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Talking PC in a Post-PC Age?
We got an interesting suggestion about political correctness in our July "Suggest a Show" thread. MeanMachine2 wrote:
I would very much like to hear a discussion on the impact "political correctness" has on the lack of open and honest discussion in the public square. My personal experience indicates large numbers of people only verbalize their heart felt deespest beliefs, if ever, among their closest and like-minded family and friends who frequently share such feelings and beliefs. This, I believe, contributes to a lack of learning and evolution of our thoughts and feelings on a wide range of social and political issues. For example, I was a very strong supporter of Al Gore's presidential campaign. I learned a great deal in my visits to Lack Oswego and Clackamas County talking to Republicians to understand why they were opposed to Al Gore. It was not only very educational but enjoyable as well. For the record, I have been an independent for the vast majority of my adult life after having been a Democrat and a Republican. Or is it not politically correct to talk about political correctness?
I was struck by this comment, because in a lot of ways "political correctness" seems like an old-fashioned phrase -- more 90's than 00's -- now that "post-PC" has gained currency.
Is there an hour of radio here? How exactly does political correctness affect your social or political conversations these days? What are you less likely to talk about in public? What do you think others are? And where does this self-censorship come from?
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I think there is absolutely an hour of conversation here, especially in Portland. My experience (as a white person) here has been that the city is full of well-intentioned PC-minded people, but we are still incredibly segregated. There is a lot of PC talk but not a lot of real action to back it up. I imagine things have been improved because of it, but sometimes it seems like we're just using language to cover up an area that needs some real work and action.
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This subject could cover more than an hour of TOL. Do we agree on the definition of political correctness? PC considerations have been used against me to make me express my true thoughts in a candy-coated way which lacks honesty. PC has limited my freedom of expression if I let it. As one who grew up with rough-and-tumble expressions of truth in a gritty, earnest, and sometimes hurtful way, I still prefer honest expression. My experience has been that many have used PC speak in public but resort to backstabbing when in the company of their cronies. They may not have meant to be dishonest but they are cowards. Many people are not directly or constructively confrontational; they struggle to find nice ways to tell others, "You suck, dude!" They hide their true intent behind PC speak in order to (falsely) get themselves off the hook for being responsible for their true thoughts and intentions. I hope I choose constructive ways to express constructive criticisms or suggestions to others. Read the book *The Four Agreements* to get into the meat of the first agreement: don't use words to cause harm.
http://www.miguelruiz.com/fouragreements.html -
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