When Political Correctness in NOT a Virtue

The other day I was sucker punched, hoodwinked, bamboozled, had the wool pulled over my eyes, and generally sidelined by an expert in Political Correctness. In fact, so sidelined did I get that I have been depressed for a week-and I mean really depressed.

My second book recently came out and, proudly, like a new Daddy, I went on the newsgroups to announce the name of my newborn. Boy, was that a mistake.

I have been catching all sorts of heck over the name of my book. More than one Politically Correct Disciple has informed me that I offended the masses with the title of my book:

Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country.

It is "Third World Country" that I have been told is not a "PC" term and therefore I have offended many.

Well, you can imagine how I felt.

First, I live in Mexico and have gone to great lengths to attempt to assimilate the language and culture, to have Mexican friends, and to blend into the life of this wonderful country. Second, some person claiming to be Mexican told me I was Politically Incorrect.

"Oh my God, what have I done?"

I went scrambling to contact the publisher to see if I could change the title of the book-too late! I sent e-mails to everyone I have in my rather extensive writer's address book to see what they thought-American and Mexican alike.

I went into such a depressive funk that I had to not only increase my Prozac dose (long story) but go on some tranquilizers. I allowed myself to be convinced by the Politically Correct Ideologues that I had committed an egregious error, no matter my motives.

Wait just a cotton-picking minute! (It took an entire week to reach the "cotton-picking minute" epiphany).

"What did I just allow to happen to my already fragile and delicate psyche?"

It took me a week--an entire week of sleepless nights, panic attacks, and torturing my poor wife with my whining before I woke up and smelled the coffee.

Smell the coffee I did and it stunk to high heaven.

Just what is this Political Correct Cult supposed to be and what does it mean? Most importantly, how did I allow myself to become controlled by it?

First: The noun "political correctness" means, according to the TheFreeDictionary.com by Farlex,

"Avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize or insult people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against."

Now, wait a minute: "That can be perceived to??" Perception--is that what all this "PC" stuff has been about all this time?

Someone gets themselves all twisted into a knot because of a "perceived insult"? Think of what this means! There can be as many perceptions as there are people to have them.

I mean, is there some manual that one can buy that will spell out just who is going to get their feelings hurt over some innocent remark one might make?

Mexico's President Fox sure could have used one before having Lord Jackson and Prince Sharpton descending on Mexico last week over "their perceived marginalization and insult". Note, it wasn't Fox who said anything insulting but, according to the "PC" definition, it was Jackson's and Sharpton's PERCEPTION there was an insult.

How is something like this even a livable concept? Just think a moment.

Is this any way to live? You go through life giving the power and control of your life over to your perception of words, or how someone might perceive your words.

Isn't this what we are talking about?

Are we not talking about someone hearing something that his or her mental filtration system PERCEIVES as marginalization or insulting? Words are just words. They have no intrinsic power to do anything. It is not words that define something but the hearers of those words.

That is the problem with America. Americans have become a culture of victims and in the case of the Politically Correct crowd, victims of words.

Americans are people who actively and volitionally give away the power and control of their lives over to someone or something else-like words and the groups or individuals who say those words.

To those who feel themselves to be marginalized or insulted:

Why are you giving the power of your life over to words or the people who say them? They, the words and the speaker of them, have no more power over you than you allow.

Think about this! Do not trivialize this. Stop giving the power over your life to words and the speakers of them.

Second: I fell right into the trap. My American upbringing was right there to enable me to swallow, hook, line, and sinker, the notion that I had insulted the entire nation of Mexico with my book title.

Nevertheless, look what this person did-in the name of "you don't want to be an offense to someone now, do you"?--a manipulation citing Political Correctness--I fell into his trap and allowed this person to control my emotions. I gave up my power. I gave control over the emotional well-being of my life to what?

I gave the power over my well-being to SOMEONE'S PERCEPTION of a marginalization or insult.

Here is when "Political Correctness" is NOT something virtuous. When someone's perception of a perceived marginalization or insult results in the loss of freedom of expression, it becomes thought control, it becomes inversion of the traditional social order and, ultimately, a totalitarian control over the lives of others.

Was that Politically Correct?

