Bordering on the Ridiculous

Being Politically Correct means always having to say you're sorry.
~Charles Osgood~

Oh Lord, isn't that quote the absolute truth? Isn't it getting a little tiresome trying to remember what terms or labels (which I hate, by the way) we can use without offending someone? Even more than that, is it even possible to never offend somebody? How does one keep up with all the terms that are considered 'politically INcorrect'?

One of the most offensive politically correct terms I've heard recently is "undocumented citizen".  This is how we are now supposed to refer to those people who have entered our country illegally.  I call BULL DINKY on that.  I believe that one should call a spade a spade - but, again, that's a politically incorrect term as well.  Besides, in this particular case, being 'pc' disrespects our laws that non-citizens enter our county legally by following certain procedures.  If we're going to ignore that, then why do we need to keep the laws in effect or protect our borders?

Now don't get me wrong - there are plenty of terms that ARE offensive and should not be used.  Personally, I try very hard to never offend anyone but it's not always possible.  I remember going shopping years ago and was approached by a young lady asking for donations for her church.  I asked her what church she belonged to and she answered that she belonged to the Unification Church.  I said "you mean, like the Moonies?"  Oh boy did I get a lecture!  I didn't know it was an offensive term - and, frankly didn't really care at the time.

While the "n" word is derogatory - no question! - it's politically incorrect to use the term 'black".  Personally, I think it's a bit presumptuous to assume that all people of that ethnicity originated in Africa.  But then, isn't that exactly what political correctness is - a presumption?  We presume or assume that everyone in a particular group feels the same way about the same thing.  Sometimes, all it takes is one voice to change a term from acceptable to not acceptable - even if that one voice is the only one out of thousands.

Isn't the most important thing how we see ourselves and not what someone else calls us? My wonderful mother-in-law was the daughter of Italian immigrants.  She didn't care that some people called her a 'dago'.  She cared that she was treated fairly and respected - and, believe me - she was.

My whole point is that we should be as non-offensive as we can be without being paranoid.  We need to use common sense and good judgment.  Should we really be more concerned with terminology than with how we are treated?  I would rather be called munchkin by someone who respects me as a person than to be called short by someone who doesn't.  By the way - I may be a short person, but my family and friends make me feel ten feet tall.  Isn't that just the best!