Is it just me, or are minorities not expected to be civil to anyone except each other?
A few weeks back, I ran across a syndicated editorial in my local newspaper. The author was examining the just-published finding that the male human brain contains more neurons than the female human brain. The author then proceeded to tick off a list of articles (from such neutral sources as Men's Health and GQ) and activities to show what men were doing with those extra neurons, what they were thinking about with that extra brainpower. The editorial's ultimate conclusion was that such frivolous activities brought the actual "useful" capacity of the male brain down at least to the level of the female brain, and most probably below it.
Do I even need to specify that this author is female?
It is becoming increasingly obvious that political correctness isn't exactly what it claims to be. In fact, it's an outright sham. Political correctness purports to be a methodology of civility and sensitivity, designed to mend the issues between different segments of the populace to help them get along together without offending each other. Instead, what's happening is precisely the opposite effect; people resent PC speech and project that resentment onto the minorities that are seen to advocate it, which thereby increases the hostility all around. In fact, this is closely analagous to the problems with Affirmative Action; differences are highlighted to such an extreme that they are overcompensated for and a backlash results as an effort to correct that overcompensation. In turn, this backlash is seen as The Oppressor striking back at The Victorious Oppressed, exposing The Oppressor in all its hateful prejudice. Therefore, the very tools which are supposed to integrate our society are actually keeping it from integrating. (Of course, this shouldn't be much of a surprise to those of you who saw my third column, which covered some of the same ground.) Instead of becoming one big melting pot where all people are created equal, America is becoming a plethora of increasingly fractious sub-sub-cultures intent on supremacy for themselves. Yea and verily, war has become peace and some animals are indeed more equal than others. (Bonus points to anyone who can properly identify both references.)
Folks, I'm here to speak the truth, so here it is: It ain't so. However, if corrective steps aren't taken soon, an undercurrent to this backlash is going to get really nasty. The problem is, some of the more moderate people are wondering if the racists and the sexists might have a point after all. While it's deemed racist to observe that rap is transforming a stereotype into a self-fulfilling prophecy, that observation hits closer to the mark than the "official party line" does. Yes, many people will call me a sexist for observing that women tend to shun logical thought in favor of emotional fervor...but does that make it any less true? And I've made a conscious decision to give everybody an equal shot - how much more likely is Joe-Bob Whitey to decide that racism and sexism aren't prejudice, but rather complete truth?
If nothing else, it's time for minorities in America to take a look at the effects of their actions. By making it "okay" to smear a majority group while insisting that minority groups be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, these minorities are fostering hostility, not civility. Through these actions, they're ultimately dooming their causes - but they don't realize it.
I guess it's time for a lesson in true civility. Civility means treating someone with genuine respect, and that's hard even in the best of circumstances. (Yeah, I'll admit it - I'm not especially civil in this forum. It's kind of my pressure valve; I can spew forth my contempt and hatred here, therefore giving it an outlet so that it doesn't burst forth in Real Life. In addition, by taking the time to frame my points in a logical - if rambling - context, someone else can stop by and possibly be persuaded by my points.) Ask yourself, ye minorities: if you won't show respect and civility for people in the majority, how can you possibly expect them to respect you? True civility depends on actually caring what people think and how they feel, while political correctness is an attempt to impose respect by punishing those who speak "incorrectly." That doesn't foster respect, but rather contempt. Nobody can ever be forced to respect anyone else; it just doesn't work. Yes, you can force someone to acknowledge your power, but you can never force them to respect you. Respect has to be given freely, otherwise it's nothing but lip service.
So, to all you male-bashing women, white-hating blacks, and breeder-contemptuous gays, I have only one more thing to say to you on this subject. When you start treating me with respect, I will begin to treat you with respect in similar measure. When you stop trying to paint me as a conspiring oppressor, maybe I'll start believing that you're actually after equality and not just your turn in the seat of power. In short, when you start treating me as a human being instead of a straight white male, maybe I'll grant you the same respect.