Why do people brag about being “politically incorrect”? I heard it this morning in a bluegrass song. Now I know that typically country and bluegrass skew to a certain demographic and a bluegrass collaboration with Travis Tritt, even more so, but this lyric struck me:
I’m a little rough around the edges
I didn’t come out of no GQ magazine
I don’t use a lot of big words
But I’m bent on love if you know what I mean
I ain’t in’trested in bein’ politically correct
I stand right up and say what I believe
I really don’t understand this stance. Sure, maybe I’m not the target market because I kind of like it when my husband uses big words, but I can relate to not being into the “GQ” type. What I mean is, I like people a little rough around the edges but, in my opinion, being politically correct just means being able to make statements about someone without the need to use prejorative terms. Why does it feel so “restrictive” to be politically correct? To me, it’s common decency.
I’m sure I’ve not always said the perfect thing, but in general, I do actively try to NOT insult others. Even if I disagree with someone, using demeaning or offensive language does nothing to help persuade my point or have an active discussion. I just think there is a way to “stand right up and say what I believe” without losing the ability to be hurtful and disrespectful.
Our culture supports systematic and disciplined inquiry better than just about any other in history, but even so there is a great deal of hostility toward it by people who feel their values threatened, see it as a waste of time that could be better devoted to more immediate goals, or resent the status and power it carries.
By: Eric Lykins on August 12, 2009
at 1:17 pm
I think too many people insist on being recognized in a certain way or as part of a certain group or class. It’s as if the country really is split into red or blue with no room or acceptance of a much vaster middle ground in which we all really would find ourselves were we to be honest about it.
We’re too often too busy looking at what separates us, and sentiments like the above are only pushing us further toward that.
At the same time, a lot of people probably see the country/world progressing and moving forward and they are stuck still remembering when this was all farms.
By: sam on August 12, 2009
at 1:21 pm
I kinda get what you’re saying. You can’t really say “I’m on this side” or that one anymore, because it’s much blurrier than that. But I don’t really see people “insisting” on being recognized in any way. That’s not how I see political correctness being used. And I felt like in this song, the speaker is bragging that they won’t take respect into consideration, and I find that sort of blatant disrespect more troubling than if someone were, in fact, asking to be recognized a certain way. I will now demand to be recognized as an American princess.
But I do have to mention this new Brad Paisley song. Here are the lyrics:
By: ckmarler on August 12, 2009
at 1:36 pm