Political Correctness

Political Correctness! What does it really mean?

Being politically correct seems to mean you are supposed to behave/speak correctly in the presence of those individuals who might be offended by your words or actions. On the surface, that would seem like a no-brainer.  But, alas, it isn’t!

The reason for that is simple: being politically correct seems to mean you hold off from publicly making the cruel, insensitive or stereotypical remarks you would make privately. How you really behave, speak or, for that matter, feel inside is unimportant.

Truthfully, I’m not exactly sure of what it means to be politically correct. However, I can tell you what it doesn’t mean!

Being politically correct doesn’t mean that any incorrect feelings, behavior or speech is changed or corrected in your mind or in your heart. Being politically correct doesn’t mean you take any pains to really change your mindset or attitudes about others at all. Being politically correct simply means “don’t get caught with your foot in your mouth.”   If you do, there will be strong consequences, such as loss of employment, advancement, ostracism, etc.

Consequently, on the days that our household behaviors, gestures and words get confused with our public persona and we say something that we and others think all the time but haven’t been “caught” saying, we feign disgust with ourselves and apologize. It doesn’t matter whether we really feel sorry about our actions or are simply sorry for getting caught, we apologize. Sometimes we do so tearfully but, in truth, I think those tears have more to do with the consequences more than anything else.

For those of us who can’t cry on command, our out is to say, “I take full responsibility for my behavior or comments.” Then, we step back and wait for those magical words, almost akin to abracadabra, procure for us a get out of jail free card!!

I can’t tell you how many times I turn on the TV and an entertainer, a talk show host, an athlete, a minister, a political figure or a stage clown is apologizing for some unexplainable comment or action that they seemed to have committed supposedly without their own knowledge or intent. They seem almost confused by their comments and actions, as if the behavior was as a result of some sort of outside possession or mind control.

But, does anybody really take any responsibility for their actions or comments or is that apology just the politically correct thing to say?

Can anybody hear me?