The Puzzle of Political Correctness

All of us have been inundated the past few weeks with the controverseries relating to political correctness. Has it really gone amuck as some conservatives among us would have us believe? What can we say, and how can we remember all the rules of proper discourse? Some examples are in order.

Among those in trouble in the news are Mel Gibson, with his rants against Jews and threats against his former girlfriend; Dr. Laura, with her use of the "N" word repeatedly on her radio program; Rick Sanchez, with his statements also about Jews in the media industry; and now Juan Williams, who acknowledged feeling fear when he boarded a plane with Muslims. All have paid the price for saying probably what they really think by the loss of their respective positions.

On the one hand, I agree (and have since the early '90's when I first became aware of the concept through my daughter, a graduate students in English at USC) that one should not knowingly use terms that cause hurt to others. As educated people, why should we? On the other hand, as we now see in the latest controversies, at what point are we simply being hypersensitive?

The recent and most talked-about example occurred last week on the television program "The View" as commentator Bill O'Reilly said that the Muslims attacked us on 9/11. This comment led to a lot of shouting with Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar walking off the show in a storm of anger. Yet that very week, Joy had two people on her show that both separately used the phrase, "like the pot calling the kettle black." I have been taught that African-Americans find that phrase offensive, yet Joy said nothing to the two guests about it. Later, she bemoaned the loss of civil discourse in our society with guest Richard Dreyfess, yet she had just left the premises her own show while on the air. Is there a double standard here?

Of course, we all know what one of the key problems is. We have so many analysis shows on cable that the air time needs to be filled with controversial political and social issues. All serve to increase ratings for either a conservative position or a liberal one. I for one would love to return to the good old days--having three major networks only giving their news at the dinner hour each night. But then I certainly show my age here.