The Rohrbaugh Forum
Miscellaneous => The Water Cooler -- General Discussions => Topic started by: RJ HEDLEY on December 01, 2005, 11:39:04 AM
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Political Correctness
by Philip Atkinson
The Inevitable Result Of Political Correctness
By using the excuse of not upsetting anyone, the politically correct are demanding that people behave like the fool who would please everyone; that everyone must become such a fool! All must accept the notions of the Politically Correct as truth, or else! This is the same mentality that inspired the Inquisition and forced Galileo to recant; the same mentality that inspired the Nazis and obtained the Holocaust. Once expression gets placed in a straitjacket of official truth, then the madness that occurs in all totalitarian states is obtained. Life, in private and public, becomes a meaningless charade where delusion thrives and terror rules.
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Ain't that the truth! This is the standard the present Liberals live by. We need to watch ourselves so we don't attempt or do the same. It would make us no better than the Liberals.
Gramps
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Actually, I was under the impression that Political correctness was just using less offensive terms for certain occupations, medical conditions, minority status, religious beliefs etc. that are commonly looked down upon, as not to offend those persons.
It is based in respect, because even though you may be so superior and self righteous as to look down on "garbage men" or "retards" or "wetbacks", there is actually nothing wrong with them at all. They are not a "lesser" people as you were raised to believe, but valuable members of the community that serve a god given role and purpose that is 100% neccessary.
So instead, the Politically correct person calls them the "Sanitation Engineer", or "mentally challenged", or "Mexican American" because we realize that we are not superior. We realize that all religions are to respected, not just the one that worships a man on the cross. We realize that for a society to function that there need to be "sanitation engineers", fast food workers, and migrant workers, and that these people are just as valuable as white republican doctors and lawyers as our society would not function without any of them. We realize that people of diverse cultural backgrounds are all valuable, not just those that have a strong Aryan jaw and flaxen gold hair.
All in all, Political respectness is just the respect given to all people when you realize that we all have a role to play, a niche to fill in this world society.
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David, good to see your post. I hope you had a fair to good Thanksgiving in the sand box. I hope you are well. How is your wife and family in the NOLA area?
Tom
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One man-One vote = majority rules. I don't have a problem with respectful titles for certain jobs if it makes those people feel better. I do have a problem with bowing and scraping to a small minority wrecking our traditional holidays and holding up deviant lifestyles as being normally acceptable. >:(
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That's just common courtesy in my book, If a person grows up, constantly bombarded by this thing called ''PC'', they don't notice it as much. That's the way Gun Control will over take this Country, little by little, so as not to upset anyone.
It's the EXPANDING use of PC that's killing this Country.
Look at "Christmas Holidays" being referred to as , just "Holidays" in the stores.. Don't want to offend who ? It's A National Holiday and it's called the *Christmas Holidays*
I will spare every one my feeling on GITMO, Torture, Profiling, etc.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
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I do find that there is some overlap between what I would call respect or courtesy and what some call "political correctness."
My parents, who are good people, used a lot of terms for people that I wouldn't use myself. Nor do they use them anymore. Society has demanded a bit more respect for people than the denigrating, sterotypical names that were once commonly used even in "polite" society -- so long as you were among "your own kind." Now I think people see that as disrespectful, whether other people hear it or not.
Moreover, it is not about the use of particular words or terms. Its about an attitude toward people, and whether certain expressions or actions demonstrate that the speaker holds another person in contempt merely because of his or her race, sex, religion or sexual orientation.
If "political correctness" is about giving people the benefit of the doubt, without classifying them based upon one of these categories -- I guess I am guilty.
I don't hesitate to speak my mind, but I try to direct my criticism toward ideas and behaviors as opposed to status. I don't think that refraining from disrespecting other groups will undermine our Second Amendment rights. I do think that projecting an appearance of being "haters" will undermine any group's public perception.
Most of the people in this County are Christians, and I don't have trouble with anyone talking about Christmas. But -- I don't think its unreasonable for people who have no belief in Christ to have no desire to characterize their own holidays as Christmas. Do I think they should be offended at the mere mention of Christmas? No. Get real. Do I think that Jews and Muslims and others have a right to banish all mention of Christmas so they don't have to be subjected to it? No. Get over it. But, if they choose to drop the word "Christ" from describing their holiday, I can't quibble with that.
As for retailers, they will do anything to avoid offending people. If "Christmas" turns off 5% of the population, they will avoid it. If non-Christians would prefer to shop at a store the recognizes that not everyone is Christain -- can you blame them?
PC is taken to an extreme by some. No doubt. That is true with just about everything.
