Editorial

Politically Correct

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Jeff Dorris

jdorris@dddnews.com

The dictionary defines politically correct as conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.

Trying to be politically correct for me has turned into a nerve-wracking experience.

In the last few weeks I have unintentionally offended someone with my words.

One example occurred at a lunch event where a friend walked by and playfully jabbed me.

I called her a bully and was quickly informed that I had offended half the table.

“That is an ugly word,” was one comment. “Please don’t tease about bullying,” said another.

I understand that bullying has reached a different level since I attended school with the proliferation of social media exacerbating the situation.

However, I cannot see where a simple back and forth between friends elicited such indignation.

I certainly wasn’t condoning bullying.

Political correctness makes me nervous.

In some instances it’s a particular word that I’ve used for years but all of a sudden it has become unacceptable.

Have we really become that sensitive?

Which raises the question does political correctness hinder free speech?

The CATO Institute recently conducted a survey on free speech and tolerance.

The national poll of 2,300 U.S. Adults finds that 71 percent of Americans believe that political correctness has silenced important discussions our society needs to have.

Some of the results of the poll were quite intriguing.

For example, 40 percent think the government should prevent hate speech. Despite this, the survey also found Americans willing to censor, regulate, or punish a wide variety of speech they personally find offensive.

Such as:

53 percent of Republican favor stripping U.S. Citizenship from people who burn the American flag.

51 percent of Democrats support a law that requires Americans use transgender people’s preferred gender pronouns.

65 percent of Republicans say NFL players should be fired if they refuse to stand for the anthem.

39 percent of conservatives believe it’s hate speech to say the police are racist, only 17 percent of liberals agree.

80 percent of liberals say it’s hateful or offensive to say illegal immigrants should be deported, only 36 percent of conservatives agree.

Also who determines if it’s correct or not.

The word correct seems to imply a right or wrong status to a certain belief or word.

Who determined this?

Political correctness makes me nervous.

They also seem to add certain words or terms to the list daily.

It’s hard to keep up.

Back in my day we called not using certain terms or words in a hurtful manner being considerate and thoughtful.

I’ve come to the realization that I am not politically correct.

However I am tolerant.

I apologize in advance if being tolerant is politically incorrect.

See you out there.

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