On political correctness

For as long as this essayist can remember, the very concept of political correctness (PC) is a safe refuge for those who have an agenda and the truth or a reasonable facsimile thereof is not helpful to that agenda.  Others far more wise and eloquent that we have characterized PC as follows:

“The two pillars of political correctness are:

1.    Willful ignorance, and

2.    A steadfast refusal to face the truth.”  George MacDonald

In case you are not familiar with Mr. MacDonald, let us also provide you with this, one of our favorites, quote of his – “It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected.  The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.”

Back to PC quotes:

I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.  P. D. James

"The fundamental cause of trouble in the world is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt."  Bertrand Russell 

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."  Albert Einstein 

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."   Martin Luther King Jr. 

"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it."   And, "It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid." George Bernard Shaw 

"When ideas fail, words come in very handy."  Goethe 

"Facts are the enemy of truth."  Don Quixote 

As you ponder Mr. Quixote’s observation, we would like to leave you with our recollection of the late William F. Buckley, Jr.’s statement about political correctness – “It’s boring.”

 

 

So, to our friends in the Hollywood media, we dedicate this brief capture of the weakness of men, mostly men, and a handful of women, mostly politicians in both cases, who live by deception, distortion and distraction. 

Closing comments from a few others: 

"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."  Carl Sagan 

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."  Jimi Hendrix 

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."  H. G. Wells 

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."  Arthur Conan Doyle speaking through Sherlock Holmes. 

Here is one thing we know for sure (we think.)  You will never find any of these quotes in a David Axelrod (AKPD media/message management company) pitch for business.