I’m Fed Up With Political Correctness

commentary by  Keith Allison, D.Dn.

©11 June 2002 – All Rights Reserved

            June Hendrix, aqa “My Other Mother,” feels I should run for political office. The idea that anyone I consider to be of sound mind considering me as political candidate material, is both ego boosting and terrifying as well. I’ll admit the thought that being in such a potentially prestigious position would be gratifying, but I don’t believe the current crop of mutt’s in Olympia would enjoy having me in their sandbox with them. You see folks, I’m not the sort of “Team Player” politicians and bureaucrats want around, because I would put a lid on their cookie jar. And, because I would tend to stir the pot of public discord regarding corruption in government, I seriously doubt I would achieve any worthwhile goals while in office. I’m sure that if I were to propose legislation that benefited the public, the dog pound members of the senate and house would refuse to support it. Let’s consider a few examples of what I would propose if I were in office.

            First, I believe the current requirement that all judges in Washington State must be an attorney, is illogical and counter-productive. The legal community justifies this requirement by claiming “the law is too complicated for the average citizen to comprehend;” I don’t accept that premise. To accept such drivel is no different than believing the average citizen is incapable of self-determination, and that only a “select group of civilized citizens” is competent to decide our collective fate. And yet, should any of us be accused of wrong-doing and plead for mercy because we were unaware that we were violating the law, we would soon be informed by the denizens of the bar, “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Doesn’t such a legal determination mean that as citizens of any given state, we are expected to live our lives in a lawful manner? Doesn’t that mean we are required not only to know the laws by which we are expected to live, we are also to understand the definitions and consequences of violating those laws? There is, of course, a constitutional requirement that all laws be written in a manner such that there can be no tenuous argument as to their meaning.

            Second, while I personally have nothing against the gay and/or lesbian communities, I don’t believe that a disease such as A.I.D.S., or those who suffer from the affliction, should receive “protected status.” Life in general is not easy, and I don’t believe theirs should be different than ours. After all, can my readers name any other disease that carries such potentially deadly consequences, any disease known among man or beast that its carriers are protected from public scrutiny? If the homosexual community expects to receive the same benefits of a heterosexual couple, should the health status/consequences of the homosexual’s relationships be concealed? I don’t think so! Many in the homosexual community vociferously claim theirs are “healthy relationships,” they should be able to enjoy all of the benefits, including adoption of children, and should be accepted by one and all. If that’s the case, why do they insist their health conditions receive “special consideration?” Or, is it because the societal stigma inherent in A.I.D.S. has such high impact among the public’s acceptance of homosexual politicians, judges and/or bureaucrats? If my readers had tuberculosis, would they be allowed to freely mingle among the rest of the population? After all, shouldn’t those with tuberculosis have the same rights as the homosexual community to spread their disease among the general population, unfettered by quarantines and such?

            Third, I’m not a bigot, but this nonsense about a person being of Afro-American, Mexican-American, Chinese-American, Muslim-American heritage, ad nauseam, has worn out its novelty with me. I don’t mean to offend anyone by not listing his or her particular hyphenated nationality; I’ll give them .35 cents so they can call someone who cares. For the record, my ancestors also migrated to this country; I carry Native American blood in my veins, several European nationalities, and I’ve had numerous transfusions during my life; so only God knows what bloods course through my veins. But as an American citizen, it offends me when people feel that “just being an American” isn’t good enough. For those who want to thumb their nose at the terrorists of the world, show your pride and rejoice in being an AMERICAN. For those who truly believe their foreign lineage is due special consideration, I’ll wager there is any number of people who would gladly arrange one-way passage for you to your ancestral grounds.

            Fourth, I also find the political correct phraseology the “Black-Caucus,” “Mexican-Caucus,” “Asian-Caucus,” “People of Color-Caucus,” etc., offensive. Those we elect to office are supposed to be doing all within their power to unify us as a people, not promote class or ethnic differences that create a chasm between various races. I venture to say if there were such a thing as the “Caucasian” or “White-Caucus,” there would be pure hell to pay because “white folks were being insensitive” to people of color.

            Fifth, I do not believe in holding dominion over my fellow man, but I also refuse to allow others to exercise dominion over me. I do not follow political agendas, nor do I follow the dictates of any particular political party, I carefully tread the path in the middle of the road.

            Sixth, I detest, no, I abhor the politically correct ging-o-ism word game so politically and socially popular among the “civilized” members of society. Ours is not a democracy or a representative democracy as those who would re-write history would have us believe. Anyone who remembers our history, anyone who has recited the Pledge of Allegiance, or read the Constitution can tell you, ours is a REPUBLIC.

            There are those who maintain different opinion than mine, and they are welcome to do so. On the other hand, I’m sure there are those who agree with my views, but haven’t the courage to publicly state their belief’s. They too are entitled to remain cloistered in whatever closet they choose to occupy. But, as you can see, I am politically incorrect, I fully enjoy being that way and I intend to remain as such. And those, my friends, are the reasons I do not consider myself a viable political candidate.

            Knowledge is the key that unlocks the shackles of bondage.