Eric Langborgh provides an invaluable service in setting out the history of political correctness and explaining its potential to poison the freedoms traditionally enjoyed in this country, starting but unfortunately not ending with freedom of speech. In the paper he links by Bill Lind, two points immediately struck home with me. As Lind writes:
[I]n classical economic Marxism, certain groups, i.e. workers and peasants, are a priori good, and other groups, i.e., the bourgeoisie and capital owners, are evil. In the cultural Marxism of Political Correctness, certain groups are good - feminist women,...blacks, Hispanics, homosexuals. These groups are determined to be "victims," and therefore automatically good regardless of what any of them do. Similarly, white males are determined automatically to be evil [see, e.g., Duke lacrosse players], thereby becoming the equivalent of the bourgeoisie in economic Marxism...."[In addition,] both [economic and cultural Marxism] have a method of analysis that automatically gives the answers they want....For the cultural Marxist, it's deconstruction. Deconstruction essentially takes any text, removes all meaning from it and re-inserts any meaning desired. So we find, for example, that all of Shakespeare is about the suppression of women, or the Bible is really about race and gender. All these texts simply become grist for the mill, which proves that "all history is about which groups have power over which other groups."
The stripping away of meaning from ordinary words is crucial to the triumph of political correctness -- and counteracting this tactic crucial to its defeat. Thus, I want to begin today with what will be a continuing project: publishing the Dictionary of Political Correctness, so that when readers see or hear a fishy phrase, they'll be clued in to what's actually going on.
Here are the first few entries in the Dictionary:
Diversity - Diversity is an outcome that (1) can't be defended on its own merit and (2) therefore has to be glommed together with a bunch of other things so that people won't notice fact (1). Thus, when an academically less qualified minority group member is given a slot in the entering class over a non-minority group member with demonstrably better academic skills, this is "justified" because, "taken as a whole," it gives the incoming class "diversity."Multiculturalism - Multiculturalism is a big word meaning, "The West stinks." The shorthand version is, "America stinks." Under multiculturalism, George Washington, a slave-owning white male with no accomplishments of note, is out, and Che Guevara, an anti-imperialist leader, is in.
Tolerance - Tolerance is the mind-set that requires you to assume that every way of living is as good as every other way of living. Thus, if a woman has X number of kids by Y number of men, none of whom she troubled herself to get to know all that well, much less marry, we must accept this in the name of "tolerance" of a "non-traditional lifestyle." (Indeed, we are required not merely to tolerate it but foot the bill). If you are rude enough to point out that the kids who come into the world this way are much more likely to be poorly educated, not to mention abused by the next boyfriend, you are "intolerant." In bygone days, "tolerance" had a different meaning, to wit, an open attitude of good faith toward socially benevolent behavior and beliefs even if different from your own, but that view is now held principally by old fogies.
Verbal violence - Verbal violence is a statement a liberal doesn't like but has trouble refuting analytically. Thus, if you say that hard-edged feminism is at odds with traditional families -- the kind in which children usually do best -- this is "verbal violence" against women, and you have to sit in the corner (or sit out the next semester, or attend the sensitivity class, etc.).
In future blogs, I'll attempt to provide more entries in the Dictionary, and of course contributions from readers are welcome.
Comments (32)
swiftboat - v.t., to tell the truth about a Democrat.
Posted by Mahon | April 27, 2007 12:04 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 00:04
'raising awarenss' v. - a form of liberal code, signifying the desire to impose one's partisan ideology onto others, under the guise of healthy social deliberation. often employed to encourage baseless hyperbole without any systematic investigation to establish facts, intended to justify the need to raise taxation.
Posted by hnav | April 27, 2007 12:38 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 00:38
Racist: Something only Whitey can be.
Posted by Eric Forhan | April 27, 2007 1:12 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 01:12
What Mahon said.
Posted by Bill Faith | April 27, 2007 1:14 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 01:14
Across the pond we have the "Lefty Lexicon" - my copy is at http://www.di2.nu/files/Lefty.html - I see no reason why many of the terms would not also apply in America
Posted by Francis | April 27, 2007 3:22 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 03:22
Eurocentric -- Someone who "privileges" Newtonian physics and the idea of a sun-centered solar system over the view that the world rests on the back of a turtle.
To privilege -- To show respect for anything done or said by a Eurocentric.
Posted by Jon Burack | April 27, 2007 8:13 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 08:13
"Fairness"-- When uttered by the Politically Correct, "Fairness" means "I get what I want and you have to live with it."
"Free"--1.) When used in such situations as "Free Health Care", the word "free" actually means "Someone else paid for it."