If someone asks you to stop saying "Merry Christmas," I would suggest you will tell them to shove it and that is your right. On the other hand, if the government tells you that you can't say "Merry Christmas," we will start getting the militia together...
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PC is taken to an extreme by some. No doubt. That is true with just about everything Gator
I guess it's the *extreme* that bothers me so much. So many people walk around with their chin stuck out, looking for something to be offended about. And all the "Tap Dancing" that comes when we call to inquire as to the New Store Policy of declaring it "Winter Holiday Season" instead of 'Christmas Holiday' as its been for hundreds of years ... I guess thats me, with my chin stuck out ??
Walgreens and Lowe's says it will be changed next year. Tapdancing ? Come on down [bring your money !]
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An aspect of PC that particularly yanks my chain is the way a minority gets ''protection'' - mustn't be called this that or other derogatory ''name''. Then said minority however seems all but immune from use of derogatory terms back at the majority!! Oh and, don't start me off on ''hate crimes'' !!!
PC seems to lend itself to empowering of minorities and thus almost subjugation of majorities - all for supposed ''fairness''. I am all for respect between folks but it needs balance and reciprocity - plus I wonder whether some people are so thin skinned they cannot tolerate some terms. Free speech needs used responsibly but on a level playing field.
In gun terms PC again goes totally to extremes - when even mention of the word ''gun'', or writing it, seems able to lead to punitive measures. Schools I am thinking of here.
The we have PC insinuating itself into supposed ''equality'' matters - either gender or ethnic - to such an extent that once more the monorities all but enjoy majority status thru their ''protection''. The employer who thinks - ''better employ subject 'x' instead of 'y' because if I don't I'll be accused of discrimination". And to heck with who is best suited to a job thru abiliy etc.
I must stop - this is a touchy subject for me! ;)
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051202/bs_usatoday/someretailersgivethewordchristmasanod
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"Holiday Trees?" Now there is a ridiculous example of a store thinking that the mere sight of the word Christmas will cause problems. Just insane.
And Chris, I agree that entitlements and reverse discrimination are all big issues. The implications of this stuff are so large its hard to get a handle on all of it.
I will have to ask my Jewish friends if they have decorated their Chanuka trees yet... ???
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It's the EXPANDING use of PC that's killing this Country. RJ=
++++++++++++++++
I guess it's the *extreme* that bothers me so much RJ=
IT all starts at POLITICAL Correctness !
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It is a different world than I grew up in! I fear for my children ! I try to give them the strait skinny but PC gets in the way. PC masks alot of truth about how things really are and how they got the way they are. Us old schoolers still mean what we say and say what we mean but have to " dance" around issues in public conversations so as not to offend. :-X
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PC is an effort to rob those in "the right" or conservatives of their free speech............period.
Tom
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We have PC in everything now-a-days. It is so common, that it has become a way of life with some.* In order to get their way, in a public situation, they get very angry, and loud. Do not allow anyone, anything to quiet them. They get their way . I see it nearly every day.
PC can be reversed, but it requires a little effort, be prepared to be looked at strangely, shunned, and other unpleasentness, but if you don't resist it, you will become it...
I'm an old faRt, and I remember when times were not right in this World, then It leveled off , now it's going the wrong way.
I will not accept it, quietly.. remember the sheep
* [just me being PC].
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PC affects us all in EVERYTHING these days.. :o
I have 2 children,even though in "private school" that are "encoureged not" to play "guns" or "cowboys and Indians" on the playground.."potential violence" potential.. :o
Shoot-dodgeball is a no-no/might hurt someones feelings that they were or were not picked for a team..Plus it IS a violent game.. ::)
We teach the correct way on life at home to our's-but many depend on the "system" to do this..
We as a Free society are in grave danger of losing everything that we have..
The "minority" is being paid more attention to than the majority these days.. ???
I do not think that we shall stand for this for too long,otherwise we as a country may as well be France..
Brenden
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Your post Brenden reminds me - somewhere in a school district - forget where - they banned the word ''FAIL'' - so if a kid does not come out top he/she cannot be told they ''failed'' - lest it upset their sensibilities - and presumably will save them from a life of depression and potential suicide!!!! ::) ::)
Then not so many years ago in UK was a case of school yard skipping being banned - ''lest the kids should hurt themselves'' ::) ::)
Hey - how come we all survived eh?? Let's all watch as self-determination is slowly abolished! ???
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We have let the left set the correct agenda for too long.
They have made sure the educational system is failing, there goes that word again. So that a lot of young people don't know much, but follow authority, so they have no sense of history or traditions of this great country and what made us what we are or should I say were.
ie: the oil and gas business, energy, in general, we let the minority pinhead tree hugers tell US that we can't drill, build refineries or do anything on energy but look at the sun. We also must respect our enemy and treat them in a "fair" way.
