Rettman: Political correctness … and then some – Opinion … – MetroWest Daily News

By Bonita L. Rettman/Guest Columnist

As I try to fit more pieces in the puzzle that has become our new administration, Ive been thinking a lot about the recent campaigns, in particular, the themes that defined rallies.

Im struck by how frequently the Trump base attacked political correctness as a barrier to their vulgar, anti-social behavior and a curb on their right to speak their minds without having to consider sensibilities of others, especially the disadvantaged.Its nothing more than being told yet again that theres a proper way of going about things and theyre not doing it. And those doing the finger pointing are - who else? - Northeastern nabobs, the ones with the big degrees and even bigger vocabularies.

With the my country first crowd, any call for decency and sensitivity is an affront, another attempt to muzzle their god-given right to call things as they see them. Political correctness, to them, is a liberal know-it-alls strategy to shut them up.

But they have it wrong. Theyve made political correctness all about themselves. We know it is anything but.

Political correctness hasnt come about because one group - typically more educated and more culturally aware - is embarrassed by those using bad language in public discourse. Its not another way of saying conversational manners need shoring up. It is a recognition, an acknowledgment that certain groups - typically people of color - have been wronged in their interactions with the dominant society.

This recognition puts into place a language that elevates rather than denigrates. And this language is determined by those whom it defines. So, in the case of people with African roots, for example, black and African-American are the preferred identity labels, self-chosen to replace the descriptives born of their slave history. Where once they were The Colored and Negroes, they are now, by their choosing, black and African-American.

To define oneself empowers. It puts those who would oppress or subjugate on notice that This is who I am, not who you say I am.

As a woman I dont wish to be called Gal or Girl, Lady or Little Lady. Ill throw The Missus in there, too. Each of these reflects an era when I, as a woman, would have been little more than an adjunct to men, whether brother, father or husband.

These are not innocuous words; they come with baggage anchored in attitudes of debasement, ownership, inferior social and economic status - much of it legitimized by law. They say, Im weak and dependent. I know Im worth less than you. Im not talking about boorishness. You can call me Bitch and Ill hear a lapse of good manners. Call me Girl in my workplace, however, and I lose power as you devalue my authority.

Its no wonder that so many women took immediately to Ms. Like Mr., it tells the world nothing about social position. Is Ms. Jones single, married? Guess what? Its none of your business unless Ms. Jones wants it to be. Attitude!

I used Ms. for a brief time, during which I was aware that it caused discomfort in some. Once, after filling out a required form for my school system, my Ms. elicited a repeat of You need to clarify this for our records, but I had only two choices, Miss or Mrs. For the records, I told the secretary, I was neither. The interaction caused tension and quieted the office chatter. I left the office Ms. Rettman, the same way I entered. Attitude, indeed!

What harm does it do to honor someones chosen identity? How does a Native Americans demand that he not be called a Redskin or an Indian compromise the workings of society? The Stock Market doesnt free fall. Real Estate isnt devalued. Families dont break up. And we certainly dont face an existential threat because of it.

The only negative the self-naming seems to have we saw is in the behavior of the Take back our country set who interpret it as a power grab by people whove forgotten their place.

Generally operating with scant knowledge of history, theyre stuck, incapable of seeing, let alone accepting, that societies develop as we read and reflect, travel and celebrate common humanity. We become more enlightened, as new attitudes inform better policies and more humane interaction, creating a better community for everyone. In short, we become more civilized.

Political correctness isnt a pejorative. Its an acknowledgment that we can be better than our history has shown us to be.

Bonita L. Rettman lives in Sudbury.

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Rettman: Political correctness ... and then some - Opinion ... - MetroWest Daily News