Anti-Anti-Anti-PC; A Critique of Political Correctness amongst the Right
Anti-Anti-Anti-PC; A Critique of Political Correctness amongst the Right
According to George Orwell, "All language is political". Indeed as if we ever needed a better example, a new and more progressive era has been entered upon; where conservatives have introduced a catchy two word phrase to undermine a world supposedly committed to egalitarianism and respect for the dignity and welfare of others. Political Correctness (or PC) is a concept, while having been around for some centuries, recently finding immense support - but for the wrong reasons. What irks me is the fact that the term - now turned derogatory - has been used to manipulate a generation of progressive minds leaving them blind to the hypocrisy the prominent users of the term, themselves, derive.
Where the manipulation achieves its success is in simplification; simplification of an issue into mere black and white. Political Correctness apparently is sweeping a world caught up in righting its wrongs. The concept of righting your wrongs seems to be a positive force; but then so does the term Political correctness. Where the phrase seems to glitch though is when suddenly justice is hypocrisy, and compassion is an attack on freedoms of speech. Yes; if you've noticed the parallel with Orwellian Newspeak. The irony here lies where newspeak is applied. When you hear "the bane of our society", it is usually followed with planned rhetoric attacking its liberal institutions; advocating women's rights, greater social and cultural awareness, and compassion as suggested in the above article. Apparently the grass always is greener on the other side?
The 'other side' would have you believe that their argument is based on a pluralistic notion. That it does not condemn only left persuasions, but rather absurdities that permeate any faction. False. How the PC era contrives in rejecting progressive attitudes is no coincidence. It turns our heads the wrong way when the truth of the matter is; the concept of Political Correctness is a phrase introduced by the powers that be to 'sugar coat' their own endeavours. Cleverly the meaning of the phrase is then inverted to stigmatise endeavours that go against their interests - progressive endeavours ...
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The 'other side' would have you believe that their argument is based on a pluralistic notion. That it does not condemn only left persuasions, but rather absurdities that permeate any faction. False. How the PC era contrives in rejecting progressive attitudes is no coincidence. It turns our heads the wrong way when the truth of the matter is; the concept of Political Correctness is a phrase introduced by the powers that be to 'sugar coat' their own endeavours. Cleverly the meaning of the phrase is then inverted to stigmatise endeavours that go against their interests - progressive endeavours - and thus shift focus. I don't think Orwell himself could have foreseen the multi-layered hypocrisy of today's language and its manipulators.
Open Your Eyes
Collateral Damage, Pro-life, Capital Punishment. Politically correct (Newspeak) terms for innocent deaths, abortion, and death penalty. Language has disintegrated into a game of politics. Why? Because language is powerful. It has the ability to shape ones views. When you replace an accepted word with another to use as the same meaning but evoke a different thought, you are manipulating language, and manipulating its responder. So when the anti-PC brigade knocks on your door, and by no coincidence point their collective finger at progression, make sure you are educated enough to return the volley. Point your finger back at the corporate world.
Here, more than any other facet of life, is the presence of political correctness astounding. Reality is replaced with words that sound appealing, words that sound attractive. Economic freedom. We take our freedoms for granted every day - what we need to understand though is sometimes what is classed as freedom may very well mean the opposite for us. Consider economics, where freedom is so dispensable it's handed out as an entrée, side dish, or even dessert. Economic freedom at its face seems to be something we all would like to strive to. The truth is, economic freedom means the violation of freedoms for millions. In Oldspeak Economic Freedom is Exploitation. De-regulation is Corporate Anarchy. Political Correctness is that sugar-coating used by the right to promote a matrix reality; Political Correctness is that stain used by the right to disorient consciousness.
Explode Your Dogmas
The stain is spread heaviest on egalitarian pursuits and as iterated before; it achieves success through simplification. Indeed we've always had that need to rationalise our own history, social policies, and ethnic bigotries into "something blame free and racially neutral whenever possible, and ethnocentrically [only] when it suits our interests." The double standards people talk about are manifest in the institutionalised, rigid, context ignorant thinking of their own.
Context ignorance stems from our need for comfort; to allow our minds to be put at ease. This is why I have appraisal for a curriculum that puts its focus on the history of oppression and exploitation. Why? Because, to put it simply, that is what our history consists of; in understanding our history, we may then understand where our future should take us. Sadly for some, we don't have the optional convenience of just starting at square one. 'Out of sight, out of mind' mentality only perpetuates the problem, as does 'forgetting about our past and just moving on.' The latter especially is the height of arrogance, immaturity, and lack of empathy. Our past is entrenched in our present, just as our present will be entrenched in our future. If anything it would be more politically correct to 'move on' so to speak and just forget; a state of idealism where we just assume equality - if we think it, then it must be true? This applies especially to Aboriginal relations in our country.
No amount of inferred political correctness will help the situation, but how much of it is manufactured? This inference of PC-ism is a direct result of context ignorance. Especially when we consider the argument that no one is to blame, or rather no one is responsible. This is definitely appealing given our circumstance, but definitely unreasonable - it does not take a great intellect to realise that when we inherited all the privileges and comfort of European settlement, we also inherited the responsibility of their actions on those who were displaced. Of course there is a shared responsibility - but the distribution of responsibility then also calls for the distribution of privilege. It is simple ethics - there is no dilemma. Equity applies to any black, white or blue. But the fact that there is more of one than of the other is no coincidence.
Free Your Mind
Political correctness enters the fray, in much the same way as demonstrated by Prime Minister Howard earlier this year. Thinking ethically is just too correct - giving with both hands is unacceptable. In our public schools apparently tolerance and compassion are too correct. Progress is nonsensical. Suddenly it's too much to ask to have all your rights back, because now you already have some.
Feminism was about equal pay and workplace conditions, and to a large extent it still is. But there is more that remains undone. It evolves to now counter attitudes, stereotypes, and the same exploitation manipulated in more covert ways.
Yes, we have come a long way especially in the past 50 years. But that does not mean we should not continue to evolve for the next 50. The aberration of the politically correct is just another hurdle cast on progress. We've seen it before; in Pompeius' disinformation campaign against Caesar; in the Church's period of the Holy Inquisition; and in the West's 'Red Army/Domino Effect' theory. Psychological warfare is indeed not a very new phenomenon. It has just recently become manifest on a more subtle but equally more dangerous level. The use of the phrase Political Correctness is to promote disunity among those who need most to unite. Its success is paramount on the incestuous spindle of incomprehensible hypocrisy.
Transcend . . .
George Orwell posited that if thought can corrupt language, then so too can language corrupt thought. Fruitful education, promotes fruitful thought. Our guide comes from this education. Only then do we have the ability to critique inconsistencies from Conservatives through to Anarchists; it is through this questioning of what is thrown at us, and by whom, that we can transcend the context ignorant and finally . . . understand.