Political correctness is one of my pet peeves.  It makes me crazy the way people whine that any consideration for people and ideas that are out of the mainstream or not part of their experience are "politically correct" and therefore somehow an inconvenience.   To label something as politically correct is to say, "I don't think this way, but, I know that I'll upset someone if I say what I feel."  What they don't seem to realize is that as soon as they slap that PC label on something they have given away their true feelings.

Main street is no longer the domain of the white middle class males who were born at County General.  Elm street is no longer populated with straight Anglo-Saxon folks with 2.2 kids and a dog.  George and Weezy have moved on up.  David and Steve are so much more than good "friends," they've made a cozy home next door.  Mr. Lee is no longer serving you sweet and sour pork at the Golden Dragon, he's your boss.  Your wife is no longer your property, she's bringing home half of the household income.

It was never right to hate these people or to assume that you didn't have to consider their feelings and needs in what you said or how you behaved.  But, they are no longer hidden away in ghettos or otherwise staying in the shadows or submitting to tradition.  And, they will no longer be kept down and treated as second class citizens.  And why should they?  Would you be treated that way?  What most people label as "politically correct" are instances where they are challenged to keep an open mind or, at a minimum, to exercise common courtesy.

What it really comes down to is not that people find it inconvenient to choose their words carefully.  The core of the issue is that they find it hard to accept people who are different from themselves and that they have to find a way to live in harmony with all these odd people.  The sooner people stop whining about how hard it is to choose the right word and start accepting that diversity is the norm the easier it will be for us all to just get along.

When I hear people going on about political correctness what I hear them saying is that they'd rather keep their hearts and their minds closed.  That they would prefer to hurt rather than heal.  That they would rather hold another person down than to reach out a helping hand.  By what moral or intellectual philosophy are such behaviors encouraged and accepted?  

So, the next time you catch yourself complaining about having to be PC ask yourself what is at the root of your whining?   Are you really a racist or a homophobe or a chauvinist?  I think most of you will be able to answer, "No, I'm not, at least I don't want to be."  If that is your answer, then use the words that show that and do it because you know it is the right thing to do.

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