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Politically correct (view source)
Revision as of 01:51, November 10, 2007
, 01:51, November 10, 2007→History: improved, added RobS's splendid quote
==History==
==History==
The earliest reference to the concept of '''political correctness''' is in Robert LaFolette's 1912 memoirs:
:"Speaking of his education at the University of Wisconsin, he says "In those days we did not so much get correct political and economic views, for there was then little teaching of sociology or political economy worthy the name."
[[Liberal]]s impose [[political correctness]] to prevent recognition of differences between men and women, religions, belief systems, and nationalities. In the 1960s, [[feminists]] began to demand that the neutral pronouns ''he'', ''him'' and ''his'' be replaced with expressions like "he or she", "him or her", "them", etc. This was part of their campaign to redefine the social roles traditionally associated with masculinity and femininity.
[[Liberal]]s impose [[political correctness]] to prevent recognition of differences between men and women, religions, belief systems, and nationalities. In the 1960s, [[feminists]] began to demand that the neutral pronouns ''he'', ''him'' and ''his'' be replaced with expressions like "he or she", "him or her", "them", etc. This was part of their campaign to redefine the social roles traditionally associated with masculinity and femininity.
Other groups jumped on the political correctness bandwagon, with handicapped people dodging the kindly meant slogan, "Hire the handicapped", and insisting that their condition was not abnormal. Rather, they were to be called, "differently abled".
Other groups jumped on the political correctness bandwagon, with handicapped people dodging the kindly meant slogan, "Hire the handicapped", and insisting that their condition was not abnormal. Rather, they were to be called, "differently abled".
'''Political correctness''' or '''P.C.''' eventually came to refer to the alteration of ones choice of words in order to avoid either offending a group of people or reinforcing a stereotype considered to be disadvantageous to the group. More specifically, groups which (or whose putative "leaders" or other activists) claim some status as systemically oppressed or discriminated against will periodically attempt to change the terms by which they are referred to and demand that society as a whole change its usage of words as well. Although traditionally associated with the liberals and the political left, Political Correctness has been challenged by libertarian comedian Bill Mahr, by left wing comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and by some noted liberals such as Nat Hentoff, Richard Lamm, and the late Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
'''Political correctness''' or '''P.C.''' eventually came to refer to the alteration of ones choice of words in order to avoid either offending a group of people or reinforcing a stereotype considered to be disadvantageous to the group. More specifically, groups which (or whose putative "leaders" or other activists) claim some status as systemically oppressed or discriminated against will periodically attempt to change the terms by which they are referred to and demand that society as a whole change its usage of words as well. After thorough public ridicule of [[liberal]] imposition of '''political correctness''', liberals themselves began to distance themselves from it in public ways. [[Liberal]] comedians [[Bill Mahr]], [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]] have sought to attract viewers by attacking '''political correctness''' themselves. Some more serious [[liberals]], such as Nat Hentoff, Richard Lamm, and the late Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., have also been critical of '''political correctness'''.
==Examples==
==Examples==