There is a monster stalking the land — Political Correctness. The insidiously proper “P.C.” has staunched voices of reason and ham-strung the voicing of honest opinion. We have become a nation and a culture “terrified to offend,” and have thus welcomed mindless mediocrity as the substitute for sincere questions and thought-provoking conversation.

Political correctness has made us communication cowards. When did causing a “difference of opinion” become something to fear and run from? When did putting the “truth” on the table for examination in the light of intelligent discourse become something verboten; something voiced in timid whispers, even among friends?

It is time to call a spade a spade, which is defined as, “to speak honestly and directly about a topic.” This phrase actually has its origin with Plutarch’s Apophthegmata Laconica (178 BC) and refers to a shovel, not the playing of (Oh, dear, what might some people think?) the “race” card.

I see us as a people cowering in our attempt to communicate. As we sift and catalog phrase and import of meaning, we now mouth meaningless platitudes and inanely bland rhetoric. We blather in oh-so-correct terminology, skirting issues and dreading answers because we are terrified of what someone might think. When did opinions become something that had to be palatable and acceptable to everyone?

We are so very “afraid to offend” races, religions, political parties and causes. We are terrified to stand out and stand up for what we think; or to ask questions about what is going on and how we are doing things. We might HURT SOMEONE’S FEELINGS!

Has it dawned on any of us that perhaps these people, these out-there-in-opinion-land someones might not have a leg to stand on? They might be too self-involved, think that everything is about them and have no range of vision beyond self-serving and self-importance. When did someone’s having a thin skin become a reason to tread lightly when truth and change and action need to be addressed and discussed?

We need dare to offend! We need to have opinions and share insights and ideas. We need to be brave and honest and put our concerns and questions out there. We need to have open and heartfelt discourse. We can no longer afford to sit quietly on the sidelines because, “It is really not politically correct to examine and discuss that.” And, in our attempt to offend no one, we have descended to communicating in a “politically correct” jargon that really says nothing and takes us nowhere.

Let’s tell it like it is; let’s be brave. Let’s start talking about things clearly and concisely, with thought-out and intelligent questions and answers played back and forth. Let’s start addressing issues that have weight and worthiness; that have impact on our lives and the future of where we are going as a culture and a world.  If we don’t discuss things, and risk offending someone, nothing will get done, nothing will change and we will continue as we are—stumbling around in “politically correct” mediocrity.

So, when asked for our opinion or thoughts, let’s tell the truth. Let’s call a spade a spade, shall we?

Tags: Age and not giving a damn, Fear and aging, polical correctness, Reaching out as we age, robin korth, Wisdom and aging

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at 8:33 am and is filed under IOA Stories, Newsletter, Robin's Insights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.