Doug Bower is a freelance writer, Syndicated Columnist, and book author. CLICK HERE http://www.lulu.com/content/126241 to see his newest book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country

executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport car
In The News:

Getting virus alerts on your iPhone? Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to handle fake scam alerts and boost security.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says opening emails is safe, but risks arise from interacting with links, attachments or HTML content.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals four signs of compromised Social Security numbers and offers five steps to protect yourself.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how MAB Robotics' Honey Badger 4.0, a versatile robot, now walks underwater with amphibious skills.
An updated Android trojan called FakeCall hijacks bank calls. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Android phone manufacturers and Google need to step up their game on security.
The Massimo Modular E9 is a sleek, smart and comfy tiny home in 409 square feet. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at what the future of housing might look like.
Every stock trader should consider a virtual private network to safeguard their trading, according to tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson.
Apple recently announced its new lineup of Macs and rolled out Apple Intelligence, its latest artificial intelligence-powered feature for its products.
A Swiss-engineered robot can climb ladders, showing why it's at the cutting edge of autonomous robotic solutions for harsh industrial settings.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson presents the cities targeted most by robocalls, why this is happening and what you can do about it to protect your privacy.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares tips and suggestions for how to get the best use out of the updated Calendar app available with the latest iOS update.
Your Social Security number, your unique identifier used for many purposes, has likely been leaked on the Dark Web; here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Researchers have developed a new technology that creates strong, sticky fibers capable of lifting objects and capturing things from a distance.
Smart rings track the same things that smartwatches do, including steps, sleep and a general overview of your overall health, and they tend have more battery life than smartwatches.
Researchers have developed a robotic finger that can perform routine medical exams like those conducted by doctors, helping to address the growing shortage of trained professionals.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Insurance administrative services company Landmark Admin reported that a data breach from a May cyberattack affected over 800,000 people.
Sotheby's will auction the first artwork created by Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist created in 2019 by British gallerist Aidan Meller.
More than 250 million users of the Verizon Messages app will have to switch to another app. Verizon is shutting down Messages in the next month.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides a list of 10 celebrities who are the most targeted by deepfake scams, including Tom Hanks.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Vast's Haven-1, launching in 2025, transforms space living with human-centric design.
UnitedHealth confirms over 100 million Change Healthcare users had their data stolen. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals what happened and what caused the breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how iOS 18 brings new text formatting and animated effects to the Messages app.
Whether you're a social media veteran or novice, Facebook friend request scams are common. Kurt the CyberGuy provides tips to keep your account safe.

Public Procurement and Very Private Benefits

In every national budget, there is a part called "Public... Read More

Prison Abuses on Good Muslims

Well we have certainly been reading a lot about prison... Read More

Mother Russia and Poland

When Boris Yeltsin spoke about an experiment that 'they' wrought... Read More

Protectionism in Russia

The new law "Special Protective, Antidumping and Import Compensatory Measures"... Read More

Paid Assassins

The civil war in Iraq seems to be much more... Read More

US Government Sore Losers in Not So Neighborly Dispute

I'm getting a little tired of being lectured by that... Read More

Why Can?t We Have a More Responsive Government?

The great people of the United States of America deserve... Read More

Bird Flu may kill you and your family

We have heard a lot about the coming bird flu... Read More

The Politics of American Public Education and Why Dramatic Progress Still Eludes Us

The current political efforts aimed at improving the American public... Read More

Public Schools Are Un-American

Compulsory-attendance laws force parents to send their children to public... Read More

The Will To Fight for Islam

The more I study the dynamics of WWII the more... Read More

The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell!

Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More

Tax Dollars and Transparency of Government Agencies

As we watch fewer Americans voting it is no wonder... Read More

Lets Call A Spade A Spade

Much of our personal and cultural perspective on the world... Read More

Banana Republic - United Kingdom

The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey... Read More

Death and Destruction and the Run Up to D Day

This is the third in a short series of four... Read More

National ESRI Policies

Many are very impressed with the NIMA (National Imagery and... Read More

Problems in the Media

I am noticing an increasing and alarming rate to which... Read More

The Looting of American Taxpayers Social Security Disability by Fraudulent Employers Pt. 1

For more than a decade, you the American taxpayer have... Read More

Operation Iraqi Freedom, Soldiers and Their Psyche

Have you noticed that the when the service men who... Read More

We Do Not Have An Upside Down Trade Deficit Because We Cannot Compete

Our trade deficit is directly proportional to our attacks on... Read More

Treasury Department Falls Short on Blocked Persons List

I would like to discuss the blocked persons list of... Read More

Hypocrisy of Over Regulation

All to often law makers and regulators create rules and... Read More

Bringing Back Mining Jobs to the United States

With new environmental technologies and modern efficiency methods in mining... Read More

From Democracy to Omniocracy

Clint Eastwood recently plunged into the murky political pond with... Read More

O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..