From: jah@world.std.com (Jamal A Hannah)
Subject: Re: What is "politically correct" ?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 11:11:06 GMT


Unlike what some others may say, PC is far more broadbased than being
a "Liberal" doctrine.

I've found that PC basicly means that there are certain things you cannot
say around certain people.  If the majority of "things" that it seems you cant
say take on a spacific trend, then they are associated with that trend.
As it is right now, the "taboo" things to say are associated with
talking about minorities or downtrodden folks, or famous people they that these
groups respect in a bad mannor.

As far as I can tell, its just a reactionary counter-attack by people who find
change and acceptence of alternative ideas and concepts to be frusterating,
if not outright outragous.

It was very much "politically incorrect" for the longest time to put down
the symbols of the status quo in the USA.. the President, White People,
the Upper Class, Private Property Owners, Bosses, whatever.  It's been
a new phenomenon that is used extensively by the "New Right": so called
"Libertarians", darwinists (social Darwinists), Objectivists, what-
have you.

It represents a behavior pattern that is very much understandable... there is
a lot of resentment out there, and for the minority groups and artists who
have pushed to get public recognition, the heckling from the crowds generaly
manifests itself in this form of attack.

I cant deny the genius of the term.   "Politically Correct" sounds like
something some planning comitte would come up with behind closed doors,
in a joke.   ("But that wouldnt be politically correct! We need a new plan!")
But never something that would be the banner of an open-minded institution...
It sounds diabolical and draconian, and fits in perfectly with the rules of
"How to make an Honest and Well-Meaning Group of People into the Most
Satanic and Evil Anti-All-That-Is-Good-In-Our-Blessed-Country In 30 Easy
Lessons"  .. in other words, it's a propaganda ploy.   A negative-association.
PC is a label that was made up by opositional forces.. but its a different
type of phrase than "nigger" or "nazi".   It's a tough label to shake once it's
there.

In other words, if political corectness is bad, then whatever can be
effectively defined as "poltically correct" is bad, and anyone associated with
such things must be bad too.

"Politically Correct" cant be directly associated with any spacific group,
because the definition beyond being "A Euphamism" is pretty damn arbitrary.

If you want to get nasty, start characterising PC as a RIGHT wing phenomenon,
and cite that your "Freedom and inaliable Right" to make fun of Jefferson,
Ayn Rand, William F. Buckley, Edward Teller, Robert Heinlein/Lazarus Long,
or anything Cyberpunk (on the level of technology-worship anyway)
in the presence of Libertarians is consistently violated
by "Politicaly Correct" intentions.. even in their own homes!

PC is part of all that Noble Bantering about man's greatness and immortality
being pulled down into the muck by "moralists", "scientism", and "intellectual
prostitutes who do anything for a cause".  But it's replacing one morality
with another.. one 'religion' is replaced by another with it's own icons
and fanatics.  Those who define themselves as "anti-PC" seem to be more
'PC' and judgemental of others than the origional group being attacked.

Well, thats all for now.

  - Jamal  /  jah@world.std.com

   "By golly I should have the right to call those people niggers or spicks to
their faces, anything less would be denying me my basic rights of human
individualism... and even if it does make them feel misirable and frusterated,
they'll thank me later for sharing the truth."

-- 
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| jah@world.std.com                 |
 \                "Jah, mon."       /
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