Political Correctness
Why it should be defended. (c) 2015
In the wake of what happened in Paris and in San Bernardino, Americans have been on edge about terrorism. They’re even more on edge after realizing the two San Bernardino terrorists had infiltrated the country’s vetting process, and were “sleeping terrorist cells.”
Throw in the angry, attack-dog rhetoric of Donald Trump. He has argued for banning all Muslims from entering the country. He even wants to put Muslim mosques under surveillance. The result is a modern-day witchhunt.
Since then, news mediums have reported numerous incidents of Muslims being taunted and threatened. Mosques have been firebombed, Muslim children have been mistreated. This truly is an ugly time in American history, and it’s the political demagogues who have been fanning the flames of this hostility.
Interestingly, more Americans are killed by mass shootings done by angry, or mentally disturbed, white, male Christians, than Muslim terrorists.
But neither they nor Christian churches are the targets of hatred. And when Catholic priests were involved in a massive sex scandal, no one talked about putting Catholic churches under surveillance or going after priests.
For its part, the United States can conduct the fight against terrorists without taking the lowest of roads to get there by vilifying an entire group for the actions of a few in that group. Moreover, the government does need to fix its vetting process and ensure that bad people are prevented from entering the country.
However, just when it seemed political correctness had outlived its usefulness, all it took were the rantings and ravings of demagogues to remind us just important political correctness really is. At its core, political correctness is about treating others the way you would like to be treated. That’s something many of us learned as children.
Unfortunately, Americans have a long history of intolerance and giving in to the rhetoric of bigots and demagogues. It was done against Blacks, and it continues until this day. When black students, as young as 6 years old, were first integrating schools, crowds of angry Whites shouted at these children. They would chant, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate” at them.
But demagogues will single out anyone they perceive to be not like them. They did it to the Irish, Italians, and Jews when they emigrated to this country. They do it to women, gays, Hispanics, Asians and others.
But Japanese Americans were not just targeted by the rhetoric and hostility of demagogues. They were rounded up, isolated and put into camps. They lost their property and valuables. However, German Americans were not interned. Note: The U.S. was at war with both Germany and Japan. But only Japanese Americans were interned. Was it because the Germans were white and the Japanese were not?
Political correctness doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our freedom of speech rights.
Under our Constitution, we all have freedom of speech rights. But that right isn’t absolute. You cannot say anything you want about anybody. If you do, the Constitution provides legal remedies as in slander or libel.
In addition, society, via political correctness, provides its own social and economic remedies. If your speech crosses a line, you could be socially ostracized, or you could lose your income.
One good thing about political correctness, it tends to keep demagogues, hate groups and haters in check. Not surprisingly, however, it is they who will fight political correctness the hardest.
They want the freedom to slur people, to promote hate and to incite violence. During this most recent political cycle, it is the demagogues, hate groups, bigots, and haters who are most critical of political correctness.
Demagogues are not about uniting Americans; rather intent is to divide us along racial, ethnic, religious, and class lines. Twenty years from now, much like the people who taunted black children when schools were being integrated, those who are taunting Muslims today, may look back with shame and embarrassment.
Martin Niemoller once wrote a very thought-provoking and on-point poem that can apply to the current anti-Muslim, anti-political correctness hysteria:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.”
Today, it’s the Muslims, Blacks, Mexicans, Gays, women, and the poor who are targets of hatred. One day in the future, America may not be as white.
When that time comes, what if others treated them they way they treated others? Hate can produce hate. Compassion and love, and respect is a better alternative. What kind of future do you want for your children and grandchildren?
Why it should be defended. (c) 2015
In the wake of what happened in Paris and in San Bernardino, Americans have been on edge about terrorism. They’re even more on edge after realizing the two San Bernardino terrorists had infiltrated the country’s vetting process, and were “sleeping terrorist cells.”
Throw in the angry, attack-dog rhetoric of Donald Trump. He has argued for banning all Muslims from entering the country. He even wants to put Muslim mosques under surveillance. The result is a modern-day witchhunt.
Since then, news mediums have reported numerous incidents of Muslims being taunted and threatened. Mosques have been firebombed, Muslim children have been mistreated. This truly is an ugly time in American history, and it’s the political demagogues who have been fanning the flames of this hostility.
Interestingly, more Americans are killed by mass shootings done by angry, or mentally disturbed, white, male Christians, than Muslim terrorists.
But neither they nor Christian churches are the targets of hatred. And when Catholic priests were involved in a massive sex scandal, no one talked about putting Catholic churches under surveillance or going after priests.
For its part, the United States can conduct the fight against terrorists without taking the lowest of roads to get there by vilifying an entire group for the actions of a few in that group. Moreover, the government does need to fix its vetting process and ensure that bad people are prevented from entering the country.
However, just when it seemed political correctness had outlived its usefulness, all it took were the rantings and ravings of demagogues to remind us just important political correctness really is. At its core, political correctness is about treating others the way you would like to be treated. That’s something many of us learned as children.
Unfortunately, Americans have a long history of intolerance and giving in to the rhetoric of bigots and demagogues. It was done against Blacks, and it continues until this day. When black students, as young as 6 years old, were first integrating schools, crowds of angry Whites shouted at these children. They would chant, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate” at them.
But demagogues will single out anyone they perceive to be not like them. They did it to the Irish, Italians, and Jews when they emigrated to this country. They do it to women, gays, Hispanics, Asians and others.
But Japanese Americans were not just targeted by the rhetoric and hostility of demagogues. They were rounded up, isolated and put into camps. They lost their property and valuables. However, German Americans were not interned. Note: The U.S. was at war with both Germany and Japan. But only Japanese Americans were interned. Was it because the Germans were white and the Japanese were not?
Political correctness doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our freedom of speech rights.
Under our Constitution, we all have freedom of speech rights. But that right isn’t absolute. You cannot say anything you want about anybody. If you do, the Constitution provides legal remedies as in slander or libel.
In addition, society, via political correctness, provides its own social and economic remedies. If your speech crosses a line, you could be socially ostracized, or you could lose your income.
One good thing about political correctness, it tends to keep demagogues, hate groups and haters in check. Not surprisingly, however, it is they who will fight political correctness the hardest.
They want the freedom to slur people, to promote hate and to incite violence. During this most recent political cycle, it is the demagogues, hate groups, bigots, and haters who are most critical of political correctness.
Demagogues are not about uniting Americans; rather intent is to divide us along racial, ethnic, religious, and class lines. Twenty years from now, much like the people who taunted black children when schools were being integrated, those who are taunting Muslims today, may look back with shame and embarrassment.
Martin Niemoller once wrote a very thought-provoking and on-point poem that can apply to the current anti-Muslim, anti-political correctness hysteria:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.”
Today, it’s the Muslims, Blacks, Mexicans, Gays, women, and the poor who are targets of hatred. One day in the future, America may not be as white.
When that time comes, what if others treated them they way they treated others? Hate can produce hate. Compassion and love, and respect is a better alternative. What kind of future do you want for your children and grandchildren?