Sorry that this is another non-HP post (we've got too many already, but oh well)

I don't want to get off on a rant here (lol...Dennis Miller style)

but I need to vent about political correctness. It is getting WAY out of hand. I was talking with a friend of mine and I mentioned blind people and she said, "no they want to be called visually impaired." I have heard the term or course, but pointed out to her that there is an institution for blind people called the CNIB ("Canadian National Institute for the blind", NOT visually impaired.)
Blind is not a demeaning term. It is the name of the condition. No one would say, "Cancer patient is rude, call me a 'Tumor-fighter' " or something like that.

In a totally unrelated case, I was chastised in my History class for referring to "Blacks" as opposed to "African Americans". Now I think African American is more offensive because they aren't all from Africa, nor are they all American. I have friends who refer to themselves as Black and so do newspapers.

In another case, I was told that Chinese, Korean, Japanese prefer to be called "Asian" and not "Oriental". I could see why Oriental might be offensive (it refers to objects...Oriental Rug, etc) but ASIAN?? Russians are Asian! they aren't Oriental.

And the Handicapped..."differently-abled"???
Maybe disabled...but differently-abled? They're trying to change the name of the condition, thinking it will change the condition itself!

These are actual terms I've heard used in every day conversation:

Visually Impaired= blind

Hearing Impaired= deaf

African-American= Black

Differently-abled= disabled

Minimally Exceptional= Down's Syndrome...(Minimally exceptional actually makes it sound like it's a good thing!)

Little People= Migets/Dwarfs (I don't know about you, but Little people wounds worse to me)

Now if I weren't the lazy person I am, I would start up some kind of organization to stop this nonsense, but alas I am a lazy bum, so I will just sit here and complain until someone else does something.


--------------------------------------------
In the land of the braindead
The man with one neuron is king
--------------------------------------------

Ordinarily I agree. It gets way out of hand. People don't want to be called short or tall anymore, fat or skinny, blonde or brunnette. It's very stupid!

BUT I think the term Dwarf is offensive. Sorry, but there is a physical condition (a relative of mine has this) called dwarfism. Now, we see Dwarves like Gimli and its funny but it honestly isn't fair for a very young girl to be called a dwarf - I've seen her cry about this, she's too young to understand, she sees the ones on tv and they're usually pretty weird and obnoxious. It's not just their height, it's their overall appearance and they are very self concious about it. People make rotten comments like they should be in Snow White and make generalizations from fairy tale dwarfs or Tolkiens.

The one that really bothers me is the new term for mental disabilities. It's now "developementally differently abled". First, that sounds stupid to begin with. Second, it lumps together ALL forms of mental AND learning disabilities. I was debating this with my VERY PC friend, and she loves the term because now someone with a severe mental handicap (like a 25 year old man with the emotional maturity of a 3 year old) can have family members use the term and have people not think so negatively of that person. The downside is that the term also covers small things, like learning disabilities. Grouping every developmental disability all into one group just so the most severe "won't be as stigmatized" only comes at the high expense of the majority who have only mild disabilities.

I can't stand how PC at least our media has become. There are things that I agree with- you shouldn't use outwardly offensive words that are associated with hate (such as the N word). But as you pointed out- to term blacks as African Americans is ridiculous. I find it more insulting. Do we call whites European-Amercians? Nope, just Americans. To say African-American is to say that a black man isn't fully American. Plus, as you said, most blacks in this country today didn't even have family histories in Africa. Why call a group by a country thry never visited or have ties to?

Next thing you'll know, I'll be told that it's offensive to me that I should be called a twin, and that all twins now must be "dually challenged" (just as Siamese twin is now offensive and must be referred to as conjoined twin).

Who exactly calls those people midgets??? I know I just call them little people, just like Pinchy.

And my mum is disabled. And she HATES the word 'spacker' (sp???)

I hate it, too. The sad thing is, that many people seem to think it funny to poke fun at disabled people, mimicking thier problems.

There is this girl in my old school, that did this to me and my mums face! *sigh*

Naturally, I slapped her. I know, it wasnt very sensible, but I wasn't going to let HER insult my mum. My mum is the GREATEST! She's very kind, protective and she's better than most mum's i've seen.

So I think, Rascist terms like the N word should be banned but some other silly ones like 'visually impared' aren't to offensive in my view.