We have the same energy problem that we had over 30 years ago, congress did nothing then and is doing nothing now.
The silent majority must stand up and take charge!
OK I'm stepping down from my soap box now.
Tom
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Tom - if your soapbox is big enough - maybe there's room for a few of us here to join you!!
We'll all holler in unison! ;)
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Chris, it is a very large box........... come on up.
Tom
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I firmly believe that 'political correctness' is now being used as a weapon by liberals to silence those that promulgate conservative beliefs. It seems to me that liberals cannot effectively counter core conservative ideas and principles so they instead attempt to dismiss the disciples of those beliefs with pejorative terms like 'homophobe' or 'racist' or 'sexist'.
How many times do we see that when conservatives make a mistake or speak erroneously liberals celebrate and guffaw to no end? Bill Bennet gambles? - so what? But the libs celebrate and demean every aspect of his life so as to make sure he is silenced. Rush has an addiction to prescription drugs? Big deal - so do 100's of the hollywood idiots, yet we're supposed to crave every word of their liberal belchings because we have to 'understand' and give a "second chance" to those that simply fall prey to an 'illness" of addiction while we should summarily dismiss Rush because he's a "hypocrite". Trent Lott's career is nearly ruined because he off-handedly referred to Jesse Helms' ideas as being part of a long-ago 'better day'. And for that his character is assailed by being labeled as a racist - because somehow Helms' background and historical opposition to some aspects of the civil rights movement now becomes Lott's ideology? And because of that we silence debate on the merits of affirmative action, quotas, race relations, etc. Meanwhile a former KKK member, Robert Byrd, continues his inane rantings as a Democratic member of the Senate - we have to listen to him because he "apologized" for his "mistakes" - conservatives get no such reprieve. Jesse Jackson and Louis Farakhan make anti-semitic remarks but they are forgiven because they are, after all, liberals - and they must be heard!
Far from being a movement of respect, the pc crowd exists to silence majority opinion and disembowel conservative thought through intimidation and harassment.
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" Political Correctness " is a contradiction of terms.
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Tracker has it right. And we should always remember that Mao Tse-tung once procaimed: ""Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
How in Heaven do we get that message across to the navel-gazing, lint-plucking, hot-house dreamers among us?
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[size=13] navel-gazing, lint-plucking, hot-house dreamers among us?[/size]
I see you have met some too Richard ;D
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Chris:
Yes, I have. They seem to be like mushrooms -- grown in the dark and nourished by . . . . Well, you know what I mean.
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Yes indeed Richard - it helps explain the odor :D
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The height of un PC is the movie The Christmas Story. I still have my Red Rider airgun.
Tom
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Tom,
Many, many years ago I worked for the Daisy Air Rifle Company.
I was a "Goodwill Factory Representative" who traveled in the southwest contacting retailers.
I was not selling anything, but stimulated sales by stirring up interest in the products.
The Red Ryder brings back many memories. I also liked the pump.
I had a new car, and always $300 in cash. It was a dream come true. I worked one summer, and returned to college.
Cass Hough was the President of Daisy, and he sounded just like the legendary voice on the Lone Ranger radio show.
Cass was a fighter pilot in the 8th Air Force in England. He claimed to have dived the P38 and exceeded the speed of sound. It was even in my high school literature book.
Meanwhile, Tony LaVire, the chief test pilot at Lockheed, said that it could not happen.
Bill
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I still have my Red Ryder BB gun too!
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ie: the oil and gas business, energy, in general, we let the minority pinhead tree hugers tell US that we can't drill, build refineries or do anything on energy but look at the sun.
Some of us minority pinhead tree huggers ;D ;) don't want drilling in the national preserves because we believe that there are viable forms of renewable resources that would be better for the environment than more oil. They have fuel cells from ethanol that can power computers for weeks, and this from corn. I remember going hiking with my family to pick raspberries in fields that are now houses and strip malls. My families farm in CT is surrounded by hotels, offices, restaruants, etc. You can't shoot the groundhogs anymore because the "neighbors" get excited. I point this out because everywhere you look we see more and more land that once was pristine get ruined, as I see it, for more strip malls and Ruby Tuesdays. I would like to keep as much land for public use as possible, and that means for hunting, fishing, camping, enjoying. Most of you are older than I and know more of what I speak than I do. You have seen your favorite hunting, fishing, shooting, and general outdoor areas dissappear and turned into this type of stuff. There is a god damn chemical plant where we used to shoot ground hogs that has polluted the stream the cows drink out of, since cleaned up.
