Somehow, political correctness has morphed into political incorrectness. It has become wrong to be right.
Consider Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During an open house gathering in Edmonton, early in February, he suggested that a woman refer to “peoplekind” rather than “mankind” -- “because it’s more inclusive,” Trudeau explained.
It was a good-natured exchange. The speaker laughed and agreed. The audience applauded.
Surely by now we know that masculine is not feminine. That a reliance on masculine pronouns and male-based titles demeans and subordinates half of the world’s population. That the supposed rule that “the masculine includes the feminine” never was a rule, until it was invented two centuries ago by some self-appointed grammar police.
And that even if it was accepted as a rule for a while, times have changed. Distorted definitions no longer apply. As Trudeau said, when asked why he wanted his cabinet to include equal numbers of women and men, “Because it’s 2015.”
But commentators on three continents ridiculed Trudeau for wanting to use “politically correct” language. Among them, of course, was Donald Trump’s favourite network, Fox News.
The language of change
Don’t we get it yet? “Politically correct” language is not a fad. It’s the way we learn and change. The ideas, the concepts -- and yes, the prejudices -- lodged in our brains do not, will not, change until we learn to use different words to express them.
Slavery only began to end in the U.S. when Americans switched to “black” instead of “nigger.” Stokely Carmichael pushed the Black Power movement. Malcolm X popularized “Black is beautiful.”
That was “politically correct” language at work.
Helen Reddy sang “I am woman, hear me roar.” Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique. Carol Gilligan wrote In a Different Voice about women’s moral development.
That was “politically correct” language at work.
I admit that I initially resisted gender-neutral language. I didn’t like changing my thinking patterns. I got converted only when my friend and business partner Ralph Milton saw the light sooner than I did, and pushed me into revising my attitudes.
The two of us made inclusive language mandatory in all the books we published, whether or not our authors liked it. We learned to avoid awkward phrasings that drew attention to themselves so successfully that, ten years later, a reader congratulated us on “not using that silly inclusive language.”
Don’t offend anyone
Trudeau, to his credit, did not treat the Edmonton woman’s unintentional use of an outdated term as her right to freedom of speech.
But it would seem, now, that one may not express views that conflict with someone else’s views.
Let’s go back, a little farther, to one of the first speeches that Julie Payette made as Canada’s new Governor General. (For non-Canadians, the Governor General is the Queen’s representative as head of government.)
As the CBC reported it, “Addressing a science conference in Ottawa, Payette argued for the need for greater public acceptance and knowledge of science. In doing so, she made dismissive references to astrology, the notion of ‘divine intervention’ in the creation of life, and those who doubt the scientific consensus that humans are significantly responsible for the warming planet.”
The ultimate incorrectness
Immediately, people protested. The Huffington Post huffed that Payette “went way over the line with her speech.”
Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer objected, “It is extremely disappointing that the prime minister will not support Indigenous peoples, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Christians and other faith groups who believe there is truth in their religion.”
In other words, you have a right to be wrong. And it’s wrong for anyone to tell you you’re wrong.
Even if pursuing your wrongness can have catastrophic consequences for life on this planet.
Even if you believe that the lives of every person on earth are governed by the motions of planets crossing imaginary constellations in the night sky, constellations visible only from this one viewpoint in space.
Even if you prefer theories written by superstitious patriarchs 30 centuries ago to endlessly tested scientific explanations.
And even if you believe that global warming and climate change is a conspiracy, a fraud foisted on a gullible world by a minority of scientists.
Julie Payette has a huge advantage over all the rest of us -- she has actually been to space, has seen this small blue planet floating in the void.
And she should shut up about what she has seen and learned, because it might offend some people’s beliefs?
That is, to my mind, the ultimate political incorrectness.
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Copyright © 2017 by Jim Taylor. Non-profit use in congregations and study groups encouraged; links from other blogs welcomed; all other rights reserved.
To send comments, to subscribe, or to unsubscribe, write jimt@quixotic.ca
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YOUR TURN
Responses to last week’s column tended to pick out two elements -- compassion fatigue and bullying.
Isabel Gibson combined both themes: “On the one hand, we have the concept that exercising our compassion impulse/muscle makes it stronger; on the other, we have this concept of compassion fatigue. Maybe compassion grows when we can see some improvement from our actions, but wears out when we can't. Maybe it grows when we make a personal connection with those we help, and who help us, and wears out when we can't. Evolution may not be destiny, but our reactions never needed to cope with action at a distance, so if they're a little flaky in those situations it's hardly surprising.
