[MD] Joseph Campbell

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Krimel]
I seriously disagree that PC even in its wacko form has diminished 
our mutual respect for each other's differences.

[Arlo]
Yeah. And, let's ask, since this allegation was made, for some 
examples of how we "respected" each other more before the era of PC?

Being against "PC" is like being against "taxes". Its political 
manure and nothing more. Even the most diehard tea-bagger would be 
hard-pressed to demand the abolition of all taxes, since taxes are 
required to fund many services they deem necessary (military, for one 
example). You would think an educated, reasoned dialogue would be 
focused then on the USE of taxation, rather than the insipid 
soapboxing and oh-so-moronic slogans of said tea-baggers (for 
example, "The American Taxpayers are the Jews for Obama's Ovens"). 
For some wacky fun and frivolity, go to Youtube and search "idiot" 
and "tea party". No wonder Bill O'Reilly finally had the insight to 
call this "movement" out for what it is, so I'll give some kudos to 
O'Reilly here.

So again, my point (as I made with "taxation" many times) is that 
"PC" is a term applied to a boat-load of things; from making "nigger" 
a shunned word (in public, to be sure), to not referring to 
mentally-handicapped children as "retards", to calling garbagemen 
"sanitation engineers". So perhaps this dialogue would go further if 
Willblake and Platt would give some examples of things they wish they 
could say but can't. What are the outrageous examples of PC that they 
personally find abhorrent?

Rather than inane ranting about "PC" (and the dishonest, evasive 
followups Platt drolls out), how about some actual examples of how 
they have been restricted or coerced unfairly? Are they livid about 
having to refer to their garbageman as a sanitation engineer? Are 
they pissed they can't call little Johnny down the street a "retard"? 
Do they not like being unable to say the word "nigger" in public? 
What about the PCization of "creation" into "intelligent design"? 
That was pretty sly backdrop attempt using language manipulation (ie, 
PC), wasn't it? Does that piss Platt off too?

Many right-wingers are upset that the administration has referred to 
their "War on Terror" as an "overseas contingency operation". Which 
is funny because their term is ever bit as much an attempt to 
manipulate via word choice as those they now deride for doing what 
they had originally done. "Patriot Act" remains one of the most 
insidious examples of PC we can put on display (those who disagree 
with the act are, immediately and by definition, unpatriotic).

But again, being against "PC" means nothing in and of itself. Better 
to give examples of exactly what you oppose, and then be honest and 
admit that you too also favor some uses of PC. But I think, as with 
"taxes", the teabaggers are not really concerned with reason, so much 
as stating that "there is nothing better than a dead liberal".

By the way, Krimel, not sure if your worlds bring you into contact 
with the fascination over Chuck Norris zingers, but here's a favorite 
one of mine.

Chuck Norris doesn't teabag, he potatosacks.