By Carole Orlin

As I reviewed my last column in the SMDP, “L.A.’s panties in twist due to a few bikinis” (July 10, 2006, page 5), I realized that the Hooters for Neuters Scandal made me tired.

My focus on “political correctness obliterating common sense” was not my first encounter with the issue of political correctness.

Back in November 2004, I wrote a column titled “Political correctness: The euphemism treadmill” (SMDP, November 8, 2004, page 6), which I would like to share with those readers who were too tired, or for some other reason missed reading this column:

Lately, I realize that my endless attempts at being “politically correct” (“PC”) require a whole lot of energy. Something has to go, and I have decided it is being politically correct. I won’t really miss it. It is so time-consuming. I see it, at best, well intentioned, but inadequate, and at worst, a form of verbal tyranny like Orwellian newspeak or cultural Marxism. It’s a virus that has swept the nation. Political correctness has reached the point where I can predict what people are going to say before they open their mouths. I have noticed lately I would rather stay at home and read a book than spend a “PC” evening out.

As I look back, the seed of my authenticity was planted early in my brain. It could be my Bronx upbringing. In the Bronx, you knew where you stood and where everyone else stood. I miss the old, authentic, but not necessarily politically correct me. Besides, being politically correct does seem to change with the people you happen to be with at the time: pro-life people or pro-choice people; conservatives or liberals; vegetarians or carnivores. I’m getting tired just thinking about it. I don’t know how I came to be so politically correct. I know that I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and I want everyone (including me) to feel included. But, somewhere along the way I (and almost everyone I know) have become “Stepfordized.”

Of course, being politically correct, I didn’t discuss this with other people. I heard a reporter discuss the fact that a serial rapist had been apprehended and referred to the suspect as “the gentleman”. As in, “The ‘gentleman’ broke into the victims’ homes in the early morning hours before brutally assaulting them”. That is PC going too far!

After doing some Internet research, I came to realize political correctness really is complex. The definition from Wikipedia states that political correctness is “the alteration of language to redress real or alleged unjust discrimination or to avoid offense.” It was created for two purposes. One was to prevent the exclusion of people based upon differences or handicaps. The other was to remove language that was offensive to many. A rule of thumb to determine whether a term is “PC” is to question whether one is identifying an individual by an uncontrollable attribute, rather than by his or her unique accomplishments. A typical example is calling Stevie Wonder a blind black man, implying that his handicap and race are more important that his significant musical influence. However, virtually from its inception, political correctness has been extremely controversial.

Some believe the use of specialized politically correct terminology creates a separate status for the referenced groups and actually prevents integration and acceptance and further perpetuates stereotypes. One example of this comes from an article by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. He is blind and a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Dr. Jernigan observed that “as civilizations decline, they become increasingly concerned with form over substance, particularly with respect to language”. He is quite angered over the “pretentious euphemisms” that characterize almost everything we do and say. He feels these euphemisms are more than prissy, ridiculous and tiresome. At worst, they obscure clear thinking and damage the very people and causes they claim to benefit. The policy (adopted at the National Federation of the Blind convention in 1993) reads: “We believe that it is respectable to be blind, and although we have no particular pride in the fact of our blindness, neither do we have any shame in it. To the extent that euphemisms are used to convey any other concept or image, we deplore such use. We can make our own way in the world on equal terms with others and we intend to do it.”

Other critics believe that the use of specialized politically correct terms creates a separate status for referenced groups, which further perpetuates stereotypes and separation. One interesting example is using the word variant “poetess”, which could be interpreted as meaning male poets are the norm and this, arguably, perpetuates what some see as male dominance in society. Political correctness is a minefield. Despite good intentions, it has created more problems than it has resolved. But take heart, we are not alone. Japan has kotobagari, their form of political correctness, and they are struggling with similar problems.

I will end this PC (or not) column with a poignant quote by Bertrand Russell: “In a democracy, it is necessary that people should learn to endure having their sentiments outraged.”

(Carole Orlin can be reached at Caroleorlin@yahoo.com)