| As with anything good, too much of it can be bad. | | | | been eradicated. This is a good thing! |
| Unfortunately, this may have happened or is happening | | | | But as I mentioned earlier, too much of a good thing |
| with Political Correctness (a.k.a. PC.) | | | | can be bad. For example, from a cultural perspective, |
| I must admit that I have been very happy with the | | | | many White Americans have said to me that they are |
| kindlier gentler world that has resulted from the | | | | afraid to say things reference Black Americans |
| internalization of PC by my fellow brothers and sisters | | | | because it might not be PC. More importantly, they are |
| of the human race in America. Of course, for me, | | | | highly concerned with the backlash that they may |
| being PC all the time has not been easy. I have had | | | | experience for not being PC or the pain that they may |
| my share of missteps just like anyone else. | | | | inadvertently cause. |
| For example, I once stated that someone was deaf. I | | | | Unfortunately, this concern or fear to say the wrong |
| was immediately informed that I was not being PC and | | | | thing is creating an environment where people are |
| that the more appropriate term was hearing impaired. | | | | more unlikely to openly discuss issues, differences, or |
| Upon realizing the error of my ways, I immediately | | | | observations with respect to people. Without this |
| changed my verbiage. The good thing was that being | | | | dialogue, there is a tendency for people to continue to |
| PC would help me not to offend anyone. However, I | | | | misunderstand each other, not improve relations, and |
| was later informed that stating that someone was | | | | limit social problem solving. |
| hearing impaired was not PC and the proper term was | | | | In other words, we must communicate with each other |
| in fact deaf. So here is the bad part; I am now | | | | if we ever hope to make this world a better place. In |
| confused! I do not know what to do or say. I was | | | | lies the problem. To improve communications, it is |
| trying not to be offensive but was anyway (depending | | | | important to be PC so as not to offend. But it must be |
| on whom you talked to.) | | | | balanced. Too much PC can backfire and limit |
| Fortunately, my resolve and desire for the greater | | | | communications. |
| good (being PC) were not derailed by my confusion. | | | | That's where courage comes in. You and I must be |
| This is especially true given the goodness that has | | | | courageous enough not to allow PC to limit our |
| personally been bestowed upon me. As a Black | | | | dialogue with others. |
| American, this goodness was manifested in the way | | | | Is there a greater possibility of offending someone |
| that people addressed or referred to me. Specifically, I | | | | through our courage? Absolutely! |
| am for the most part no longer openly referred to as | | | | Will it be worth it in the end? Absolutely! |
| being a Boy, Colored, Negro, or the "N" Word all terms | | | | Copyright © 2007 Knowledge Driven & |
| that I find offensive to some degree given their past | | | | Moore LLC. |
| history. And, thanks to PC, these words have almost | | | | |