I believe that the oil companies care very little about the land they ruin to obtain the oil. I believe that the amount of oil that can be obtained from the Artic preserve or off the coast of Florida is not worth the potential or certain destruction of habitat, or in the case of Florida oil slicks on beaches.
I believe that if the oil business wasn't so corrupt in the past and more open minded to other forms of energy that we would be further along than we are with alternate means of powering our automobiles. Which we need to change. We as a people are having a detrimental effect on our environment. I think the change needs to start with our source of energy, ie oil companies.
Too many times we environmental pinheads :) get lumped into the groups with PETA and the like. Most of us aren't like that. Logging is ok, just not clear cutting. Mining is essential, but strip mining with no effort to return the land to anything remotely like what it was is downright ugly (anyone in Pennsylvania knows what I am talking about). I mean you don't blow your whole paycheck the day you get it if you want to live comfortably and maintain what you have. Why would you do the same with your resources, no matter how much you think you may have.
I guess I better cut it off there before I write a book.
Yes, I am an environmentalist but don't consider myself a liberal and yes I carry a gun. :)
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I'll back you up on the environmental concerns -- admittedly I'm biased since I'm in biotech, and every species is essentially an economic goldmine -- what isn't realized by many people, is that to get oil out of ANWAR, etc will take DECADES -- it takes time to build an oil field, especially in those conditions -- and oil has, and needs to have, a short life as an energy supply -- even the oil companies are trying to get away from it -- and have reduced exploration/field development for those reasons -- as long as oil is needed, the Sauds, and all the other oil tyrants will have billions and the license to commit terror, throw little girls back into fires for not wearing veils, etc.
With that said, I don't believe in public lands -- you want to see horribly managed land, look to BLM lands in the US, or what the Soviets did to land in Russia -- that, and behind every government park, is, usually, a family forcibly removed from their land, which is the kind of thing we started the Revolution over.
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Rocnerd,
I have to respond to some of the things in your post. I don't know you, but as a Rohrbaugh Forum member I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're a reasonable guy. :)
Ethanol as a motor fuel is a loser economically. It takes more energy to make corn into a fuel than the fuel supplies. Without the $.51 per gallon federal government subsidy, nobody would buy M- or E85 fuel. The hydrogen economy is a long way off for lots of reasons. Fuel cells ditto.
The main reason that the world runs on petroleum is that it is far & away the most energy-dense fuel generally available. (I'm not counting nuclear power because nobody's figured out a safe way to put a reactor in every home!)
The days of environmentally irresponsible oil companies, mining operations, & timber operations are gone. At least in this country. And a big share of the credit for this is the environmentalists like you who speak up AND buy stock in those enterprises. Shareholders vote. Capitalism works.
The big problem is what happens in other countries, especially Third World, where they have been given a free pass to pollute and rape the environment in the name of leveling the playing field. Their apologists say it's only fair to let them do what the Developed Western World did in the past to become developed. Bull!! Why can't mankind ever learn from past mistakes / experience?
I've come to hate the terms "Liberal" and "Conservative". Some years back, Thomas Sowell wrote a book in which he proposed better terminology. Instead of Liberal, how about "People with an unconstrained viewpoint"; and "People with a constrained view of the world" for Conservatives?
In other words, Liberals see the world as they wish it could be. Conservatives see the world as it is. We need both kinds of people - and we need a willingness on both sides to work for the betterment of our world. That's the tough part. Like the song says, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T".
Steve
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Anwar is such a small area in a very large park in the biggest state. That is part of the problem, we have done nothing to solve the energy problem in this country since the 70's.
We need to look at everything including oil to get us away from foreign energy.
Clear cuts in our forest land is a good thing if done right, clean up all the trash. Thats where all the game goes to eat. I've hunted the mountains in the west for years. The clear cuts are very small compared to the forest land available in a given area.
Tom
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sslater I agree with you. As to the economy of ethanol I will have to defer to you as I am afraid I really only know enough to make me dangerous (usually just to myself). I do think though that if the oil companies had been a little more open minded that we would be further along with the hydrogen and fuel cell based options. But of course that is hindsight. If only that cold fusion in a beaker really worked.
aglifter, as far as the public land is concerned I feel that our public land is for the most part well managed from what I have observed. Besides I would rather it be public than another strip mall. If you don't want the gov in charge that's fine, I know lots of places that are available to the public for a fee that are privately owned. As far as families being forced off land to start a park, I wouldn't be surprised if that has happened, but I bet just as many parks were started by families donating land to the government in order for parks to be formed.
I