A World without PC

Political correctness (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups.*

However, in recent years, PC has been synonymous with an obligation at best and a form of censorship at worse, but mainly as a courtesy extended only when among people who may take offense to what is being said and done.

I must admit, I, too, have been prone to share these views at times … that is before I’d moved to a world devoid of PC.

In Europe, political correctness is viewed as another superficial American invention, merely a meaningless gesture prohibiting one’s freedom to speak or say what they want. Furthermore, Europeans resent the act of obligating people to adhere to being PC when there isn’t a genuine inclination behind it, as there are notion that it is better to speak honestly and directly about a topic rather than beating about the bush, so to speak.

While being there for the past 6 years in the midst of the most horrific international relations debacle of our time, the U.S. was known mainly for its bullish unilateral decisions and globalization ambitions than its humanitarian efforts and technological innovations. Everywhere I turned, I, as well as my fellow expats were faced with disparaging remarks about our nation and our leaders, and people were more than willing to share their honest opinion without any tact or consideration, as this, in their opinion, was “calling spade a spade”.

In the same fashion, all over Europe, it is not uncommon that a disparaging remarks about certain ethnic groups, racially derogatory words, or deprecatory stereotypes are frequently displayed in advertisement and product placements, as well as in a newspaper and on a nationally televised program.

Although I agree that pretended actions not based on genuine intentions and understanding can be damaging, after my experiences in Europe, I begin to understand and appreciate even the smallest efforts and gestures that are made … and must be made in the name of being PC, which I now refer to as “public courtesy”.

Taking care in using language is a way of taking care of the world, and being politically correct has less to do with censoring individual’s actions or words but more to do with protecting those who suffer its consequences.

*source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness