[PEN-L:33476] RE: Re: Re: Re: Too much PC

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

Title: RE: [PEN-L:33433] Re: Re: Re: Too much PC

 
>> It is quite hopeless to fight against the use of terms such as
"crazy," "nuts," "loony tunes," even "lunacy" and "lunatic," to apply to
intellectual, social, or political characteristics. But your (and my)
goal can still be achieved. We must attack the use of any of these terms
to apply to people who actually suffer from mental illness. <<

jks writes:>I agree with that.<

I'd agree too, but add that, in general, the meaning of a word depends on the context. So when I say I'm crazy (as I am), or if I tell my son he's crazy to be interested in Pokemon (at age 12!), it's not offensive.

One key thing is the phrase "too much PC." How do we decide when PC goes too far? To my mind, the rejection of Mark Twain's HUCK FINN as "racist" because it uses the "N word" is a clear example of PC gone wild. Part of the problem is that such a rejection ignores the socio-economic context of the book and the writer (and that it's basically an anti-racist book, as is Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, which also uses the N-word). Part of the problem is that the focus on mere words gets us away from the rational core of "political correctness," which is that we should respect other people as humans. It also gets us mired in matters of personal behavior and forgets social-structural inequities and oppressions.

> Californians are still fair game, though. They get the nice weather, we get to make fun of their craziness. <

California is really nothing but the US in microcosm, complete with political or social "craziness" of all sorts that are seen elsewhere. But when it comes to socio-political craziness, I'd look to the government in Washington (consider the Crusade Against Iraq), and its roots in the rest of the US. At this point, little of the craziness seen in California's politics is represented in the White House. People are talking about secession -- perhaps forced on California by the rest of the US -- because the Democrats hold all statewide offices.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island weather are quite pleasant. I have missed snow.

jetlagged Jim

 

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