Politically correct language and its inane euphemisms are a
menace to society. They are threatening your right to free speech
and your ability to express yourself the way you want. Form is now
becoming more important than substance. Prevalent social
inequalities and oppressions look to language for remedy. What
results is a thick, cunning manipulation of English - a lackluster
solution to a problem that cannot be solved by words alone. A
constant desire for some to be in power has turned those in our
society into attackers - not physically, or even intellectually,
but rather by cowardly accusation. Political correctness is shying
away from simply being common courtesy and is turning into an
epidemic. We accuse each other of being sexist if we say "mailman"
instead of "mailperson." We accuse each other as being racist if we
say "Indian" instead of "Native American." Your opinion of either
entity does not change regardless of the term. Our attention is
being focused not on the issues that matter, but rather on our
defense. Why must we lower ourselves to such abysmal depths of
linguistic nonsense? Because if we don't, our social doom will be
swift, certain and inevitable. The worst thing to be labeled is a
sexist or a racist. We must resort to learning how to communicate
in this pathetic dialect that accentuates the appeasement of
everyone and the offense of no one. We must sacrifice what was
given to us in the constitution so we can succeed in a society with
a politically correct social disease.
What used to be called the "Department of War" is now the Department of Defense. Bank tellers are supposed to refer to a disabled person as "a person with a disability," emphasizing his personhood first and not his disability. In business, "greed" has become the more positive sounding "profit motives." Special interest groups have transformed and, likewise, "anti-abortion" morphed into "pro-choice" and likewise "pro-life" into "anti-choice." "Used" becomes "Pre-Owned." "Liberals" have become "Progressives." Changes that were once somewhat necessary have become tiresome and pretentious. "Loser" becomes "second place." "Garbage men" become "Garbage people," and then become "sanitation workers" - which totally disassociates and dehumanizes the act of collecting smelly trash but at least gives those numerous female sanitation workers all the respect they've always wanted. (Notice my sarcasm.) Stealing one from George Carlin, "Shell shock" has become the verbose "Post traumatic stress disorder." This change disrespects the military veterans who actually experienced the horrors of battle - the mustard gas, the trenches, the death and destruction - just in sacrifice for all of today's super-sensitive. These euphemisms have been created by a manipulative, elitist few.
The term "politically correct" derives itself from Communism.
Karl Marx coined the term P.C. as a cute reversal of C.P. (The
Communist Party), and used it as propaganda. Even Hitler mastered
the art of speaking in such a way that controlled the minds of
others. Presently, The New York Times will give you more than a
whiff of politically correct language. Much of the colorful,
adjective- packed, progressive prose in The Times is on the
threshold of up-to-date politically correctness. It has been used
in various forms all over the spectrum, liberal to conservative, to
brainwash others by manipulating the way of speaking.
The social and political implications of an artificial, politically correct language are destructive. The only things coming out of politicians' mouths are perfectly orchestrated pieces of well-planned sentimental glop. We have candidates being elected due to their (or their speechwriter's) magical talent of spitting out happy dribble, not due to character or morality or anything else that defines greatness. This new breed of language is a force to be reckoned with, putting more emphasis on one sentence that than a whole life of achievement. Any public figure that makes a politically incorrect statement is immediately attacked by the American media. David Howard, a Washington mayoral aide, used the word "niggardly" as a synonym for "stingy." Howard did not intend the racial epithet, it was a legitimate definition that a dictionary would confirm. However, the public and media were quick to accuse him of being racist, and he turned into a victim of political correctness run amok. Rush Limbaugh is the new target, although his statements were probably more racially directed, and therefore unacceptable. But there is a danger in letting one statement alone have such a huge impact on careers. Political Correctness can even cause controversy with those like John Lennon, who once said, "Only those with no hope take drugs." Bill Maher's show was canceled from ABC because he made a perfectly viable comment about the misuse of the word "cowardly" to describe the acts of terror on 9/11. This man's show was actually called "Politically Incorrect," and it was cancelled due to a controversial statement. There is a danger in encouraging those in the public sector to speak flawlessly. It will subliminally sway our attention from meaningful substance and force us to concentrate our attention on controversy and form. We will find it is impossible to satisfy the ears of everyone - we will just be fighting a futile battle we will never win. Every Targum column has its naysayers. Every speaker has protesters. Every optimist has skeptics. Don't live by them.
