M V Tronson says that if anyone is concerned about the way public language can influence the collective ideas of a group of people, then give yourself a challenge and type 'Political Correctness' into any major search engine.
Wikipedia's opening statement says: 'Politically Correctness is a term denoting language, ideas, policies, and behaviour seen as seeking to minimise social offense in gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, handicap, and age-related contexts. In current usage, the terms are almost exclusively pejorative, connoting "intolerant" and "intolerance".'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness
Wikipedia also highlights references for "Political Correctness gone mad" and has a considerable section on the criticism heaped upon this term.
The Australian Union of Students is not impressed with Political Correctness. "People become aware of Political Correctness when they or someone else fall victim to it". They give many examples to show that "Political Correctness" is no laughing matter and is something that can affect ordinary Australians. They cite hypothetical cases that range from family farm land being confiscated and given to indigenous people; to convicted murderers being released from jail on parole; to Family Court inequities, and even convoluted reasons for confiscating guns from duck shooters because the 'season' has been stopped by protestors.
http://www.students.org.au/political/correctness/
'Liberty Australia' cites numerous cases of Political Correctness Nonsense. It uses humour to illustrate its point, by describing the Politically Correct Santa, the politically correct version of Little Red Riding Hood. More seriously, it acknowledges the fear associated with being branded "politically incorrect".
http://www.netbay.com.au/~noelozzy/correct.htm
Philip Atkinson, in a long and highly philosophical essay, thinks that Political Correctness is the term for a particular type of communal tyranny that erupted in the 1980s. It was a spontaneous declaration starting with a few voices, but growing in popularity, until the banning of certain previously 'innocent' or 'culturally accepted' terms became unwritten and written law within the community. There was also a danger of 'transgressors' becoming the object of persecution by the mob, if not prosecution by the state.
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/pc.htm
M V Tronson, says that herein lies the danger and fear of 'not following the unwritten rules' - in that prosecution by the State could become the norm.
Atkinson further states: "The declared rationale of this tyranny is to prevent people being offended; to compel everyone to avoid using words or behaviour that may upset homosexuals, women, non-whites, the crippled, the stupid, the fat or the ugly. This reveals not only its absurdity but its inspiration."
There are numerous other sites that recount how silly but dangerous political correctness is. One of these is Political Correctness Watch http://pcwatch.blogspot.com/
which details the tip of the iceberg.
M V Tronson asks a vital question. "Who imposes political correctness?"
The answer is that 'anyone can', if you say or do something that offends them for reasons that 'they appear different from you'.
Mark Tronson comments that this is a reasonable precaution, as he remembers some of the nastiness and insults and marginalising of families, and sometimes physical hurt, that occurred in the 1950s when Protestants and Catholics in country towns and suburbs all over Australia did not, and could not, respect each other's lifestyles and viewpoints. Many people were scarred by 'the mob' just because their religion was different from their neighbours.
He has also experienced the unreasonable and cruel taunts and discrimination due to his speech impediment, and as a child, he would have liked someone to 'stand up for him' at times and stop the insults – that would have been a positive outcome of 'political correctness'.
However, the ability to accuse someone 'TOO EASILY' of not being 'politically correct' has reached a tipping point, and the cart is in danger of falling over, and some people are starting to think that the courts may take the accusations more seriously than they were intended.
What should Christians do who feel 'slighted' when people denigrate their religion, or the name of the Lord. What should they do? Should they just acquiesce and say nothing, and make believe they are 'part of the mob'? Or should they note down the slights, and complain to the authorities every time they hear swearing or profanities, or see behaviour that offends them and that seems anti-social or not conforming to the Christian ethics that form part of our society?
Mark Tronson suggests that by taking the idea of 'Political Correctness' and turning it to suit yourself is a positive way forward. Confront people who are disrespectful to you, to Christianity, or to The Lord. Make a note of it. Make a fuss about it. Write to the relevant authorities. Be 'politically correct' in a positive way.
