No offense intended! The nation is drowning in PC

Union Leader ^ | June 9 2002

[2Trievers]

THIS COUNTRY IS running the danger of capitulating to a mind-numbing political correctness. It is a danger with real and serious consequences, and it can only be stopped if individual citizens step up and demand that it stop.

A Brooklyn mother has discovered that the New York State high school graduation test has, for at least three years, been "sanitized of virtually any reference to race, religion, ethnicity, sex, nudity, alcohol, even the mildest profanity and just about anything that might offend someone for some reason."

So reported The New York Times one week ago.

For example, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel's essay "What Really Makes Us Free" includes this passage: "Man, who was created in God's image, wants to be free as God is free: free to choose between good and evil, love and vengeance, life and death."

But lest any student be offended, the phrases referring to God were eliminated in the test version!

A speech by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan referred to polls showing strong American support for an organization at the grass-roots level, but the phrase "regardless of what is said and done on Capitol Hill" was removed.

In another example, a book's reference to a "gringo lady" is changed to "American lady." A "skinny" boy becomes "thin." A "fat" boy becomes "heavy."

"When I saw that," said the woman who discovered the changes, "I really thought they had lost their minds."

We think they probably have. But such harsh words might offend someone, somewhere, somehow.

In some cases, the meaning of the writer's words is completely lost by this kind of revisionism. Yet the student is supposed to expound on what the writer meant!

To be sure, there are books and passages that are too intense — and offensive — for use in high schools. But their use may be no more repulsive or damaging to education and the body politic than are these kinds of Orwellian maneuvers.

And don't think it isn't happening here in New Hampshire. The racial, ethnic and, we are now hearing, sexual quotas in place at the University of New Hampshire in the name of "diversity" are just as damaging as any sanitized test.

[Valin]

:-)

[blam]

"I agreee with his premise, but I think the capitulation has ALREADY taken place."

I agree. My sister's son attended Baylor last year (his first year in college) and has decided to transfer to Indiana University (They're in Indianapolis) the next term. I asked my sister why. She said her son said that there were too many "rich white boys" at Baylor. I said, that's funny, your son is a rich white boy. LOL. She said he wanted to transfer to a school that had more diversity. (They have convinced the white 'boys' that they should hate themselves). I think those Texas boys razzed him about his blonde 'cornrows.'

[2Trievers]

"Has anyone noted how BC and AD have changed to BCE and ADE; before the common era and after the common era."

Yes, the college level text I use for a Humanities course I teach has that demarcation ... I tell the students to ignore it because it is silly, but all the new texts are sadly swinging in that direction. &;-)

[WIMom]

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Let's have some fun!

Hurry before they bring out the Cheerleaders!

[friendly]

Let's call this for what it is:

Totalitarian censorship by the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy. (Hillary had it perfectly correct, in the way that a sleezy lawyer like her accuses enemies of her own crimes).

[weikel]

Well not me( my favorite shows included the un pc Married with Children, South Park, and the Man Show).

[cgbg]

Next time someone tells you how they prefer to be addressed why not respond:

"Personally, I prefer to be addressed as "Your Royal Highness"

;-)

[genew]

Everyone can help the country move away from cultural marxism political correctness. Here's a way to start. If you have a cell phone, have it whistle 'Dixie' when it rings.

Mine does.

[2Trievers]

I like your MOXIE! &;-)

[TxBec]

your name is offensive to all the other tropical fruits that are being ignored :)

[wontbackdown]

[Neanderthal]

"Has anyone noted how BC and AD have changed to BCE and ADE; before the common era and after the common era."

I've noticed it and it p!$$es me off, too. But how do you get "after common era" from the initials ADE? Where's the "D?"

[2Trievers]

[ladyinred]

They won't listen but you can say, "I told you so!"

Excuse me, but the above phrase is offensive to me! :)

[sleavelessinseattle]

Dude You may circle the drain, but your message was HEARD! Add Liberal Elite Fascists to your subject...but don't say I told you so...LOL I'm still a delete virgin as far as I know|:-D

[.45MAN]

The nation is drowing in PC

Uneceptable statement... The nation is flotationably inept!!

Much better, most people won't have a clue, this is what we are looking for... A total loss of understanding of the real truth.. (sarcasm)

[MamaTexan]

Where's the "D?"

"D" probably stands for Diversity... as in After Diversity Era.