In our country founded on individual freedoms---including a general freedom of expression---it has become increasingly common to hear folks use the terms "politically correct," "politically incorrect," or just simply the abbreviation PC to refer to approved/disapproved speech, actions, and ways of thinking.

Deviation from whatever any person or group deems appropriate often results in an indictment of the 'offenders' character, motives, or even basic sense of fairness.  Scorn and demonization commonly follow.

Wikipedia defines 'political correctness' in this way: "a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts, and, as purported by the term, doing so to an excessive extent.

It seems that we have quite a hyper-critical, intolerant culture for a country founded on tolerance and freedom of expression.  Small unintended slights become character judgements of the harshest sort.  Commonly offense is taken by perceived slights of the most innocuous nature.  Often attempts to control speech and behavior follow.

Perhaps I should be offended that Chief Standing Bear (last post on this blog) referred to the presidents above as "white" men, but himself as part of the "Red" men.  Did he intend disrespect by using lower case for one and upper case for the other?  Does he get a pass because the "white" men were the oppressors and the "Red" men the oppressed?

I have always striven to refer to people in whatever way they prefer.  This can be more difficult than it seems.  Call the wrong person "black" rather than "African-American" and offense may be taken.  Call another person of the same race "African-American" and offense may be taken...."I'm a 'black' American, not an African-American." 

Call a person of Mexican origin a "Mexican-American" and some 'white' people will object that he is just an "American" and calling him "Mexican-American" is some sort of false designation.  Huh?  Are we rejecting "Irish-American" these days too?

Maybe I prefer to be referred to as "Peach" man, rather than "white" man.  Should I take offense when others don't call me by this more anatomically correct name?!  Well of course not.  And I don't take offense to the "white" men vs. "Red" man distinction! 

I most recently got to thinking about all of this during my days riding through the Black Hills and Badlands region of South Dakota.  One day, as I rode alone, I stopped at the site of what once was referred to as the "Battle of Wounded Knee."  The sign below originally read that way, but now has a "Massacre" placard covering "Battle."  (You can see it in the photo if you look closely)  To be fair, it was more of a massacre than a battle. 

I met several Lakota youth at the site.  We visited and took the photo below.  They live on the site of the massacre, directly across the street from this sign.  We got to know each other, took a picture, exchanged "Facebook" information, and after learning about Education Ride 365 they invited me to stay at their place next time I am in the area.  Very nice young people.

Interestingly, the boys were proud of their school and the mascot that represents it as seen in the picture below.  This reminded me that the University of North Dakota "Fighting Sioux" are regularly criticized for their "politically incorrect" name.  In March, the school was banned by the NCAA from any reference to or imagery of their "Fighting Sioux" name and mascot when competing in any NCAA-sanctioned event.  This despite the fact that the name is required by North Dakota state law, a requirement that may eventually be challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.  I don't know what to think about this one!

Incidentally, the mascot at one high school I taught at was a "Fighting Farmer."  To the best of my knowledge, no farmers ever took exception...or at least they overlooked the matter!

Before the ultra-uber-politically correct crowd attack my character, please note that the examples I have presented here are just offered for consideration...and a wee bit to provoke response.  We all know, I've barely scratched the surface of PC-related examples.  I really do strive to respect people's sensitivities and desires.  Nonetheless, there is a case to be made that these days, at times, political correctness is taken just a bit too far.

Case in point, perhaps: earlier this week the Lego Corporation came under attack for the "sexualization" of women after they announced a line of gender-specific Legos that are a bit less boxy and contain more pastel colors than the traditional Lego line.  After 55,000 signatures were gathered in protest, the company agreed to a high-level meeting with the group objecting.  A squeaky enough wheel gets oiled in our politically (correct) charged culture.

Click the photo below for more:


Are we a tolerant country that values freedom of expression?  Can condemnation of the thoughts, words, and actions of others lead us to Utopia and absolute correctness?  Do we just expect the worst of others and so must safeguard against any hint of it with protest, judgement, and condemnation?  Where is the line?