Language – Page 2 – Dave's Bankside Babble

Those who have been here before, or maybe even know me personally, will be aware that I abhor racism and any form of inequality. That said, I’m also no great fan of the political correctness (see here) that is so often used in an attempt to combat them.

But far too often that political correctness does little more than disguise the underlying issues and problems. Issues like social, financial and educational inequality are all factors that still exist, no matter how well they are disguised by legislation and political/media rhetoric and direction.

I’m not alone in the belief that inanely or blindly adopting and following politically correct doctrine actually leads to the reduction or removal of racist tendencies.

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. It also allows for the distortion of truth and fact to promote political gain and rationalize all acts to further the cause of those pushing an agenda not shared by the majority…(Dickiebo)

It’s also partly why I said recently, that a little overt racism can sometimes provide us with a helping hand to reduce the problem (see here). Seeing racism in action often serves to bring some of the causation factors to public attention. It helps to promote debate about those issues and hopefully, helps people to adjust their, mostly stereotypical, views and opinions of others.

The Campaign Against Political Correctness (CAPC), a non-partisan organisation which was set up by John and Laura Midgley, also believe the political correctness is wrong, it’s going too far and importantly, it is no longer achieving its original aim, if it ever did?

They say and I would tend to mostly agree;

It is causing tension between communities where there need not be any.
It is encouraging racism and sexism – especially in the job market – encouraging people to be given jobs based on the colour of their skin or their sex and not on their merit.
It tries to protect those identified as “minorities” (including women) despite the fact those people are rarely consulted with before others speak on their behalf, assuming that they are not perfectly capable of defending themselves or asking for help if they need/want it.
Although PC is supposed to be around to prevent ‘offence’ it appears wholly acceptable to offend a majority whilst protecting a minority.

Writing for Diversity X Change magazine (see here) a few years ago, Laura Midgley explained why she formed CAPC and went on to highlight some of the problems born out of the political correctness within our society.

…it has bred generation of children who see colour as an issue when it shouldn’t be; it has ensured that people get jobs purely based on sex or colour; it has encouraged discrimination and decreed this to be acceptable simply because the word ‘positive’ has been added; it has undermined the ability of people to freely discuss issues of concern… (Laura Midgley, CAPC Founder)

I would tend to agree with Laura, and many other like-minded individuals; Political correctness is becoming a “powerful recruiting sergeant” for bigotry and extremist organisations like the English Defence League.

Another snippet of relevance here is the recent post about ‘colour’ over at Dickiebo; in the post he highlights how a Black American also finds white man’s PC love affair a little amusing…

When U Black, U Black – When I was born, I was BLACK, When I grew up, I was BLACK, When I went in the sun, I stayed BLACK, When I got cold, I was BLACK, When I was scared, I was BLACK, When I was sick, I was BLACK, And when I die, I’ll still be BLACK.

NOW, You ‘white’ folks… When you’re born, you’re PINK, When you grow-up, you’re WHITE, When you go in the sun, you get RED, When you’re cold, you turn BLUE, When you’re scared, you’re YELLOW, When you get sick, you’re GREEN, When you bruise, you turn PURPLE, And when you die, you look GREY… So why y’all be callin’ us COLORED Folks?

A little jovial perhaps but I think you’ll mostly agree, it’s also close to the point in hand? I don’t know your view but I for one am a little sick of some muppet telling me how to think!

Related articles