Political correctness achieves its goals

For some time now, I have been frustrated with the meaningless social conventions brought about by a ‘politically correct’ generation. However, reading Joey Korenman’s letter to the editor was enough to change my mind (‘Time to stop being politically correct,’ Nov. 18, pg. 10).

The basic premise of political correctness is that we are not civilized enough in ourselves to interact without offending one another. In my optimism, I believed that ‘political correctness’ was an unnecessary and restrictive crutch in a society which does in fact foster diversity. But clearly, I was mistaken.

The views expressed in Mr. Korenman’s article are such that I can only hope they were offensive to a majority of readers. If that revulsion must be dictated by an artificial social convention, then that convention has served a purpose.

Mr. Korenman brings to our attention that ‘not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslim,’ and he asks us to ‘please do a little research’ before responding to his argument. Mr. Korenman, I suggest you take your own advice. It is good advice. Do some research into the conflict in Northern Ireland. You might be surprised. Do some research into the Koran. You might run across a passage that reads: ‘I will not worship what which ye have been wont to worship, nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your way, and to me mine’ (The Holy Koran, Surah 109, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali). Yes, clearly the Muslims are all out to kill us. Run for the hills!

I won’t launch a full-fledged tirade against Mr. Korenman’s argument its weaknesses are apparent. My point is that while ‘political correctness’ can be annoying and can sometimes even obstruct honest dialogue about race issues, it is clearly still necessary because of people like Mr. Korenman. If nothing else does, our sense of ‘political correctness’ tells us that something is dreadfully wrong with the kind of hate-mongering that is expressed in his letter. It brings home the idea that words and ideas are important, and 5hateful words can create hate. At their worst, hateful words create real conflicts which destroy lives and undo the back-breaking work of peace.

To draw an example from Mr. Korenman’s argument, he says we must face up to the ‘fact’ that ‘there are bad people in the world who don’t deserve the same rights as us. Sometimes people just want to hurt you, and you have to get them first’. These are the kinds of words that instill anger and fear in otherwise peaceful people. They are the kinds of words that our government uses when it asks the American public to unquestioningly accept its dubious actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. And they are the kind of words which make the people of Israel and Palestine unable to look one another in the eye and end the absurd conflict which has killed so many innocent people.

Yes, Mr. Korenman, there are indeed people in this world who have to be ‘qualified’ as wrong and evil. These people are those who dangerously misuse such qualifications. Give it a rest, Joey. I want to take off these training wheels.