George Orwell once said, "All language is political." Perhaps we should address the actual issues themselves, not just sugarcoat them with an artificial and dangerous sense of false security. Understanding the world around us is contingent upon language. When that language is manipulated by the powerful, elitist source that seeks to use it as propaganda for a cause, language becomes a force to be reckoned with. When that force only appeals to the aesthetic and the superficial, we solve nothing; we achieve nothing. We cover up our problems with a fake blanket. This is America. We have the freedom to say whatever we want. Let's come together, stop accusing each other of things for our own political reasons and advancements, and talk the way we want. Let's have the courage to say what we feel. Because when it comes down to it, euphemisms suck! Well perhaps "suck" is much too vulgar a word; so I "dislike" them. Maybe I shouldn't judge a word based on its shallow qualities; so I suppose I find euphemisms "disagreeable with my preferences, per se."
James O'Keefe is a Rutgers College sophomore majoring in philosophy. His column "Feathers of Steel," appears on alternating Fridays.
NJO: Originally published in The Daily Targum.
What used to be called the "Department of War" is now the Department of Defense. Bank tellers are supposed to refer to a disabled person as "a person with a disability," emphasizing his personhood first and not his disability. In business, "greed" has become the more positive sounding "profit motives." Special interest groups have transformed and, likewise, "anti-abortion" morphed into "pro-choice" and likewise "pro-life" into "anti-choice." "Used" becomes "Pre-Owned." "Liberals" have become "Progressives." Changes that were once somewhat necessary have become tiresome and pretentious. "Loser" becomes "second place." "Garbage men" become "Garbage people," and then become "sanitation workers" - which totally disassociates and dehumanizes the act of collecting smelly trash but at least gives those numerous female sanitation workers all the respect they've always wanted. (Notice my sarcasm.) Stealing one from George Carlin, "Shell shock" has become the verbose "Post traumatic stress disorder." This change disrespects the military veterans who actually experienced the horrors of battle - the mustard gas, the trenches, the death and destruction - just in sacrifice for all of today's super-sensitive. These euphemisms have been created by a manipulative, elitist few.
The social and political implications of an artificial, politically correct language are destructive. The only things coming out of politicians' mouths are perfectly orchestrated pieces of well-planned sentimental glop. We have candidates being elected due to their (or their speechwriter's) magical talent of spitting out happy dribble, not due to character or morality or anything else that defines greatness. This new breed of language is a force to be reckoned with, putting more emphasis on one sentence that than a whole life of achievement. Any public figure that makes a politically incorrect statement is immediately attacked by the American media. David Howard, a Washington mayoral aide, used the word "niggardly" as a synonym for "stingy." Howard did not intend the racial epithet, it was a legitimate definition that a dictionary would confirm. However, the public and media were quick to accuse him of being racist, and he turned into a victim of political correctness run amok. Rush Limbaugh is the new target, although his statements were probably more racially directed, and therefore unacceptable. But there is a danger in letting one statement alone have such a huge impact on careers. Political Correctness can even cause controversy with those like John Lennon, who once said, "Only those with no hope take drugs." Bill Maher's show was canceled from ABC because he made a perfectly viable comment about the misuse of the word "cowardly" to describe the acts of terror on 9/11. This man's show was actually called "Politically Incorrect," and it was cancelled due to a controversial statement. There is a danger in encouraging those in the public sector to speak flawlessly. It will subliminally sway our attention from meaningful substance and force us to concentrate our attention on controversy and form. We will find it is impossible to satisfy the ears of everyone - we will just be fighting a futile battle we will never win. Every Targum column has its naysayers. Every speaker has protesters. Every optimist has skeptics. Don't live by them.
George Orwell once said, "All language is political." Perhaps we should address the actual issues themselves, not just sugarcoat them with an artificial and dangerous sense of false security. Understanding the world around us is contingent upon language. When that language is manipulated by the powerful, elitist source that seeks to use it as propaganda for a cause, language becomes a force to be reckoned with. When that force only appeals to the aesthetic and the superficial, we solve nothing; we achieve nothing. We cover up our problems with a fake blanket. This is America. We have the freedom to say whatever we want. Let's come together, stop accusing each other of things for our own political reasons and advancements, and talk the way we want. Let's have the courage to say what we feel. Because when it comes down to it, euphemisms suck! Well perhaps "suck" is much too vulgar a word; so I "dislike" them. Maybe I shouldn't judge a word based on its shallow qualities; so I suppose I find euphemisms "disagreeable with my preferences, per se."
James O'Keefe is a Rutgers College sophomore majoring in philosophy. His column "Feathers of Steel," appears on alternating Fridays.
NJO: Originally published in The Daily Targum.
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