Is it just me or has the whole world gone too far with political correctness? Seriously come on!
I am taking a stand right now. I will no longer allow society to dictate to me which words can be used at which time; which jokes can be told when; and what T-shirt I can wear to what function. I will however, continue to use common-sense and go out of my way to not be rude or hurtful.
This is a list of the top 5 words I am taking back! Who decided we can't use these words? I will probably add more as I think of them. I would love to hear suggestions. Remember, I don't want to be rude or hurtful, just realistic. I think if we take back these words they can no longer be hurtful to anyone.
1. Gay - homosexuals can't have it all to themselves! In a time when being homosexual is becoming much more accepted and common, the word gay should go back to it's original meaning and use. When I was growing up, gay simply meant different, strange, and generally not the norm. ie. "man that Warrant song is so gay!" On this note I also declare that we are taking back the colour purple. It is a good colour that everyone can look good in. Sorry to everyone who is homosexual, you can have pink and the rainbow but purple is for everyone again.
2. Retard (or retarded) - come on..this word simply means to slow something down...look it up. It should not be offensive and I can't imagine anyone is still using it as a put down to someone who is of lower IQ or suffers from a mental illness. I will no longer feel bad if I say to someone, "geez, stop being so retarded...". It is not offensive.
3. Handicap - this word has been used for decades to refer to someone at a disadvantage, ie. in golf or bowling. I can't see how this term could offend someone with a disability. Is someone in a wheel chair not at a disadvantage? Have you ever tried being in a wheel chair? Trust me, it's not easy and you ARE at a disadvantage. Don't like it? Sorry it's just the truth.
4. Midget - ok this one certainly is targeted at certain individuals but can you seriously tell me that it is less offensive to be called "little people" than midgets? Please! I would hate to be called a little person, it sounds like "less of a person" which we all know isn't true.
5. Bum - how the hell did this word come to mean homeless person? My bum is my ass, it's what I sit on. I will not feel bad for using the word bum. When I mean homeless I will say homeless, when I mean bum I will say bum, ass, butt or arse.
While on the topic here are a few other things I think we need to stop.
No scent policy - ok I understand allergies, and I respect that perfumes are a real problem to certain people but we can't have the whole world go unscented. You must admit that you would rather have a sneeze attack or a headache from that nice smelling deodorant than have to sit next to that smelly, sweaty guy on the bus.
Peanut butter - it's good. When we were kids every single person in the school took peanut butter sandwiches at least once a week. Now it is banned from the school entirely? If being in the vicinity of peanuts may kill you, you have some serious worries my friend because they are everywhere in the real world. You may as well learn to deal with them while you're young, perhaps carry an epi-pen if you are deathly allergic. This ban makes as much sense as banning wasps or bumble-bees from the playground. It's just not practical and out in the real world it's impossible to enforce.
OK, well I have ranted enough for this post. I am sure others have suggestions and I am sure I will blog about this again.
Bottom line: I think we have gone too far! It's high time we stop being so damn sensitive! If I say something that can be taken one of two ways, assume that I don't mean to offend or hurt! It's common-sense really. In the words of my childhood friend's father, "stop being such a pansy!".