Is Political Correctness getting out of hand? Out of control?
I can't see children as young as 5 or even younger fathom nor understand what racism or sexual harassment really means.
Do you?
Yiz
I've read a number of "Nature vs Nurture" type books, articles etc. It seems that every decade or so the pendulum starts swinging from one "side" to the "other".... basically here's what I think - which makes a lot of sense IIDSSM
Children emulate the what they are surrounded by .... if you take two twins and separate them at birth, and send them to radically different homes you end up with very different children (90% of the time) when it comes to socialization etc skills (not necessarily IQ differences, but rather how they connect with the world)
If you send "Twin A" to a loving, accepting household in the USA where the all family members and friends demonstrate in action and words that:
1) People are people, and skin colours of all types are beautiful"
**
2) One specific language is not "better" than any other and by extension multilingualism is a positive trait which should be encouraged
3) Different cultures should be valued and respected by everyone - and that individuals with different cultures should be encouraged to be proud of their culture and heritage
4) Different religions/faiths/beliefs should not be feared ... rather they should be respected and learned about in as authentic a means as possible, including learning about the various denominations etc within each religion (and how some people mis-use and manipulate their faith)
5) That all people deserve respect, that everyone should have a safe place the sleep, basic nutrition, access to education etc
If a child grows up living in an environment in which these things are not only "said" and "taught" but lived out everyday ... they will see this as "normal", "expected" and "natural thinking".
If you send "Twin B" to an indifferent or unloving family in the USA, who is surrounded by judgmental, intolerant people who teach (implicitly or explicitly) and action that:
1) One colour of skin is superior to others, and that one's skin colour denotes how the "deserve to be treated", what they "should be able to do in life" etc and that people of "inferior skin-colours" need to be "kept in their place"
2) There is one language that is better than another (in the USA that would be English) - if you aren't fluent in that specific language then you should "move back to ......" or learn English and stop using your native/natural language completely). Those who don't speak the "preferred language" (English) should have zero rights to access information in their native language including not having access to interpreters etc.
3) The only culture that is acceptable is "True USA culture" - which according to many people is: English Language, Christian, heterosexual couples etc. While it's nice to have food from all over the world - when those people come to live in the USA they need to leave their home culture, language etc all behind (keep the food though, it tastes good) and trade it all in for "Being American"
4) Different Religions should be feared - or at least questioned. They are made up of deceitful and "dangerous people" (according to the news) and it's a bad idea to learn anything about other faiths from people who actaully belong to that faith (or through a certified university/college course recommended by that faith). People need to "protect their country" from being "taken over" by other faiths ... and it's my (Twin B & their family's) job to help defend it.
5) Some people deserve respect - others don't ... if you belong to the "right groups", are the "right colour", "right faith" etc ... then you should be respected ... if you are anything other than these things then you don't deserve respect at all - in fact you don't deserve anything.
If a child grows up in this environment - they will see these views as normal and that they need to "protect" themselves and their family/friends from anyone who doesn't conform to their "norm". Instead of seeing the diversity in their city, country and world as a positive that should be encouraged and supported- they see diversity as something which is threatening (like a virus) and something they need to "defend themselves" against ....
If you raise a child in love, tolerance and acceptance... they grow up seeing this as normal and look for ways to help others and create more tolerant world.
If you raise a child surrounded by fear, hate, intolerance and oppression they grow up believing it is normal and they have to be "on guard" to protect them self against people trying to "steal their place in the world"
**Regarding skin colour...
I always say that I'm not "skin-colour blind", rather I love and appreciate the beauty of ALL colours and shades of skin-colour equally - from the palest shades of pink/white to the boldest ebony black and every shade in between. Together we make a beautiful human rainbow which should be celebrated*
JMHO
Politics are becoming dumb, dumber and dumberer!
