Monday, October 03, 2011

Graduate Level Political Correctness

The circumlocutions around certain words always amaze me. If I've replaced a politically incorrect word with a third-grade talk-around have I still told you what the word was? If I say "N-word" do you have any question what the word is? Then why do supposedly mature adults go through all of that Kabuki?

The scandal du jour is that Herman Cain, whom I thought was not going to get into this sort of thing, is outraged that Rick Perry's father had a hunting lease for many years which apparently had a stone on the property with the name attributed to the place, "Niggerhead". Clearly a throw-back to a cruder time, but we all recognize that sort of language was common in many sections of the country and is no longer acceptable in polite society.

The word was painted over at some point but exactly when was unclear. It is also unclear whether Perry pere et fils were property owners or merely participating in what is called a hunting lease. Hunting leases are the virtually universal method of gaining land access throughout Texas for hunting of both wild-fowl and game animals. You pay a fee and get to hunt, but you are not involved with title or ownership and except in very limited circumstances aren't involved in property maintenance or modification.

Regardless, the stone had a name, the name got painted over, the turmoil in that teapot is largely insignificant. Sticks and stones may break bones, etc.

Here's the laughable part of the brouhaha:

But You Can Say It Your Way and You Can't Say It Yours

You see it is a really bad word. And they are really good and considerate people. And nobody should ever use that word, which everyone knows what it is. But when you say it, even though you shouldn't say it, it is OK with me. And if you say it, even though you are referring to when she said it which was OK, it is not OK anymore.

Seriously? These are real adults getting paid real money for talking about events on a real TV show? Seriously?

3 comments:

hitman said...

I guess it was only political correctness that kept her from saying "I don't like the way you said the N-word because you're white"

bongobear said...

I agree Ed. This sort of PC behavior has become ludicrous.

nzgarry said...

Yes, not so long ago people were adjudged by what they had to say and any rough words were taken in context. Those with ignorant attitudes looked the worse and those with something worthwhile to say were given benefit of the doubt.
Our sons (16,13yrs) seem to attach the word 'gay' to things they look down on lately. Kids dont think of others that much but it's interesting to see words (?tags?) changing meaning across generations.