“As for withdrawing software products from the market if they can't be formulated to protect the vulnerable, I hear your pain. But what would you do about TNT, useful both for demolition and for blowing up bystanders? Chlorine (or, indeed, any vitamin supplement), useful for its intended purpose, yet poisonous in excess? Twinkies, OK now and again, but heart-stopping as a steady diet? For that matter, who among us would write anything if we had to be sure we could prevent all unintended damage from our words?
“I agree with pressuring providers to make better, safer products, but think your standard is impossibly high.
Tom Watson: “Good for you for taking the time to determine whether or not it was a good thing to sign that petition. One wonders why a corporation would deliberately market a program that encourages cyber-bullying in the first place, so will they be moved by the petition to take down the app? It's clear that certain websites are being used to disseminate fake news, fake political ads, fake product attestations, and so on, but to this point the folks who own and control those websites haven't yet been moved to take much action...all in the name, as you say, of free enterprise.”
Bob Rollwagen also criticized social media: “I have avoided junk mail all my life. Only 4% (average) of public appeals by mail or web managed by professional fund-raising companies reaches the Appeal fund goal. I only support causes I seek out. [But] If I do not recognize the appeal or petition I delete to avoid a virus or fraud, I support people that approach me in person.
“Social media has allowed bullies to go underground. It has emboldened the fake news industry and made it easier for those that can, to compromise our personal data files. We do not know who is watching inside our computers because 98% of us don’t realize what ‘cookies’ are doing to us, how to find them, and how to delete then. Anyone who tries to create controls that compare to those we have in direct personal face to face relationships is accused of restricting our right to freedom of speech. I get false emails every day from friends whose system has been compromised.”
Bruce Robins objected to my stated principle that good intentions always have a downside, with a personal experience: “This December, as Christmas loomed, as we were all told ‘Christmas is for families,’, as lovely music surrounded us, as all the joyful greetings echoed... I -- and many other singles -- just put my head under the covers and ‘waited it out’.
“But, on Dec 22, a neighbour turned up at my door. In her arms was a bundle...a 15-pound frozen turkey. ‘Could you use this?’ she asked. ‘We had already bought one and this was a gift from my husband's employer.’
“I was overjoyed to say ‘Yes’ and give my profound thanks.
“One of my practices is to share any windfall which comes my way. So two other single neighbours joined me for a lovely dinner -- nothing festive (Jello for dessert, tea as a beverage) -- but we three had proper meal...Moreover, the next day, I took a large serving of turkey over to another single neighbour ( with scraps for his little dog).
So, Jim, tell me: what was a ‘bad’ outcome from that original act of Good Intent?”
Steve Roney pointed out the obvious corollary: “It seems rather like banning fire because bullies can use it to burn someone. There is a very simple and obvious way to avoid being bullied by anyone on Sarahah: don’t install the app. What could be easier? According to a review I read online, to get comments, you not only have to download the app, then create an account, but it is then up to you to share the link with those you yourself choose, and ask for their comments.”
Steve suggested an analogy: “If you want to be shot with this gun, you have to buy it, load it, and cock it yourself, before handing it to the bully.
“It seems to me that the only value to anyone of a campaign against Sarahah is to distract attention from the real problem of bullying, and deflect blame from the bullies.
“The best way to prevent bullying is to raise general social awareness of morality and personal responsibility. This campaign goes in the opposite direction. It blames things for the acts of people.”
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TECHNICAL STUFF
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PROMOTION STUFF…
To use the links in this section, you’ll have to insert the necessary symbols.
Ralph Milton ’s latest project is called “Sing Hallelujah” -- the world’s first video hymnal. It consists of 100 popular hymns, both new and old, on five DVDs that can be played using a standard DVD player and TV screen, for use in congregations who lack skilled musicians to play piano or organ. More details at wwwDOTsinghallelujahDOTca
Ralph’s HymnSight webpage is still up, http://wwwDOThymnsightDOTca, with a vast gallery of photos you can use to enhance the appearance of the visual images you project for liturgical use (prayers, responses, hymn verses, etc.)
Wayne Irwin's “Churchweb Canada,” an inexpensive service for any congregation wanting to develop a web presence, with free consultation. <http://wwwDOTchurchwebcanadaDOTca>
I recommend Isabel Gibson’s thoughtful and well-written blog, wwwDOTtraditionaliconoclastDOTcom
Alva Wood’s satiric stories about incompetent bureaucrats and prejudiced attitudes in a small town -- not particularly religious, but fun; alvawoodATgmailDOTcom to get onto her mailing list.
Tom Watson writes a weekly blog called “The View from Grandpa Tom’s Balcony” -- ruminations on various subjects, and feedback from Tom’s readers. Write him at tomwatsoATgmailDOTcom or twatsonATsentexDOTnet