So much keeps being said about
‘political correctness’ and I started to wonder what exactly political
correctness is. Particularly as so many
presidential candidates keep speaking of political correctness dirisively, as
if it is something to be avoided at all costs.
Well, I found a definition that political
correctness is “the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms
of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult
groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.
“ It is also described as “courtesy,
the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior
toward others” and “good manners,
polite or well-bred social behavior.”
And further, “a civilized society or country has a well developed system of government, culture, and way of life and that treats the people who live there fairly; a fair justice system is a fundamental part of a civilized society.”
All
of these descriptions of political correctness sound like the kinds of things
most mothers try to teach their children:
good manners, not being rude, everyone being treated fairly. Don’t all of these behaviors sound like what
we need to do? Doesn’t that make political
correctness a good thing?
And
that makes very confusing what so many people, including prominent presidential
candidates are saying, that political correctness is a bad thing.
Why
do we suppose that prominent, important men, in the world’s spotlight while
running for one of the most important and powerful jobs in the world, are
telling us that we should be discourteous, unkind, unfair, in short uncivilized?
Do
you suppose it is they who do not understand the meaning of political
correctness?
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