2.) When used in the context of "Freedom", it does not mean "able to live under the laws as set out by the State and Federal Constitutions", it means only "able to have sex with anything at all."
Posted by mlp | April 27, 2007 9:05 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:05
"Meme" - Leftist pseudo-intellectualese or linguistic affectation, generally used in the pejorative, employed to designate a commonly held position, thought or expression as worthy of or susceptible to attack or denigration by superior leftist "critical thought" which the employer possesses in abundance.
Posted by Earl'sPearls | April 27, 2007 9:22 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:22
"In bygone days, 'tolerance' had a different meaning, to wit, an open attitude of good faith toward socially benevolent behavior and beliefs even if different from your own, but that view is now held principally by old fogies."
Excellent!!!
Posted by Eric Anderson | April 27, 2007 9:28 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:28
ACCOUNTABLILITY: A concept uniquely applicable domestically to Republican presidents and globally to the United States.
ACTIVIST: Disaffected malcontent; selfish, self absorbed pain in the ass. Motivated to 'do something' out of spite/malice or a burning desire for personal fulfillment rather than an ambition to actually help people or advance a given cause in any way.
ILLEGITIMATE: Any policy or outcome contrary to Leftist dogma.
LEGITIMATE: Bestowed on any outcome that comports with Leftist dogma or receives the sanction of an unelected, unaccountable 'international body.'
MAINSTREAM: Leftist dogma.
RIGHTS: Something bestowed upon people by international treaties or benevolent courts.
Posted by John O | April 27, 2007 9:28 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:28
"Critical Thinking" - The ability to apply a patina of rationality to a thought process that commences with a desired conclusion. (see "Global Warming"; sophistry)
Posted by Earl'sPearls | April 27, 2007 9:42 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:42
Hate Speech: Any comment that is critical opf a preferred group. And the only evidence needed for the prosecution of:
Hate Crime: Any unfortunate happening to a member of a preferred group by a member of an unpreferred (ie white male) group.
Posted by Mike Celani | April 27, 2007 9:43 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:43
"speaking truth to power" - submissions please, I'm exhausted ;-)
Posted by Earl'sPearls | April 27, 2007 9:45 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:45
Welcome to the blogosphere, I shall alert the liberkids.
Posted by auntsue | April 27, 2007 9:46 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:46
"tolerance"- "I'm talking. I'M talking! SHUT UP, YOU!!"
Posted by auntsue | April 27, 2007 9:50 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 09:50
Bioethics:
The sophistry of making the most indecent, inhumane or unconscionable actions or moral positions appear the most decent, humane actions or moral positions.
Posted by Bryan | April 27, 2007 10:22 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 10:22
Liberal: A liberal is a person who is always right. Even when wrong, a liberal is right, as made clear in the following exchange:
First Liberal: We must defend the mud skipper to fight the human expolitation of Mother Gaea.
Second Liberal: No, we must raise awareness for the plight of the rabid indigenous vampire bat to save the rainforests.
Third Liberal: Friends, it matters not as long as we can destroy the evil bourgeouis farmer who defiles the virgin soil of our Native American Brothers.
First, Second, and Third Liberals: The spread of food has got to go, hey hey, ho ho.
Note: In the event a liberal is actually wrong, he becomes a conservative.
Posted by Bob | April 27, 2007 10:50 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 10:50
Whoops, I forgot the most obvious one:
People:
1) The people are atheists, or the obviously guilty, or minority members who smoked dope all through high school, as described in the first, fifth, and fourteenth amendments.
2) The people are the government, as described in the second amendment.
Posted by Bob | April 27, 2007 10:58 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 10:58
Dialog: A conversation in which a liberal pretends to listen to what anyone else has to say. See Hillary Clinton.
Posted by Stephen Macklin | April 27, 2007 11:37 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 11:37
Anti-War:
1. Objecting to any military action undertaken during a Republican administration
2. Desirous of an American defeat in any given conflict, without regard for the toll in human lives such a defeat will bring
Courageous:
Undertaking an action with no discernable risk, such as criticizing the US President
Imperialism:
America or American companies engaging in legal, voluntary trade with and/or the dispensation of charity to another country.
Chilling of Debate:
Any disagreement, however mild, with liberal dogma. See also "stifiling dissent".
Patriotic:
Assuming that your country is wrong in any given circumstance.
Freedom Fighter:
Someone fighting for installation of an oppressive, facistic regieme.
Facist:
A democratically elected, legally constrained national leader who disagrees with any article of liberal dogma
War Crime:
Any act of violence undertaken by any member of the US military or intelligence services.
Legitmate Resistance:
The deliberate, relentless targeting of non-combatants.
