Equality and Understanding

Right, it has been brought to my attention that a few elements of my conversation and dialogue, on and off the internet, are apparently slightly politically correct. The seems stupid, since I'm so far from being politically incorrect that if I made my own country, I would immediately create a racist term to use in reference to the people who lived there. Therefore I am probably the least politically correct person alive.

Jokes are insincere comments made to entertain. They are only intended to make political statements if made in a situation which lends itself to political argument. Sometimes words like "White", "Black" and "Yellow" are just colour choices. Men and women are just gender labels. Equality is more present now than ever before. If you have beef with something, I'm a vegetarian - I mean to say I want no part of your issues. I, personally, cannot change the world and it is unlikely I will be able to do so in the near future or at your convenience. Repeating to me that women are paid less, or that society is racist, or whatever, is not going to achieve much besides the passage of sarcasm from my lips pertaining to your choice of audience.

I personally do not seriously judge people on inherited traits or appearance. I joke about it doing so a lot however.

I would just like to clarify certain instances of this non-pc attitude. When I use a derisive discrimination term, it is either in jest or because I hate whoever I am aiming it at. Usually the former, but on occasion the latter causes my obtuseness.

The use of the term 'midget' in a previous post was intended as an insult. I do not like the short person in question. My best friend at home, and one of my new friends here, are both 'vertically challenged' or whatever the term is and I have no problem with them. Quite the contrary, I enjoy spending time with them immensely. I do not insult them because short people because they are short, I insult them because I do not like them.

Similarly my room mate is Chinese. Guess what he gets called in jest? He copes. People need to loosen up. Yes, I make black jokes too. Black people are not stupid or inferior. That's just insane. However, it is funny when someone pretends to be racist as a joke. I'm sure you've all borne witness to something along these lines. If you haven't tell me where you live and I'll come entertain you for awhile.

I'm sure I'll get a tirade of criticism from people who think the phrase "racism can be funny" is sinful and I deserve banishment to the further reaches of hell, but let's face it everyone has made a comment like that at some stage. "White boy", "Snow", "Jesus-Freak", "Infidel", "Heathen" and "French" can all be used, and have been used, in a derisive manner, which means that its discrimination (racist). To be honest, I'm not offended when people call me a white British upper-class bastard, because I AM white, I AM British, I am certain I was, in fact, born within wedlock and while I'm not upper-class its hardly an insult really.

Just because someone calls you "Black" or "Muslim" doesn't mean they're being racist; even if they're wrong how are they supposed to know that you're Afro-Caribbean or Tanzanian or what religion you come from? And you certainly shouldn't get offended if they call you black and you are. I mean, that just sounds like you're the one with discriminatory views, right?

Stereotyping is not exactly right or polite, but everyone does it and its kind of accepted by most people. However, for some reason certain stereotypes have become known as "racist". Why is racist to insult some one because they're black, but it's fine to insult someone because they're white? Don't talk about slavery. Just don't; white people are living with that stigma now more than black people. I personally never held slaves, nor have been involved in their trade, and so I don't know why I should suffer derision for something someone else did. Go spit on THEIR grave, insult THEIR mother. Hell, I don't think my family ever had slaves so I can hardly be held responsible even by proxy.

Equality and understanding isn't the absence of terminology, its the acceptance. We can't make it illegal to say certain words, because that countermands our right of free speech. Learn to deal with history, because it's already happened and we can't change it. If I call someone a stupid Indian and they are Indian then the only insult there is that they are stupid.

Alternatively if someone calls me a racist white chauvinist pig, then the only insult there is that I'm a pig. Still, it could have been worse; they could have called me a woman.