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Political Correctness runs amok

   Written by on July 31, 2013 at 4:51 pm

By Averett Jones, Southside Messenger Editor

 (I’ve always wanted to use “runs amok” in an article!)

I receive regular comments correcting me regarding political correctness.  The letters or calls usually patiently explain why I am in error.   Some of them berate me for my ignorance, my lack of education, my lack of sensitivity or my lack of intelligence.

Our usual policy is to avoid offending anyone without reason; however, we find it difficult to comply with dozens of arbitrary rules created by dozens of individuals as these rules often conflict.

I once wrote an article on a fire and barn rebuilding in the Amish Community in Charlotte County.  I was berated for including photographs. Each letter explained, “The Amish don’t like to have their pictures taken.”

My question was “Who authorized you to speak for the Amish?” The answer was always “Everyone knows the Amish don’t like to have their pictures taken.”  Well, in the case of the barn burning the fire was on private property and the Amish owner of the property had approved the pictures. It appears that the photo prohibition is a widespread general Amish rule but some communities and some individuals choose otherwise.

In another case we used pictures of an Amish sales booth at a public event.  Public events are Public. Anyone attending a public event, especially those selling items, can expect other people to see them and possibly even take their picture.

The same applies with accidents on public property, arrests, and even happy pictures.  If you are in public you have voluntarily given up your right to privacy.  Anyone has the right to photograph you and to publish the pictures if they like.

I am also regularly taken to task for referring to the indigenous people who lived in North America prior to European arrival as Indians.   I choose this term not because it is correct but because it has the longest history and is generally understood. The correct term I am told is Native American.   Again, who is the appointed spokesman for all descendants of indigenous people?   Is there an election? Is the office hereditary?  Why doesn’t he or she ever make a public announcement?   I suspect this term, like many other “politically correct” terms, was coined not by the people to whom it refers but by someone attempting to be sensitive to one group by demanding an action by another.

I find it incredibly arrogant that any one person or group believes it has the right to determine the correct term for another group.

We have friends who are members of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. Their preference is to be referred to by tribe or as Virginia Indians. Frankly, their preference trumps the unnamed spokesman.  But they speak for themselves or maybe for their tribe. They can’t speak for all Indians or indigenous people or Native Americans.

For that matter, I can’t even speak for my family.  We have ancestors from Wales, Scotland, and a half a dozen other locations. I prefer Scots as a designation because I like the reputation they have for being stubborn, frugal and a few other stereotypes.  I have no Idea what my siblings prefer and I don’t speak for them. 
For that matter, every time one of our children marries there is a whole new mix of ancestry. I can’t even speak for my family; how can any one person or group speak for an entire group?

On the other hand, it is never my intention to deliberately insult or slight any group. I will be happy to change terms to the satisfaction of any group provided the official spokesman for that entire group contacts me and presents his or her credentials.

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