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Post by pettyluv on Jun 18, 2002 21:20:58 GMT -5
Has political correctness run amok in this country?
We see it even in our schools, turn to the People's Republic of California, where various elementary schools are "banning" the child's game of tag because it could hurt some kid's self-esteem. Well wake up junior and smell the cofee just because some kids are not good at something does not mean it must be banned. God forbid that some should excel over others in certain areas of life, which brings me to another rant.
Many schools across the country are eliminating the class rank system and the title of Valedictorian because the distinctions may make less academically successful students "feel bad." Well sure its all good for the kid thats no good in school, but what about the kid who busts his ass to get good grades and wants to go to a good college but cant because you need to be in a certain percentile of your class? This is one of the more frightening parts of the left wing agenda, to eleminate differance and uniqueness within the populous.
I think that our society places far too much stress on worrying if we offend someone, instead of focussing on individual progress and liberty.
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Post by .Hunting:High:and:Low. on Jun 18, 2002 21:45:10 GMT -5
Has political correctness run amok in this country?
Yes.
We see it even in our schools, turn to the People's Republic of California, where various elementary schools are "banning" the child's game of tag because it could hurt some kid's self-esteem.
Oh my word, are you kidding me? Of course, when you said CA, it didn't surprise me one bit...
Well wake up junior and smell the cofee just because some kids are not good at something does not mean it must be banned. God forbid that some should excel over others in certain areas of life, which brings me to another rant.
Ditto. Next we should eliminate sports because it does nothing intellectually for me and makes me feel bad because I'm not athletic enough. In the words of John Stossel, gimme a break!
Many schools across the country are eliminating the class rank system and the title of Valedictorian because the distinctions may make less academically successful students "feel bad." Well sure its all good for the kid thats no good in school, but what about the kid who busts his ass to get good grades and wants to go to a good college but cant because you need to be in a certain percentile of your class?
This is totally ridiculous. This year in our class, we had 16 valedictorians and one of them is going to Georgetown. I say good for them, they worked their butts off and (mainly) deserved every title, cord, and scholarship that they each got.
I think that our society places far too much stress on worrying if we offend someone, instead of focussing on individual progress and liberty.
Agreed. As people, there are going to be those who are "better" than us, and there will be those who are "lesser" than us. We need to learn to live with that. It's like that new thing where you can choose your baby's IQ so they aren't "stupid". Heaven forbid your child be different and learns to overcome obstacles. Grrr...
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Post by Toxic-Avenger on Jun 19, 2002 10:54:58 GMT -5
It gets worse. The PC Police don't want games such as Musical Chairs played anymore because of the reasons mentioned above. And in softball games, trophies are given to everyone on the team so they don't leave anyone out. So the really good players are discouraged from getting better, and the mediocre players know that they have a free ride and will get something even without working at it.
Hey, people are going to be offended no matter how careful you are. You just have apologize and hope you haven't permanently damaged the person's delicate little psyche, and hope they're big enough to accept it and not hold it against you for the rest of your life.
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Post by pettyluv on Jun 19, 2002 17:30:50 GMT -5
I got this in an email:
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely comprised of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language! "In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Godly men and women, on moral and just principles, founded this nation. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY , our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But, once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedoms, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
Please pass this along if you agree.
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Post by Toxic-Avenger on Jun 20, 2002 11:35:46 GMT -5
I agree all right. I read shortly after Sept 11 that a Library in the South took down its American flags because they were afraid of offending someone.
I'm all for not offending people, but not when we have to go to such lengths where our entire culture, spirit, and being, is sterilized. Of course the ACLU, the American Communist Lawyers Union has its fingers in this too. They're big, powerful and rich so they can run over anyone whom they think has a religious bone in their body.
And when we have kids we'll have to tell them this nursery rhyme:
Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow. Everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. Wait! Sorry.
A young person of the female gender was the possessor of a small immature ruminant of the species genus Ovis, whose outermost covering reflected all wavelengths of visible light with a luminosity equal to that of a mass of naturally occurring microscopically crystalline water. Regardless of the translational path chosen by the aforesaid young person, there was a 100% probability that the aforementioned ruminant would select the same pathway.
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Post by julinka on Jul 22, 2002 15:13:35 GMT -5
This year in our class, we had 16 valedictorians
To me, this is just as much an example of feel-good grade inflation as getting rid of the valedictorian. How did sixteen people graduate first in your class?
I am, however, all for not automatically giving the valedictorian a speach at graduation. Making good grades doesn't necessarily make you a good speaker.