-------------------------------------------
Access denied--nah nah na nah nah!

"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility"!

It takes 42 muscles to smile, so instead pick up your middle finger and
say bite me in a bitchy tone!

Thank-you for visiting reality, come again........... Now entering your life, welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay! I finally got a fanfiction account!!!http://www.fanfiction.net/~spangledacanary

How do you ban a word? Notice how swearing was really frowned upon in the media 20 years ago, look at it now. You try and "ban" a word, and it will be used more frequently. Personally I use the word 'black', just like i prefer to be called 'white', not caucasian. But I would use the word 'negro' before i used the word african american. You need to get ahold of a skit called, 'Complaints and Grievences' by George Carlin. He talks about all the PC topics there is, and makes it rather amusing. Like the words you still can't use on TV, and it's so true. Segregation is wrong, and I tend to punch anyone if I hear them mocking anyone who is 'different'. With the exception of one group(Homosexuals, wanting to get married). Bring on the flames:) Funny thing tho is, if you mocked a mentally challenged, or handicap person, when I was in school(2 yrs ago), most people would beat you up, on the spot.

***********************************************************
Fanfiction.net: My fan fic R&R http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1661907

"Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through. . ."-Fred and George(CoS)

IM Me: MSN: petrov_18@hotmail.com ICQ:147142744 AOL: lockehockey

Locke I LOVE Gearge Carlin's material. I own both his books (Brain Droppings and NAPLAM AND SILLY PUTTY)

I've read his theories on PC in his books and I've heard him on TV. He's the best because he honestly and truly doesn't give a crap about the opinions of others and he speaks his mind so well. Sometimes he goes overboard but you can't help laughing anyway.

For anyone who hates what Political Correctness has become, read "Politically Correct Nursery Rhymes" for a laugh. I'm not sure where to buy it but keep an eye open"

it has such nursery rhymes as "Three Visually Impaired Mice" and "Rub-a-dub-dub, three men and women in a tub who all make the same amount of money for doing the same amount of work"

--------------------------------------------
In the land of the braindead
The man with one neuron is king
--------------------------------------------

LOL! Oh, yeah. I think I've heard about not being able to sing 'Baa baa black sheep' at nursery now because its apparantly 'rascist'

I don't really know how!

-------------------------------------------
Access denied--nah nah na nah nah!

"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility"!

It takes 42 muscles to smile, so instead pick up your middle finger and
say bite me in a bitchy tone!

Thank-you for visiting reality, come again........... Now entering your life, welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay! I finally got a fanfiction account!!!http://www.fanfiction.net/~spangledacanary

If I was black, I would be more insulted about them changing 'baa baa black sheep' to 'baa baa green sheep' than hearing kids singing 'baa baa black sheep'.

I read about a 6 year old who got in a helluva lot of trouble for HUMMING baa baa black sheep.

What do they think? "If they hum baa baa black sheeep, they will grow up to kill coloured people."

---

I AM KITCH, NOT RILEY, CJ OR CHRIS, GETTIT?

---

This is the end, Beautiful friend
This is the end, Beautiful friend
This is the end, My only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me

The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end

- The Doors - The End

RIP Jim Morrison

Personally, I wouldn't be offended if someone called me hispanic, latina... etc even though that's not truly what I am. It's just for generalization purposes.

I think that it just depends on the person, really. A lot of my fellow Mexican-Americans think that grouping us in as Latino and Hispanic is "cultural castration" but I don't really feel that way. I know what I am and I know where my roots are so if they need to use those words to understand, it doesn't bother me.

I guess I am luckier though, because usually when people think of Latino/Hispanic they think "Mexican". I might feel a bit more strongly about that if I were Cuban, Puerto Rican, Argentinian, Chilean etc.

I really just refer to myself as American or Chicana. (Which, for those who don't know, just means a person born in the United States, but is of Mexican descent) Yet another controversial subject, as people in Mexico, Canada, Central and South America, not just those from the United States can be called.

My best friend Esther was born in Bolivia, and moved to the U.S. and both of her parents are Korean. Her dad was born in Korea and her mother in Bolivia. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Korean. What would you call her? A Korean-Bolivian-American? I guess it's just perception.

"I love you, for sentimental reasons.
I hope you do believe me.
I give you my heart"
-Nat King Cole