‘Political Correctness’ means being decent and respectful

The term Politically Correct has been hijacked by conservatives and given a negative connotation that it really doesn’t deserve. It has been ascribed a meaning that wants to equate PC with kowtowing to minorities and/or any group or individual who doesn’t look or think like them.

The working conservative definition of PC is: to knuckle under to those they scorn like blacks, the poor, immigrants, gays and the list goes on and on. PC has become a term associated with giving in.

PC, in reality, was conceived to show respect for others, others whose views and backgrounds differ from yours. For instance to say Happy Holidays to a Hindu is to grant them respect for their religion, while acknowledging the joy of the season. It is not a threat to Christmas.

When the administration says radical Islamists rather than terrorists, they are giving those Muslims who do not wish us ill, respect for their abhorrence of the violence. They have chosen not to blanket a whole religion with the enmity deserved by the small faction of Muslims who are waging war.

The idea of using a term like black instead of the ‘N’ word, or homosexual instead of fag, or woman instead of bitch or ho is to indicate respect. It is possible to disapprove of a person’s philosophy, sexual orientation or religion and still respect them as a human being. To do otherwise is to not only be disrespectful but dehumanizing.

Any candidate who says they refuse to be politically correct is saying that it is all right to be nasty, callous and hateful. That is not straight-talking. Name-calling is not honesty. That is just a cheap way to incite fears and generate hostilities. And I’m pretty sure that is not the way to ‘Make America Great Again.’

Using the term PC to target minorities rather than seeking honest solutions to the myriad of problems facing this country is simply unacceptable. We don’t need scapegoats, we need rational thought, and a sharing of ideas which should lead to compromises.

But what’s even scarier, the hate speech gives the wackos, the racists, the radicals, an incentive, a virtual justification to take out those whose ideas are different from theirs. Charleston, San Bernardino, Oklahoma City, and the list goes on. Fear and hatred should not be the American Spirit. Let’s take a different path to greatness.

This story was originally published January 18, 2016 at 8:49 AM with the headline "‘Political Correctness’ means being decent and respectful."