Anything taken to an extreme gets out of control. The basic, original idea behind "political correctness" is a pretty decent thing: make a concious attempt not to be offensive. That doesn't mean eliminating everything that could possibly be offensive, but just make the same kind of common courtesy effort for people that you would make not to swear in front of someone else's small child.
Ack. Common sense and good manners would go a long way in this respect.
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Post by .Hunting:High:and:Low. on Jul 22, 2002 15:20:21 GMT -5
To me, this is just as much an example of feel-good grade inflation as getting rid of the valedictorian.
My sentiments exactly.
How did sixteen people graduate first in your class?
They all got 4.0's and met the requirements that had to be met to be valedictorian. Not exactly sure what those were considering I was not eligible, but they all met the same requirements. From what I always learned, there was one valedictorian and one salutatorian (I believe that is what they are called), imagine my surprise when it was announced that our school was having 16 valedictorians. Hot dang.
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Post by Toxic-Avenger on Jul 23, 2002 7:48:45 GMT -5
<<Anything taken to an extreme gets out of control. The basic, original idea behind "political correctness" is a pretty decent thing: make a concious attempt not to be offensive. >>
I'm in total agreement with that.
<<That doesn't mean eliminating everything that could possibly be offensive,>>
But that's what's happening. Some things you can't say or do because it might offend some people who don't know they're being offended. Same with the "Under God" in the Pledge of Alleigience. A Minority wants "Under God" and In God We Trust taken out. And all it seems to take these days, is a Judge who wants to make a name for himself and someone who has nothing else to do so he decides something he's been exposed to for the last 40 years is suddenly offending him and we all have to bend to his breaking wind. This guy's daughter didn't mind the Pledge, it was the father who made such a big deal out of it.
<<not to swear in front of someone else's small child.>> O.T. I see that alot and the parent says, "Gee, where do they pick that up?"
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Post by Cassiopeia on Aug 2, 2002 9:56:58 GMT -5
>>They all got 4.0's and met the requirements that had to be met to be valedictorian. Not exactly sure what those were considering I was not eligible, but they all met the same requirements. From what I always learned, there was one valedictorian and one salutatorian (I believe that is what they are called), imagine my surprise when it was announced that our school was having 16 valedictorians. Hot dang.<<
That's really awful. I can imagine that your graduation ceremony was even more boring and pointless as ours. We also had a senior awards ceremony a few nights before graduation. I was notified that I had gotten a couple awards, so I decided to go. Well, they recognized every freaking person there. I mean, literally everyone got an award. I guess so people wouldn't "feel bad" about not getting one. I received an award for getting honor roll every semester. Well, about 30 other people got the exact same award. I also got an award for playing a varsity sport. You can imagine that a lot of people got the same damn thing. That didn't exactly make me feel very special. In fact, I was pissed off that I went to the thing because it wasted so much time.
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Post by RebDoMINe on Aug 2, 2002 19:08:24 GMT -5
Are we too politically correct? Hell yes. People are always terrified of offending someone. Who CARES?! Why is it such a crime to voice your opinion? People are such hypocrites. How can one be so obsessed with no one feeling "left out" and go out and do it anyway?
It's human nature to want to compete. It's human nature to leave people out. Society will ALWAYS cause hurt feelings, there is no preventing that. Tightening the handcuffs won't make it any better.
That's like trying to make everyone look the same, as not to have anyone be different. Eventually, someone is going to find a difference, and there are going to be some hurt feelings. That's what being human is all about.
As for the whole patriotism thing--I don't see anyone taking the whole "it's offensive to be patriotic" thing seriously. Maybe a few drones, but not many. What I see is people obsessing over those who are politically INCORRECT.
I'll admit it. I really don't care that much about what happened on September 11th. I think worse things have happened. It's certainly tragic, but there have been horrible things happening long before that, that no one even noticed. And I get crap for it.
I get crap for not being patriotic. For not giving a damn that I live in this place everyone likes to call free. Now, I'm definitely lucky. It's a lot better than living in some third world country. But I'm not going to kiss the ground and wave a flag everywhere.
I don't like our government and I'm not going to pretend I do. I don't like patriotism, and I won't wear flag t-shirts so people will like me.
People are giving out a lot of that lately. If you have a different opinion about something (particularly this, with the patriotism that's been going around lately), people jump you for it because (heaven forbid) you're going to offend people.
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Post by Ich Liebe Rammstein on Aug 2, 2002 19:11:59 GMT -5
<<<< where various elementary schools are "banning" the child's game of tag because it could hurt some kid's self-esteem. >>>>
I could understand Dodgball,but tag?? No way.
