“I’m not racist, but…”

[jimhines]

“I’m not a racist by any stretch of the imagination, but whenever people start talking about diversity, it’s a word I can’t stand … What these people don’t like is somebody forcing diversity down their throats.”  -Prescott City Councilman Steve Blair, supporting the decision to “lighten” the dark faces of a school mural.

Comments

[jimhines]

There's a lot to like about the old pulp stories, a lot of strengths that many modern stories seem to have lost or forgotten. But the racist/sexist aspects? No ... just no. (With a generous helping of WTF?)

[sixteenbynine]

I think a fine-grained distinction was lost somewhere along the way. (Not by you, just generally) The term "politically correct" now implies that someone's dissent is being squashed by someone who is taking the mantle of an aggrieved minority, or something along those lines.

If a black man flinches when his white friend casually uses the N-word, and he calls his friend on it as politely as he can, that's not "PC". That's a way to remind him that there are some people who would not be polite enough to give him early warning.

[kosarin]

I feel like the only times I've ever seen the term "political correctness" used is when someone is accusing someone else of being "too sensitive"... But I've heard from people who have been around longer than me that it started out just as a term to encourage people to refer to different groups by the terms that THEY choose... Oh what a terrible thing, let's end it immediately! :(

[ginmar]

People who embrace the anti-PC label are rebelling against...change. Somebody's got to defend white, hetero, male privilege, yannow! One gets a glimpse of the vast deal of privilege they live with when simply being asked not to be an outrageous sucking asshole is regarded as being akin to having their family kidnapped, job outsourced, dog kicked, puppies eaten, and God only knows what. All that's being asked is that they not be outrageously rude and racist jerkoffs, yet you'd think you'd invaded on their territory and pissed on their shoes and demanded a gourmet dinner on top of it.