The Passion of Political Correctness

Has anyone been following the Liberal Democrats recent attempts to impose newspeak on us all? I've read over the last couple of days, with amusement, of two particular incidents which have not done the Political Correctness lobby any favours in this author's eyes.

The first I learnt of was Lib Dem MP Bob Russell's shock and outrage that a Government spokesman (or should that be spokesperson?) used the bigoted and inflamatory phrase 'black economy' in reference to the nation's economic affairs.

The second abomination was a Tory councillor's remark (in an e-mail), that were Noah to receive the call to build his ark today, he would have to cater for gay animals. Liberal councillor's demanded that experienced Tory councillor David Clutterbuck go on "compulsory equality training" in order to correct such outrageous and bigoted views. (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369644-details/Outrage)

Both these incidents illustrate just how daft political correctness can become.

Now, I'm not against political correctness. I am, to some extent, an ardent supporter, and I don't believe people should have a completely free licence to offend others on the basis of race, gender or sexuality. What I don't like, however, is when political correctness becomes a dogmatic agenda, threatening the culture of free speech that allows us to think and converse without fear of repurcussions.

This sort of political correctness sees more value in instituting a linguistic dictatorship, than in truely taking into consideration the thoughts and feelings of those it claims to be defending. I don't believe this sort of PC is at all people centred or concerned with respect; if it was, wouldn't David Clutterback's experience of 19 years on the Council count for anything? I don't think there is anything more
disrespectful that insisting that a 72 year old go on a equality education programme for merely making a joke.

What these disproportionate reactions tell us is that Liberal elitists (of the kind described, this is not an attack on liberalism per se) do not understand that its more important how words are used than the words themselves. Clearly, there are some words which cannot be anything other than slurs, but is the use of 'blackboard', 'black sheep' or indeed, the 'black economy' really to the offence of anyone?

Has anyone even been consulted on the matter?

At first, I could not believe the two stories I have related in this post. I could not believe that so much energy and time could be wasted over something as minor as the 'black economy'.

There are real issues to discuss.