Posted by
Matthew Wells on Friday, January 26, 2007 2:56:22 PM
There was a time not long ago when honesty could be expected of the average person in this country. Though there have always been flatterers and liars, in recent years these acts, sadly, have become socially acceptable and commonplace. In fact the dishonesty in our culture is so pervasive that very often lying isn’t even called lying, and flattery isn’t called flattery. These acts are hidden behind the term ‘political correctness’.
When someone speaks in a politically correct way and at the same time also speaks the truth it is merely an accident. The use of political correctness is always an attempt to avoid offensiveness and generally an avoidance of truth. And as the definition below puts forth, political correctness is often agenda driven.
Also, PC or p.c. Showing an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustices caused by prejudice. It often involves changing or avoiding language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background. For example, Editors of major papers have sent out numerous directives concerning politically correct language. This expression was born in the late 1900s, and excesses in trying to conform to its philosophy gave rise to humorous parodies.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
This is a somewhat generous definition, and yet one of the most accurate definitions I was able to find. It makes no mention of the inherent dishonesty of political correctness.
Here’s another:
Political correctness (also politically correct or PC) is a term used to describe language or behavior which is claimed to be calculated to provide a minimum of offense, particularly to racial, cultural, or other identity groups. The concept is not exclusive to the English language. A text that conforms to the ideals of political correctness is said to be politically correct.
http://en.wikipedia.org
The definitions themselves are politically correct! At the very least the definitions are incomplete, which is deceitful. In addition our language has been inundated with new words and new meanings for existing words that are used as tools of political correctness. Just take a look at some of the deceitful words common use:
Pro-choice—This is just a gentle way of saying pro-abortion. And abortion itself is a gentle way of describing taking the life of an unborn child. A lie upon a lie. The argument for pro-choice is usually made in the name of freedom or women’s rights. But no choice is offered to the millions of unborn children that are killed every year, or to the people who would love them.
Tolerance—This term is used very broadly. It includes tolerance for gay marriage, legal rights for illegal immigrants, and in San Francisco it even means tolerance for the rights of convicted sexual offenders to live near elementary schools. In the name of tolerance should we just turn off our brains and tolerate everything?
Affirmative action—It is if you don’t happen to be a white male trying to get into a college or get a job and are automatically placed at the bottom of a list behind all the minority and female applicants.
Extremist—This has become a recently popular term mostly used by those on the left to describe conservatives with opinions extremely different from their own. This word however is so nebulous that our President, who is often called an extremist, commonly uses the word himself to describe our enemy. It may be unnecessarily inflammatory to use the word Muslims to describe our enemy but he won’t even use the word Jihadist. The word is meant to be derogatory and to describe someone over the edge, but it is always one person’s opinion of another. To use the word in a rational and objective way, and with an understanding of its root word ‘extreme’ it would have to mean—a person who is passionate and firm in their unpopular or unconventional convictions, like the apostle Paul, Galileo Galilei, Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Jesus Christ.
Though political correctness continues to be a common practice it is generally known that it is also a dishonest practice. This speaks very poorly for our society. If dishonesty is used to put forth political or social change, or even to just avoid confrontation, then how much value is placed on intelligent and honest debate?
Even an atheist must know that we can serve only one master. Are we serving God, who is truth and light, or His opposite?
As integrity is merely the courage to see and speak the truth, then other than silence, it is the only alternative to political correctness.
Matthew Wells
1/19/07