by Russell Minor
The lukewarm racist, the one who quietly conceals his bigotry while subtly spreading it, is much more harmful than an outspoken racist. This leads me to say, if you want to say the word nigger, say it loud.
If you hate Jews, put it on a bumper sticker for your car. Let your voice be heard if you wish to overthrow the government or if you support wife beating.
All opinions are right, but at the same time, no opinion is the truth. You are correct in the respect that it is your right to make your opinion known, but opinions are based on perceptions, not on facts.
But some opinions are so extremist and hate-inspired that many people naturally feel a need to suppress them. That is the thinking of those behind the movement to make speech politically correct. They feel that all words that are possibly malicious, racist, or sexist should be banned. The politically correct may be the most dangerous non-organization in America.
People’s thoughts and opinions are the most revealing indicators of their true nature. By forcing people to suppress their sincere and honest thoughts, we are forcing them to disguise their true intentions. Using such politically correct terms as African-American for blacks, handicapped for the handicapped and the spelling of “womyn” for the word women enables a person to give the impression of having respect for those groups.
Yet, a person who doesn’t use those terms is often considered prejudiced. We have become so shallow that we now base our judgments on people’s words instead of examining their deeds.
It is frightening to think that if Adolf Hitler were alive today, he could learn the politically correct terminology and give a well-received speech at the NAACP or to B’nai B’rith.
We used to be leery of the proverbial “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” We now insist upon the wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. It seems that the politically correct would prefer that the wolf stayed hidden rather than acknowledging his existence.
The use of politically correct words has resulted in some disturbing occurrences. Who could forget the image of a black woman warmly hugging former KKK leader David Duke during Louisiana’s last governor’s race? Without knowledge of the politically correct terms, Duke might never have been able to so dramatically manipulate so many voters.
By emphasizing a person’s choice of words over the words’ connotations and meanings, the politically correct have provided an atmosphere where the most dangerous of radicals can be accepted.
As for me, I will always appreciate the politically incorrect. To the politically incorrect who are not prejudiced, I thank you for insisting that you be judged on your actions and not on your ability to pander to social whims.
For those who are both politically incorrect and prejudiced, I extend my gratitude to you also. In particular, I’d like to applaud Sen. Jesse Helms, Louis Farrakhan, Clayton Williams and all the others who have refused to disguise their ignorant perceptions of the world. I love the harshness of their words and the underlining sense of brutality hidden within them. I welcome all of their opinions, especially those that are the most offensive. When given a choice, I’d rather know where a man stands than to have him disguise his views.
When the day comes that ignorant words vanish, I hope it will be from the extinction of stupidity, not from widespread insincerity.