Posted by Scott | April 27, 2007 12:03 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 12:03
Controversial: Anything a liberal doesn't like.
Posted by CraigC | April 27, 2007 12:25 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 12:25
Humilation: An imaginary event. Usually used in the context of excusing and justifying truly evil behavior. "After being humilated by ..., he murdered and raped 5 people."
Posted by dustydog | April 27, 2007 4:13 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 16:13
Something very oollldd I occassionally still plug, The Democrats' Dictionary:
One
Two
Three
Four
Posted by Dave Munger | April 27, 2007 5:25 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 17:25
Moderate Republican: A Republican who votes with the Democratic caucus.
Extremist: someone who disagrees with any part of the liberal agenda.
Bipartisanship: Republicans do exactly what we want them to do.
Posted by Mitch | April 27, 2007 5:49 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 17:49
Leftist Logic: Liberals standing on their heads, while telling you you're upside down.
Posted by LesbianNeoCon | April 27, 2007 7:50 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 19:50
Liberalism: Unexamined opinions formed during puberty, defended with the adult faculty of argument.
Posted by haakondahl | April 27, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 20:15
The Aussies have been doing this for a while. Here's a sample from Pommygranate: A self haters guide to science http://pommygranate.blogspot.com/2007/04/self-haters-guide-to-science.html
Artists' Law of Bravery
Criticism of a religion is inversely proportional to the probability of its proponents killing you multiplied by their density
Boyle's Law
Global Warming is a product of peer-Pressure and the Volume of calls for 'something to be done'.
Dawkin's 2nd Law of God
Belief in God is inversely proportional to belief in Gaia
The Roe Wade Feminist Law
Hatred of the killing of adults (gun ownership and war) is directly proportional to Love of the killing of babies (abortion)
and Tim Blairs observation of Life's little contradictions:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21551122-5001031,00.html
1 The same people who claim to worry most about future generations surviving climate change have no objections at all to abortion - which kills thousands of future Australians every year.
6 The same people who've spent more time than most of us flying around the earth are proportionately more likely to insist fossil fuel consumption is a very grave problem.
12 The same people who want to restrict cigarette smoking are invariably inclined towards decriminalising marijuana.
18 The same people who protested against UN sanctions in Iraq later claimed Iraq shouldn't have been invaded because the sanctions were working.
20 The same people who publish images of crucifixes in urine don't dare print even a single cartoon making fun of Mohammed.
22 The same people who fought for women's rights in the '60s and '70s are oddly silent today on the issue of women's rights for female Muslims.
Posted by Despaxious | April 27, 2007 9:19 PM
Posted on April 27, 2007 21:19
Leadership: (1) Hire a polling firm to determine the "will of the people", (2) Convene a focus group (3) If you must take a stance on an issue, follow up with a new poll and focus group to determine how stance is received by the public. If polling determines the need, be willing to change your position.
Posted by PatHunner | April 28, 2007 3:16 AM
Posted on April 28, 2007 03:16
I watched your video and it's sad that it rests its case in part on the discrimination against gays and atheists practiced by the Boy Scouts of America. I put some comments over with the video.
It's as if you included a segment in the video on how the political correctness movement had worked against Jim Crow, and segregation.
I agree that PC is a very bad thing but I think you need to understand that not all atheists are commies. In fact many atheist hate communism since to us it's just another form of faith. In this case a faith having an irrational and unjustified belief in the teachings of Marx. One not amenable to any earthly evidence that it is false and without any proof it is true. A belief that is not scientific because it is not falsifiable.
This whole PC cult is really a religion.
Posted by Brian Macker | April 28, 2007 9:18 AM
Posted on April 28, 2007 09:18
Fairness: Less qualified college students accepted before more qualified students. (See also Tolerance, Diversity)
Posted by Wes | April 29, 2007 10:34 AM
Posted on April 29, 2007 10:34
Alternative Energy:
Any way to make energy that
a) does not usually work when people need energy,
b) costs more than regular ways of making energy, so much so that no one would normally pay for it,
c) allows politicians to subsidize it with tax dollars, tax credits, and mandates
c) is a good excuse to block development of a real energy sources (nuclear) that costs less and works better.
Posted by Whitehall | April 29, 2007 2:51 PM
Posted on April 29, 2007 14:51
Kibbul: Kiss black butt liberal. From Tom Wolfe's report on Leonard Bernsteins party for the Black Panthers. deriv. kibble, a type of pet food. Current kibbuls are found crouched behind Al Sharpton.
Posted by james johnson | May 8, 2007 1:07 PM
Posted on May 8, 2007 13:07