I noticed you posted a few links from the libbers sites, speaking of the others. Well done!

Great Posts.
Hey Guys I think its time we got back to the bone Of this Thread=
Political Correctness=

"Forgive Your Enemies"
The Joke:
Sunday's sermon was "Forgive Your Enemies"

Toward the end of the service the minister asked, "How many of you
have forgiven you enemies?" 80% of the congregation held up their
hands. The minister then repeated his question. All responded this
time except one small elderly lady.

"Mrs. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"

"I don't have any," replied Mrs. Jones, smiling sweetly.

"Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?"

"Ninety-Eight," she replied.

"Oh Mrs. Jones, would you please come down in front and tell us
how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the
world?"

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the
congregation and said, "I outlived the bitches".

Off to have a steak and red- goodnight to the A team:)

Ive just learned about another example of Political Correctness.

The recent Annual Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand held in Brisbane was addressed by Dr Pat Deegan, who herself suffers from Schizophrenia. Before Dr Deegan spoke, the person introducing Dr Deegan kept talking about, "The Mentally Ill," over and over again.

When Dr Deegan stood up, she addressed the crowd with, "I do not say, I am a schizophrenic. I say I am Pat," she told the applauding delegates. Dr Deegan, from Lawrence, Massachusetts, said people with disabilities were now part of a worldwide movement demanding freedom from discrimination and the stigma of labels. "I think it is reasonable to say, 'people with mental illness' rather than, 'The Mentally Ill,' as if we were a herd of cattle."

An apology was made both to Dr Deegan, and her audience.

Foxy, are you saying you think people who use the term "mentally ill" are being politically correct, or that Dr Deegan is being politically correct by objecting to the term?

I interpret this situation as a woman using language to emphasise that she is a person, rather than just an illness. It seems to me she liberating herself from labels rather than political correctness. I don't see "mentally ill" as a PC term (unlike, for example, any term that includes the word "challenged"), unless you are comparing it with language like "lunatic" and "crazy" - the language that preceded it.

If you're saying Dr Deegan is being PC because she refuses to be known by a common, everyday term, I say good on her. People do become too defined by illness or disability or their physical characteristics in general. I think groups of people that identify with each other for whatever reason - ethnic groups, language groups, people who share like disabilities, etc etc etc - should be able to choose their own moniker. I guess some people think that's PC. I just think it's common good manners.

Either way I'm not sure I agree this is a matter of political correctness.

Sorry Foxy, but these examples of so-called Political Correctness are becoming a little outlandish.

Something I dislike intensely is when unemployed people are referred to as "the unemployed". Something that occurs frequently in discussions in the media. One never hears 'THE pensioners/single-parents/seniors.

However, I have never felt that this terminology or my feelings against it were even remotely connected with PC!

One thing is surely well proven. Political Correctness is indeed a flexible concept is it not?

It comes in very handy for all sorts of things.....

CJMorgan: The link to the newspaper article enclosed FYI. Yes, it was all storm in a teacup at the end of the day but nevertheless, a potential storm was brewing.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22761386-2,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311797,00.html

Ginx: I hear you loud and clear. I cannot speak for others but it has always been my understanding that capital letters in a word can be construed as shouting. I quote “ Capitals are also tantamount to ‘shouting’ in an online textual scenario and have similar escalatory effects.” (Post Colonial Politics, The Internet and Everyday Life; pg:174) Give me time- I promise I will endeavor to understand the world of netiquette according to Ginx .

Now on to PC. The Santa example I gave (I regret that now) did not seem like ‘twaddle that needed to be assigned to the wastebasket’ to me. Nor did I believe it was ‘bullshet trotted out to show PC gone mad’. I thought it was relevant to the discussion and I provided this as an example to a poster who wanted one. Of course I knew Ha! Ha! never eventuated- I have 11 year old twins- one of whom still believes in the jolly ole guy so I am in the loop with this one. I was not claiming it had eventuated. I was just saying it is an example of PC gone crazy. The fact it occurred is enough to argue that point. Right? You can’t argue with that surely.

In all seriousness, I sincerely do not understand what you are getting at in relation to false PC as opposed to true PC. I thought my L-Plates were quite obvious. I am more than open to learning and have a great thirst for knowledge so please- calmly and politely- enlighten me. It appears I am really off track with this PC stuff and I do want to know more.

Darn, I can’t find my Equality Essentials manual (previously: Political Correctness manual) so that ain’t gonna help.

".........Give me time- I promise I will endeavor to understand the world of netiquette according to Ginx........

........I thought my L-Plates were quite obvious. I am more than open to learning and have a great thirst for knowledge so please- calmly and politely- enlighten me. It appears I am really off track with this PC stuff and I do want to know more........

Darn, I can’t find my Equality Essentials manual (previously: Political Correctness manual) so that ain’t gonna help."

Posted by TammyJo, Sunday, 24 February 2008 11:00:45 PM

MEEEEOOOOWWWWWW!!

On L-plates eh? I think not.

Tell you what. I'll see it my way, and you see it yours. Then we don't need any further post mortems on dear old Santa. Ho,ho..,ho.....

Is that calm and polite enough for you TJ?