POLITICALLY CORRECT? SAYS WHO?
I have to admit that I struggle with the whole “politically correct” business. Changing words or eliminating them completely doesn’t change the heart of a person, true change happens on the inside.
The wisdom to grasp those thoughts along with a persons actions should be the basis of changing a culture, not fear of what society might think or what was known as peer pressure to us as youngsters.
Who is the ultimate authority on what’s politically correct? Are the rules that govern political correctness always moral laws? If so, based on who’s rules of morality?
Some of it is refreshing, I think it’s a good thing that we don’t hear kids talk to their peers like we did as kids. Our generation, at least where I grew up was pretty harsh, although not usually to underprivileged or handicap kids. We were all bordering underprivileged.
Siblings? Forget about it! It was no holds barred when it came to verbal combat. It was war and war was all about winning. Being the youngest of four my only means of defense was my mind and tongue, boy did I use what few assets I had to their fullest extent.
Some of our sparring words were originals, others were just popular fun to say rhythmic rhymes thrown about like hand grenades at anyone who crossed our boundaries.
“When God was passing out brains, ______ (insert name of intended target here) thought they said trains and missed the last one”!!! “HA-HA-HA”!
Of course the ever popular comeback to any name being hurled in your direction, “I know you are but what am I”?
Then the eventual answer to that insult, “I already told you but you’re too dumb to know it and too ugly to show it”!!!
Sometimes it got even more personal in hopes of really hurting someone’s feelings. “Fatty, fatty two by four can’t fit through the kitchen door”! Pure viciousness.
The lightning jab of a parry right back at the heart of the opponent. “Your so skinny, my little sister’s even bigger than you”! The attack doesn’t stop, “Your so skinny you have to put rocks in your pockets when a breeze blows”!!!
Let us not forget about the grandma comparisons… “My grandma’s slow, but she’s old”! – “What’s your excuse”?!!!
The insults got worse as we got older… I remember a kid who was a senior told me when I was a freshman, “I use to have a shirt like that… Then my dad got a job”!!! I wanted to hit him… I didn’t.
A couple years later I had a kid sitting behind me in class say to me, “Is that the only pair of jeans you own”? – “What do you do”? – “Stand those things in the corner at night”?!!! At this point in my life, verbally sparring was the politically correct thing to do under those circumstances.
I was fed up with being politically correct then as well…
I waited till the teacher turned her back, jumped out of my chair simultaneously punching the kid as hard as I could in his belly…
I had another pair of 501’s and my mom always made sure I had a clean pair… I just really didn’t feel like explaining it to the punk, I’d had enough of being politically correct…
I’m not painting myself as innocent or condoning those type of actions, but sometimes sitting quietly by while injustice is being overlooked or ignored might be a bigger crime.
That’s sorta what it feels like now, living our lives by man-made rules without the proper heart is going to do little to change a person’s heart, that happens on the inside. Our society has taken some good, ethical, Bible-based tenets and mixed them with some man-made ones to get us where we are now.
Everyone and every religion are acceptable, even the ones that have declared war on our freedom, society, and way of life, except one: The origin of all moral laws– Christianity.
Sometimes we might have to break the inferred societal laws in order to keep the law written inside our hearts…
jake
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 6:21 am
I grew up in a home where talking crap was valued as a skill. We didn’t have any rhymes though, we had swears. I remember making kids cry at school in junior high and never thinking twice about it. Glad Jesus saved me from that kind of garbage. Either way, I’m with you on political correctness, I think it’s a pain. I understand avoiding racial slurs and anything that demeans another human, but our hearts don’t change, so instead of legislating anything to change how we say it, we should invest into each other to impact how we feel about each other, yes?
Floyd
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 7:02 am
YES! Definitely! Well said my friend and the only thing that truly changes how we feel for the better is God himself. As we understand our need for forgiveness and imperfections we see others in our world through different eyes or perspective. Glad to hear you’re the champion of the people now instead of the villain!
Pat
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 10:22 am
“political” – “correct” …hold on, I’m trying to determine the corrolation…
Great post! Even when you try to be politically correct, you end up being politically incorrect. Who can keep up?!? It’s too much work for me. If we would walk in our Father’s footsteps, we wouldn’t have to worry about this issue. Loved it!
“The Godly think before speaking…” Proverbs 15:28
Floyd
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 11:40 am
Thanks Pat, I’m thinking more now than I use to before opening my mouth, although I have to admit it’s not my strong suit…
Tammy
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 6:34 pm
“‘political’ – ‘correct’ …hold on, I’m trying to determine the corrolation…”
That made me snicker! 😉
Floyd
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 6:59 pm
You and i are two peas in a pod, I think I’m the only one in my house that laughs at my own jokes or comments sometimes… What can we say? If it’s funny, it’s funny! Right?
Tammy
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 6:33 pm
Oh man, I so grew up in a family where you’d better be born ready to laugh at yourself!
Fatty, fatty two by four??? I had never even heard that one before!
Our childhood favorite was: I’m rubber, you’re glue — whatever you say to me, bounces off of me and sticks to you!
Such harsh, stinging words.
I’m ashamed of myself.
😉
Floyd
Friday, April 22, 2011 @ 6:58 pm
I heard that one too! I think that one was a little after my time… You are quite the harsh one!
Tammy
Saturday, April 23, 2011 @ 7:45 am
I know, right?? LOL
Holly
Sunday, April 24, 2011 @ 1:48 pm
Politically correct you say??? I find it very hard to be so….I’m a pretty blunt and to the point person!
I remember every single one of those insults…in a family of five and me being the youngest, I too had to defend myself the best I could with those verbal assualts.
I think more and more young people today realize that not everyone is as fortunate as they are, and verbal assualts are not as prevelant. Although it seems the teenagers have taken on a bit of a different assault, as it hits the news with cyber bullying etc.
Good post, I enjoyed it!
Floyd
Sunday, April 24, 2011 @ 3:36 pm
I should have known you were the youngest! There’s something about being born in the order we are born in. It gives us strengths and I think some weaknesses. God has a plan and it’s perfect. Thanks Holly…