Comments on: L.A. Times Blogger: It Sure Was Racist to Use That Phrase That First Appeared in Our Newspaper http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/ Harangues that just make sense Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:35:15 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: icr http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442448 icr Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:15:42 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442448 The whole story about the toxic CD was yet another predictable, tedious case of PC hysteria. Apparently yes- <i>To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle.</i>-George Orwell http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njk3MjAyZjg2ODU1MzlhZjY1YWIyODBmYWE4N2M1NWI=&w=MQ== (...) <i>A musician friend of mine who grew up in a Communist country wrote,</i> <blockquote>For me, it is perhaps even worse, because it brings back all the stench of Communist propaganda, which filled my early years. Now the same thing is creeping into everyday American life. Sick, sick, sick. </blockquote> (...) Mark Steyn: http://www.christ.com/loh-news-politicsopinion-p2.shtml <blockquote>Jay's round-up of politicized conductors, Boston Pops narrators, etc, tossing in dreary reflex Bush-bashing even in the middle of "Peter And The Wolf" should really be read in concert with Andrew Breitbart's plans for his new Hollywood website. They both address the same phenomenon: Liberalism is the default mode of the culture - to the point where the left-of-center position is so pervasive it's no longer a position at all, but rather something uncontentious, received wisdom, part of the air we breathe. In several of the examples Jay cites, I'll bet the musicians involved would be stunned to find that there was anyone in the room who would find the message remotely disagreeable. </blockquote> Paul Gottfried: http://www.lewrockwell.com/gottfried/gottfried35.html (...) <i> I refuse to treat political correctness as an academic eccentricity and present it instead as a tool of managerial control. Universities are not the only context in which pc and its accompanying mantra about diversity have taken over. Churches, corporations, and the media push the same partylines, but without government interventions we would not be worrying about the legal consequences of not paying sufficient respect to state-designated victims. This fact is so obvious that one has to speculate on the reasons it is ignored – particularly on what today passes for the Right</i> (...) The whole story about the toxic CD was yet another predictable, tedious case of PC hysteria.

Apparently yes-
To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.-George Orwell

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njk3MjAyZjg2ODU1MzlhZjY1YWIyODBmYWE4N2M1NWI=&w=MQ==
(…)
A musician friend of mine who grew up in a Communist country wrote,

For me, it is perhaps even worse, because it brings back all the stench of Communist propaganda, which filled my early years. Now the same thing is creeping into everyday American life. Sick, sick, sick.

(…)

Mark Steyn:
http://www.christ.com/loh-news-politicsopinion-p2.shtml

Jay’s round-up of politicized conductors, Boston Pops narrators, etc, tossing in dreary reflex Bush-bashing even in the middle of “Peter And The Wolf” should really be read in concert with Andrew Breitbart’s plans for his new Hollywood website. They both address the same phenomenon: Liberalism is the default mode of the culture – to the point where the left-of-center position is so pervasive it’s no longer a position at all, but rather something uncontentious, received wisdom, part of the air we breathe. In several of the examples Jay cites, I’ll bet the musicians involved would be stunned to find that there was anyone in the room who would find the message remotely disagreeable.

Paul Gottfried:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/gottfried/gottfried35.html
(…)
I refuse to treat political correctness as an academic eccentricity and present it instead as a tool of managerial control. Universities are not the only context in which pc and its accompanying mantra about diversity have taken over. Churches, corporations, and the media push the same partylines, but without government interventions we would not be worrying about the legal consequences of not paying sufficient respect to state-designated victims. This fact is so obvious that one has to speculate on the reasons it is ignored – particularly on what today passes for the Right
(…)

]]> By: David Ehrenstein http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442095 David Ehrenstein Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:51:43 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442095 Patterico, I have enormous respect for your legal know-how. The main reason I visit this site is to see what you're up to on that front. That's because you never let you political opinions get in the way of your legal acumen. This was obvious in the Irving Libby case -- to the distress of many of your readers. We can talk about what "good reason" you have to moderate my comments from here to the moon. But in the particular instance of this thread, as its my own writing that's at issue, the ones who are chiefly suffering are your readers, as they're apparently getting my responses days after they were originally posted. Putting that to one side I must say this has been quite lively - though I'm not sure as to how "Political Correctness" figures into this. Am I "PC" or "Un-PC"? It all depends on whose ox is being bored I suppose. Patterico, I have enormous respect for your legal know-how. The main reason I visit this site is to see what you’re up to on that front. That’s because you never let you political opinions get in the way of your legal acumen. This was obvious in the Irving Libby case — to the distress of many of your readers.

