Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/10

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Freedom of speech and political correctness (off topic)
From: Mikiro Mori <arbos@iname.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 15:16:11 +0100

Please allow an off-topic.

"Politically correct" is a very interesting notion.  Some critics are now
trying to ENLIGHTEN people about it in Japan.  This does not mean Japanese
people have no notions like this.  In many countries (and cultures) it seems
to be merely a part of COMMON SENSE.  For example, I and my family live in
Alsace (central Europe) as strangers and very comfortably. I do not think
the people here try to be "politically correct" to us.  They are just
friendly and kind.  I would assume the situations are differnet in the US.

The phrase "politically correct" sounds strange to me (English is a foreign
language to me).  Are there things that are politically correct but
otherwise incorrect or vice versa?  Could you (American citizens) please
enlighten me?  I understand that one can abuse it to infringe "freedom of
speech" of others.  However, no one can resist that sensible reservation or
self-control should accompany every freedom in a community.  This may apply
particularly to internet forums where posts (in some cases, soliloquies?)
can be more offensive than intended and where people with different cultural
backgrounds join together.  $0.02 ;-)

Mikiro Mori
Strasbourg, Alsace
******************
Visit my gallery at
http://members.tripod.com/arbos3/cigogne/index.html