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Post by RebDoMINe on Aug 2, 2002 19:14:33 GMT -5
This is an article I read in a local publication recently that made me sick to my stomach. I typed it up to show on another message board, but I may as well put it here too. This shows just how politically correct people feel they have to be.
I don't dislike this article because of the woman's opinions on the Pledge, don't get me wrong. I dislike that she's acting like a bloody fascist. So what if we're the minority? Don't we have a right to voice our opinions too? But this lady thinks that it's wrong of the minority to fight because it's politically incorrect. Sometimes the majority is wrong, surprise!
Enough of my babbling, here's the article:
River Valley Times Wednesday, July 17, 2002
by Joy Howard
Should Small Minority Change Words of the Pledge of Allegiance?
There's a question I can't resist asking. What happens when a small minority of people try to govern what the majority does?
I'm talking about America, and after watching the news night after night, I can't help but find myself deeply concerned. It seems to me that some individuals have brazenly trying to change the face of this nation by making such a fuss that somehow they actually become a majority of one, and surprisingly, little by little, we have given up our rights and allowed it to happen. But not this time. This time it has gone too far. This time a sleeping giant has been awakened. Of course, I'm talking about the Pledge of Allegiance and the controversy that has been swirling around it.
Recently, I took part in an Internet poll regarding taking the words "Under God," out of the Pledge of Allegiance and the results were astounding. It seems that 90% of the people wanted the pledge left just the way it is. Only 10% wanted to change it. So then, how does it happen that a man can go to a judge, and think he had the right to take out words that represent out country's character, America's deeply held beliefs? He is one man, we are many -- it seems to me you would call that a majority.
When I was growing up, the majority ruled. Oh, the minority could jump up and throw fits, they could gripe and complain, but in the end, they still had to acquiesce to what the masses proposed. In other words, they had to live with it!
Uh, stay tuned for part two, it's kinda a long article...
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Post by RebDoMINe on Aug 2, 2002 19:15:14 GMT -5
Here's the second half:
The fabric of our country has been woven with differing thoughts, ideas, and common beliefs of ordinary people like you and me who, together, form a democracy. It should be that way. And even though we still don't agree, we still have to form laws, elect government officials, and generally decide the direction our country is headed. How do we do that without each person being able to put their own two cents in and then be willing to live with the results?
Voting is a right and a privilege, and too many of us have forgotten the importance of having our say. Oh, we might not like it when we get out-voted, but is the American way and that is what makes our country great.
Perhaps you have heard the following words that were spoken years ago by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell. I feel that they are worth repeating:
"I've been listening to boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain the meaning of each word?
"'I' -- me, an individual, a committee of one.
"'Pledge' -- dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
"'Allegiance' -- my love and devotion.
"To the Flag' -- our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's a respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts -- freedom is everybody's job!
"'United' -- that means we have all come together.
"'States' -- individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.
"'And to the republic' -- a state in which sovereign powers invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
"'For which it stands, one nation' -- one nation, meaning, 'so blessed by God'
"'Indivisible' -- Incapable of being divided.
"'With liberty' -- which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.
"'And justice' -- the principle quality of dealing fairly with others.
"'For All' -- which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance...'Under God.' Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said those words are a prayer and that they would be eliminated from schools?"
The Red Skelton program was aired over thirty years ago, but the words are still relevant today. It's hard for me to believe that I have lived long enough to actually see someone try to change the very words our country was founded upon. I hope that if this action goes before the Supreme Court, they will remember the will of the people. I hope they will decide to rule in favor of the sometimes all-too-silent majority, rather than the noisy, in-your-face, minority. After all, this is supposed to be a democracy and not a dictatorship. We need people to do the will of the people. John Hancock said it at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, "There must be no pulling in opposite ways. We must hang together." I agree.
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Post by .Hunting:High:and:Low. on Aug 2, 2002 19:22:06 GMT -5
^^ There's a difference between voicing your opinion and changing something that a majority wants. That's the basics of this country: It is ruled by majority. It shouldn't be catered to the minority. If the minority wants to voice their opinion, fine. And if more people go over to the minorities side, thus making it the majority, it will be done.
Granted, I don't think that the words 'under God' should have been put there in the first place, but it is there now, and the majority wants it there. So be it. One doesn't have to say it. But a majority wants to.
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Post by RebDoMINe on Aug 2, 2002 19:49:28 GMT -5
Yes, but the writer acts as if we don't have the right to fight and try to get people on our side. The minority has every right to voice its opinion. She contradicts herself about ninety times there, acting as if America is so free, but then implying that the minority needs to shut up because the majority says so.
There's nothing wrong with trying to make a change.
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