Making sure our speech is politically correct

Q: Advocacy groups for people with intellectual disabilities are campaigning to end use of the word 'retard' or 'retarded.' What do you think of their initiative?

One of the biggest problems that the world faces today is the prevalence of prejudice and intolerance and the hatred that they inspire. Increasingly, we see this in politics, religion, the media, etc. Far too many of us have an inability to stomach anyone who thinks or acts differently from what we have decided is the "right" way to think and act.

The root of the problem is actually ignorance. We don't understand each other, and this leads to distrust and fear. We need more dialogue between us, not less. We need to hear and see things we disagree with. We need to learn to be tolerant. We need to learn. Wanting to stop people from saying things that can be perceived as offensive is, conceptually speaking, a good and noble idea that helps on some levels, but it also leads to more problems in the end.

Instead, we need to let people express their thoughts in the words they choose, and we can use what they say and how they say it to then evaluate them as we choose. I would much rather hear racists and other haters open express themselves so I know what they are thinking. Political correctness is just a way of making things appear to be harmonious, while doing nothing at all to help solve the problems we face. After all, how can we solve problems we don't know exist or solve differences we cannot discuss? Increasingly, we hide behind politically correct terms that belie what we really believe. Do people who call themselves "pro-choice" really believe that everyone should be able to do whatever they want? I strongly doubt it. Do people who call themselves "pro-life" really support all forms of life and are against all killing? Not the ones I know. Our words are becoming increasingly meaningless, and this helps to make lying and deception easier.

Formalized speech codes and restrictions give even more power to the people already in power over one of the aspects of democracy that is necessary for its survival, free speech. The old Soviet Union, Communist China, and Cuba are good examples of what happens when the government controls what can and cannot be said. The more powerful the government, the less freedom, independence, and democracy for the individual.

People should, in the vast majority of cases, be allowed to say what they wish. I would rather know more clearly the thoughts and insights, as well as the prejudices, of others so I can more accurately learn from or avoid them. Unlike some who believe that most "Americans are stupid" (to quote Bill Maher), I think most Americans are actually relatively intelligent and decent human beings who try to be good. Most of us want to learn about and from others, and as individuals, we do more to help others we don't even know in the form of volunteerism and charity than people of any other country. If this is stupid, then one has to wonder what that term even means.

Knowledge is the best vehicle for removing prejudices. The more we can talk to each other without being afraid of offending someone or breaking some law by using "politically incorrect" words, the more we can feel comfortable communicating and thereby learning from each other. In the process, we learn what to say and how to say it, and we don't need more government rules overseeing our thoughts and expressions.

At the same time, I am not an absolutist on the issue and do believe there are some words and some forms of speech that should be prohibited. These include actually threatening someone or doing things such as putting a swastika on the home of a Jewish family or hanging a noose on the door of a Black family. These are not forms of speech but, because of their context, are actually forms of terrorism and should not be legal or acceptable. Unless, one's speech or other forms of expression move into this realm, then I am all for letting people speak.

Political correctness arose out of a well meaning desire to stop people from offending minorities or others in what is said or written with the idea that these can oppress the less powerful. Whatever the intent, the approach quickly became one of oppression itself, putting limits on what people can say, or even think. We have banned the N-word and the F-word, and now we want to ban the R-word. If the situation is allowed to continue unabated, we will soon not have an adequate language, or alphabet, for communicating with each other, and we will come to know less and less what each other thinks. In the process, we will become more ignorant and more afraid of each other.

A good example of what can happen is the situation the Metro Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) ran into when it recently when renamed its various routes using colors, as many municipalities regularly do. However, its "yellow" line happened to pass through an area with a high percentage of Asian residents, and some decided that this was offensive to them. After an outcry that garnered national attention, MARTA had to change the name to "gold."

I am sure there are those who could find problems with other colors as well, like brown, black, purple, or pink. Should we start making restrictions on what colors can be used? Speaking of color, many people refer to non-Caucasians as "people of color." Does it mean that Caucasians are officially "colorless?" Is that not offensive? My Japanese mother-in-law is lighter skinned than I am, so I wonder who came up with that term in the first place.

The intolerance on both sides is deplorable. Those who demand tolerance for the their own group or point of view often show at least an equal level of intolerance for other points of view. If we spent as much time trying to work together and understand each other as we do finding fault with and excuses to restrict each other, we would be a much happier society. In short, maybe we should all lighten up a little. Oops, I am sure someone can take offense at that one!

By Ramdas Lamb  |  February 18, 2010; 1:51 PM ET Save & Share:                 
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