much free promotion that sales went up and Disney did not back down.

I know in my heart what I find offensive, so I don't go out to seek something to offend me. If I find it offensive, I don't confront them unless they are in my face with it. If I do not like a channel on television, I don't watch it. Personally, The 700 Club and The Old Time Gospel Hour offend me. I don't watch it. I don't deliberately go to the channel when it is on. I don't write nasty letters to the FCC or to Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell. I recognize they have not only a freedom of religion, but freedom of speech. If I have a problem with them, it is my problem and not theirs. If only such people would also recognize that people who offend them have similar rights of free speech and it should not be infringed upon, no matter how unpopular.

I do not believe in the message of skin heads, racists, KKK people or the like. I think they are very ignorant and narrow minded. I find such bigotry extremely offensive. However, I believe they should be heard as pathetic as the message is. I believe by letting them spew their hate, not only do we know the face of hatred, but it educates those who really listen to the message. When one compares what they say with actual facts, they are no longer a threat.

As for those who are "differently able," whatever way, shape or formed "challenged," or in any way not up to the standards of "normal," they make up a large group. The "normal" person is a rare creature. We all have some areas that are different from others and some that are substandard to what is "normal". It doesn't mean that a label needs to be attached unless you are describing the difficulty. If I have ADHD, I am in fact hyperactive and have attention disorders, but I am not the problem, I am the person who has a problem that I deal with. So don't nit pick about the name to label me. Call me Callen.