What does the future hold for us if we continue, as a society, to tolerate the pervasive disease that is proliferating in much of the world, the modern malady of creeping political correctness?
It used to be that we could discuss and exchange various opinions on almost any subject, and either agree, or agree to disagree, while countering contrary opinion with logic, facts, accurate and verifiable news reports and always, respect for others’ opinions.
Now it seems that some neighbours and friends are afraid of expressing honest and truthful opinions, or even receiving factual, documented news reports from around the world, for fear of being somehow erroneously labelled racist, homophobic, xenophobic, reactionary, anti-social, fascist, militaristic or one of the other silencing labels that so easily slip from the tongues of the politically correct.
Sadly, the strategy is effective, and it is silencing many. Some groups may be using political correctness as a way of convincing the weak and the timid to stay silent while they work their agenda.
Political correctness could more accurately be described as social timidity, an unwillingness to cope with verifiable facts that may differ from one’s own opinions, or to cope with the plain and obvious truth, direct verbal confrontation or the inability or unwillingness to debate the issue at hand.
Are debates and discussions now to be limited to only politically correct opinions, or can debaters or coffee buddies at Timmy’s still politely use the plain unvarnished truth, verifiable accurate information and documented occurrences without fear of being publicly labelled by the PC for their admirable quality of being respectfully factual?
Are we being bullied into silence and acquiescence by these various forces using political correctness to further their own agenda, public image, benefit, expansion and/or profit?
If so, then we deserve what we tolerate.
Simon R. Guillet
New Sudbury