“People have lost their sense of humor. In former times we constantly made jokes about different races. You can only tell them today with one hand over your mouth otherwise you will be insulted as a racist. I find that ridiculous.
In those earlier days every friendly clique had a ‘Sam the Jew’ or ‘Jose the Mexican’ — but we didn’t think anything of it or have a racist thought. It was normal that we made jokes based on our nationality or ethnicity. That was never a problem. I don’t want to be politically correct. We’re all spending too much time and energy trying to be politically correct about everything.”
– Clint Eastwood
I can understand how certain remarks about race or ethnic groups might be offensive to some people; but let’s not forget that we as American’s have the right to express ourselves. We can’t control what everyone will say; but we can leave the conversation if it offends us.
ubject: Fw: Doctors’ Opinions
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 10:55:06 -0500
Doctors’ Opinions of the Financial Bail Out Package
The Allergists voted to scratch it, and the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve, and the Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
The Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
The Pathologists yelled, ‘Over my dead body!’ while the Pediatricians said, ‘Oh, Grow
up!’
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, the Radiologists could see right through it, and the Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, ‘This puts a whole new face on the matter.’
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn’t hold water.
The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists left the decision up to the !$#@&^ in Washington !
Here’s an article on the history of “political correctness” and the use of this concept as a political strategy. And the director of the British Libertarian Alliance, Sean Gabb, wrote recently about some high-profile cases in the media of people being politically incorrect and the consequences. Gabb writes “the highly selective use of speech codes and hate speech laws has nothing really to do with politeness. It is about power”, and “We should also at all times bear in mind that political correctness is not about protecting the weak but disarming the potentially strong”. On Golliwogs, One-Eyed Scottish Idiots and Sending Poo Through the Post