Well this is my first blog, hopefully of many...

I'm doing this for the purpose that I have been reading news lately that has begun to severely question my faith in humanity, my faith in government, and faith in the individual (which is different than humanity, humanity is the collectivity, individual actions are much different.) And in this blog I hope to cover and discuss these issues and hope to generate discussion that will hopefully help strengthen not only my understanding, but those who read this.

As a third year political science and sociology student (who should actually be writing a paper on public policy), my interest is in the functioning and underlying values and judgments of society, rather than specific policies and initiatives, although they to are very important. I believe I have a mind that is consistently open to new ideas and think on a level that allows me to find the most rational solution, but I digest, but only because this brings me into my first topic. Political Correctness.

Daily conversations baffle me. We have become a society in which the idea of free speech and opinions no longer matter. Our free speech is no longer free, but is rather dictated by a series of social restrictions. As this is the basis of our society, I agree that there has to be a compassionate and watchful eye on the way that we treat others. But where we have gone wrong is in letting these social restrictions become so all-encompassing and broad that our every sentence, public or private, becomes a carefully orchestrated series of words that we use in order not to offend the people we are addressing, and in which we lose our freedom of speech simply because someone, somewhere, MIGHT possibly be offended by a term that is used in a completely out of context setting. This is an incredibly important aspect of our lives that has gotten a tad bit out of control.

There is no question in my mind that we have to be accountable for our actions and our words. And there is no question that certain words, in any context, are to be viewed with distaste.

"From the moment a child begins to speak, he is taught to respect the word; he is taught how to use the word and how not to use it. The word is all-powerful, because it can build a man up, but it can also tear him down. That’s how powerful it is. So a child is taught to use words tenderly and never against anyone; a child is told never to take anyone’s name or reputation in vain.”
Henry Old Coyote, Crow Tribe Author,excerpt from Respect for Life

This aspect of socialization is dead on. The importance of respecting the dignity of all other humans is a vital aspect of our lives, and this is not my problem with being PC. Speech is subjective, our words are just that,ours. And so are their meanings, and although we have a duty in civil society to monitor those meanings, so others have the equal responsibility to understand the context of others and not be incredibly selfish in thinking that theres is the only meaning available. A closer look at the way we use certain words is what is needed in public and private life, by those speaking, and those listening. I have an example of this, which may illicit a negative response, and I naturally agree. But this story became such a sensational news story that it continuously stumps me when issues like this come up.

http://www.canadaka.net/link.php?id=41129

Really, pansification? First of all, it's not even a word. And have we really become such a society that the word pansy is demeaning and actually offends a certain group of people? In all fairness, I can vaguely understand the gay communities objection, but only because people have decided that certain words are offensive and derogatory to individual groups. And this serves to prove my point that we are becoming a society so diverse and broad that any term refers to any certain group. But really?

CONTEXT PEOPLE... Was the commentator actually drawing a comparison between fighting in hockey and the NHL becoming homosexual? Absolutely not, he is simply making a comment on taking the intensity and grittiness out of the game. The idea that homophopia is being perpetuated and serving stereotypes is preposterous. Gay rights in North America, hell, around the world have made momentous gains in the past 10 years alone, although I agree there is much to be done. I think the fact that the Egale Canada tries to sell themselves as moral crusaders for the equality of the gay community is ridiculous.(This serves for all groups, and do not think of this as demeaning or personal, I am attempting to answer this question based on logic)You cannot tell people that words that are contextually distinct from what you think they are, cannot be used. That is infringing on another's freedom, as much as you might think that is infringing on yours. If the words are universally deemed derogatory, as certain words are, that does not give you the license to impromptu add words that you think offend you. I am simply making the point that there are numerous cases in which context needs to be looked at way before people become so wrapped up in ridiculous cases such as this...

I think I am going to end with that, only because if I say anything else I will have to go into much greater detail and exploration, and I am hoping for discussion...
And if you would like more examples, as I have chosen only one, Type in Political correctness to any CKA news search.

Topics to come (hopefully, time/workload permitting) include: national unity, Canada-Quebec, Canada-US, Globalization, free trade, consumerism, capitalism vs. other political ideologies, human nature and more... haha stay tuned