Basically, I’m not against being PC. It can be taken to extremes at times but basically it just means being reasonably polite and not a hateful, bigoted dickhead.
But, it does mean constantly walking a tightrope. I’m half Jewish myself but have often been accused of being anti-semitic (which, despite the words etymology, means anti-Jewish. When people want to say anti-islamic or anti-arabic, they say so) because I’m not a fan of Israeli militarism.
It’s not mockery. It’s an homage.
Some people can make a joke about a race’s food preferences, manner of speaking or way of dressing and everybody will laugh. Others will make the same joke and people will holler.
I certainly haven’t figured out the golden formula. I think, though, that it should have to do with intent. If you say something offensive about somebody’s race, gender or sexual orientation, but meant it as a joke, it should be forgiven. And, there are ways of knowing if it was meant as a joke. Like, does it make sense as a joke? Was it said with a smile? Also, does the person making the joke have a history of hatred for the group he/or she is slandering?
There were two examples in the news today, which we can compare and contrast. First, Antonin Scalia. He is a Supreme Court justice, in theory at least one of America’s leading legal lights, someone who was appointed for life and whose decision is final. He said today, and these were his exact words “If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?”
And he wasn’t even joking. Maybe this isn’t the best example of that thin line between where we should take offense and where not, because this is clearly well inside offensive territory and the only question left is “should Antonin Scalia still be allowed to sit on the Supreme Court or should he be declared mentally incompetent and put into some kind of a home for crazy old ex-Supreme Court justices?”
In the other example, I come down on the opposite side. When Caroline Wozniacki strutted onto the tennis court the other day with extreme padded bra and backside, in an imitation of Serena Williams, it was obviously a joke. Also, it was kind of funny. The crowd appreciated it. Some people on twitter, though, and apparently the Black Voices section of the Huffington Post, think it was racist. (on the part of HP, probably just trying to scrape up any old story)
Sure, black women are known for having big butts and big breasts, and Serena Williams is black, but what’s more important, Serena Williams has big breasts and a big butt. These are good things. These are also the points you would emphasize in a Serena Williams impersonation.
People need to lighten up.
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