Political correctness: how the right invented a phantom enemy | Moira Weigel
Throughout an erratic campaign, Trump consistently blasted political correctness, blaming it for an extraordinary range of ills and using the phrase to deflect any and every criticism. During the first debate of the Republican primaries, Fox News host Megyn Kelly asked Trump how he would answer the charge that he was “part of the war on women”.
“You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘slobs,’ and ‘disgusting animals’,” Kelly pointed out. “You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees …”
“I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct,” Trump answered, to audience applause. “I’ve been challenged by so many people, I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either.”
Surely PC is another word for good manners ?
I dont think thats the whole picture of the problems with political correctness. Example, telling a woman she would look good on her knees is not a political correctness issue, its a basic human decency and respect issue, same as calling a family of blacks a bunch of N _____s, not really a political issue but more a decency (and not wanting to get your ass whipped) issue.
The problem comes when you cant call Pedro an illegal immigrant, might hurt his feelings, lets flower it up and take the criminal part away and call it, Undocumented worker, (even if he isnt working) or just immigrant (almost like he followed rules to get here) or, New American (my favorite since OweMalley invented that)
Its not correct to identify a bank robber as black, or its not ok to mention that the majority of certain types of crimes are committed by blacks, ( acceptable if its a crime generally affiliated with the white race).
I think political correctness is bullshit and sometimes you just have to call things what they are, If Pedro's feelings get hurt by being called illegal, the remedy is for Pedro to go home, and come back properly, the remedy is not for us to make sure we dont hurt his feelings.