…Why is it, that we are supposed to be “politically correct” by editing our communicative language and verbiage to fit the audience? Can’t I just say what I damn well feel anymore? You know, the truth! Whether it is my truth or your truth, the way I perceive things to be and my own personal opinion on the matter. I am sick and tired of being held hostage in my mind to control my tongue over something that is “true” in my being. In other words, this is who I am, this is my thought pattern and my present understanding of the matter…
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“A man can only take so much.” And to be politically correct, a woman also. And that is as far as I am going to go with the whole present situation in my vacillation. I have not only grown weary of it, I am sick of it. By “it”, I mean the turned phrases of our pop culture and pop society. Which, in itself is an interesting coinage, since the indication is “popularity” but only by entertainment standards rather than that of a consensus. I am sick of being “politically correct, politically aligned, politically analyzed, politically sanitized, politically stimulated, politically purified, politically personified”and all the rest of the monikers.
Politics. “a. The art or science of government b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.” As defined by Webster’s Dictionary. Webster even goes so far in section two as to include the oft use of deception in the practice of this ancient art. However, my present concern is a question: How did the art of influencing government get so damnably turned around into the opposite? The government influencing the …. who? Oh, that would probably be you and I? While we’re on the subject of influencing, there are a few other things I have a problem with.
Why is it, that we are supposed to be “politically correct” by editing our communicative language and verbiage to fit the audience? Can’t I just say what I darn well feel anymore? You know, the truth! Whether it is my truth or your truth, the way I perceive things to be and my own personal opinion on the matter. I am sick and tired of being held hostage in my mind to control my tongue over something that is “true” in my being. In other words, this is who I am, this is my thought pattern and my present understanding of the matter.
I am very willing to admit that my thought patterns and opinions have changed over the years due to enlightenment, education, discouragement and other outside influences. The problem I have is being me in a nation gone wild with ideo-centric ideations. It is not “politically correct” to say we have over 12 million too many people in this country illegally. No, they are just softly illegal immigrants that do the dirty work us lazy-ole Americans won’t do. Or could it be that just maybe we (the over 40 crowd) didn’t make sure our children understood the value of a good hard day’s labor?
I am not here to bash Hispanics, Mexicans, Cubans or Puerto Ricans and other ancestrals from Spain. I think Ponce De Leon was a great guy and Christopher Columbus was one heck of a sailor and a brave man. But does that mean that I have to push “2” to understand it? Don’t get me wrong. My pet peeve here is not just about immigration (the popular topic today.) I am talking about something more comprehensive. The failure of understanding the “art or science concerned with winning and holding CONTROL over a government. (Emphasis added)” It isn’t just the present day government of our beloved country that has gained control from our puny little fingers of hunger for an American way of life, but the Corporate powerhouses. For instance, today I was visited by my son. He arrived at an unusual time. “Dad, I would have called to let you know I was coming but your cell phone was disconnected.” Wow! That was a surprise to me.
Being a long-standing customer of 5 years, impeccable creditworthiness and loyalty, my service had, unbeknownst to me, been incarcerated? Well, immediately, I did the norm and called customer service (at Sprint.) While still in a state of shock, I get the good ol’ 1-2 punch. “If you are calling blah blah press one, if blah blah blah blah two, ….If you would like English, press blah blah, for Aramaic press 143,769.?” Since when did I leave the United States of America? You know, the country that has a Constitution and other very important documents written in English? No, I don’t want to be “politically correct” because that means I am politically STUPID. It means that I am willing to give up who I am, what I think, what I want and what my opinion (right or wrong) happens to be.
As a side note, the last time I looked, the word “illegal” meant an act, action or omission to act in direct violation of the public law. In other words, a crime. So how is it that we can drive down any street on any given day and NOT see a law enforcement officer of the local municipality inquiring of an individual why his or her identification does not match? Why no stops to identify my validity for being present in this country? I don’t mind. “Sir, are you here in the United States by legal means?” “Why yes officer, actually I was born here just like my father, grandfather and so on for 250 plus years, but thank you for asking. Here’s my ID.” God forbid a Hispanic road worker should get checked by the local police for identification purposes. Umm, didn’t someone say that illegal was “illegal” as in crime? You know, a criminal act against the laws of our nation and society?
So, no local authorities are willing to enforce the laws of the Nation, it is illegal after-all to be here without permission. Now I have to change my language preference, modify my angst against an American corporation (by waiting for an indefinite period of time on the telephone) to speak to someone that does NOT speak English. All this to explain how your company just screwed me but I can’t say that because I would be an ogre, insensitive, neanderthal person of unknown origins. Certainly, not a kindly, gentile and submissive member of American society and an upright citizen.
How about “Give me a friggin’ break, and let me say what I mean, mean what I say and take your stupid one-hour push-button non-customer service and place it in your corporate, politically correct “file.” Just one last question. Do you have any desire to control your government, your businesses, those that you do business with? Or, do you wish to remain “politically correct.” From my understanding of what Webster said, being politically correct meant me telling “them” what I want. Not, being labeled, chastised and ostracized for speaking my mind, my opinion and being conformed to a mold.
As a last thought, consider this; here in the great State of Florida it is illegal for a restaurant to sell me a steak cooked rare (watching out for my health ya know, thanks brother, I am too stupid to know what I should and should not eat.) It is illegal to be served any raw oysters without warning of ill health effects (especially, should I want a beer with that.) It is illegal for me to sit on a park bench, watch the sunset and mind my peace, if a police officer interrupts by asking me who the hell I am. Should I keep my words, then I am obstructing “Justice.” Of course, after the arrest, then, I have the right to remain silent. In the future, for the record, and a testimony as to how I might end my life in prison for my beliefs, I want the following: Give me one steak raw, a dozen raw oysters, a tall cold beer on a quiet beach and a quiet mouth to enjoy my feast and my arrest as I refuse to be “polished” politically.
Written by Lonnie D. Story [send him email], who is the author of “The Meeting of Anni Adams ” and is a featured columnist at http://www.populistamerica.com/.