We can talk about what “good reason” you have to moderate my comments from here to the moon. But in the particular instance of this thread, as its my own writing that’s at issue, the ones who are chiefly suffering are your readers, as they’re apparently getting my responses days after they were originally posted.

Putting that to one side I must say this has been quite lively – though I’m not sure as to how “Political Correctness” figures into this. Am I “PC” or “Un-PC”? It all depends on whose ox is being bored I suppose.

]]> By: Patterico http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442078 Patterico Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:16:16 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442078 Orwellian or not, David, you're in moderation for good reason, and it was your own doing. I don't believe I have failed to approve a single comment of yours in this thread, even though it takes time for me to get to the comments (and I won't be able to approve any more until tonight). I understand the frustration but it's not my fault. Orwellian or not, David, you’re in moderation for good reason, and it was your own doing. I don’t believe I have failed to approve a single comment of yours in this thread, even though it takes time for me to get to the comments (and I won’t be able to approve any more until tonight). I understand the frustration but it’s not my fault.

]]> By: nk http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442074 nk Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:11:34 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442074 Patterico, I wonder if I could impose on you to take David off moderation so he can freely participate in this thread, at least for as long as this thread continues to interest people. Maybe he does want to defend his article and distinguish it from the song. Patterico,

I wonder if I could impose on you to take David off moderation so he can freely participate in this thread, at least for as long as this thread continues to interest people. Maybe he does want to defend his article and distinguish it from the song.

]]> By: John Hitchcock http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442042 John Hitchcock Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:40:45 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442042 The connection between political correctness and socialism/communism/marxism, while profound and obvious to the thoughtful and informed, is not necessarily intentional by the majority of the politically correct. The connection is not even necessarily intentional by a large portion of the power brokers and academics who espouse political correctness. I suggest the vast majority of people who espouse politically correct ideologies are doing so out of blindness, whether willfully or no. Among the set of "unwashed masses," of which I am a member, there resides a subset of "blind unwashed masses," of which I am not a member. And among the set of "blind unwashed masses," there are two distinct subsets: The willfully blind and the unknowingly blind. I suggest those who use the intentional betrayal of truth in effort to advance PC thought and speech are not the most dangerous enemies of free thought. It is the "blind unwashed masses" that is the most dangerous subset. As a corollary to my suggestion, the "ivory tower" set with all the corresponding subsets, while extremely dangerous, is not the most dangerous set in regards to shutting down free thought. The connection between political correctness and socialism/communism/marxism, while profound and obvious to the thoughtful and informed, is not necessarily intentional by the majority of the politically correct. The connection is not even necessarily intentional by a large portion of the power brokers and academics who espouse political correctness.

I suggest the vast majority of people who espouse politically correct ideologies are doing so out of blindness, whether willfully or no. Among the set of “unwashed masses,” of which I am a member, there resides a subset of “blind unwashed masses,” of which I am not a member. And among the set of “blind unwashed masses,” there are two distinct subsets: The willfully blind and the unknowingly blind.

I suggest those who use the intentional betrayal of truth in effort to advance PC thought and speech are not the most dangerous enemies of free thought. It is the “blind unwashed masses” that is the most dangerous subset. As a corollary to my suggestion, the “ivory tower” set with all the corresponding subsets, while extremely dangerous, is not the most dangerous set in regards to shutting down free thought.

]]> By: David Ehrenstein http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442034 David Ehrenstein Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:58:17 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442034 To be moderated in the discussions that go on in here (only a select few of which interest me) is one thing. After all I'm an <i>Unrepentent Liberal</i> in a Conservative playpen. But to moderated in a discussion of one's own writing is positively (dare I say it?) <b>Orwellian.</b> To be moderated in the discussions that go on in here (only a select few of which interest me) is one thing. After all I’m an Unrepentent Liberal in a Conservative playpen. But to moderated in a discussion of one’s own writing is positively (dare I say it?) Orwellian.

]]> By: icr http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-442033 icr Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:51:25 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-442033 AS should be obvious, the main problem is Orwellian thought control. A couple of quotes to help make it clear to the willfully blind: http://antimisandry.com/harrys-corner/peter-hitchens-political-correctness-409.html <i>Please can we stop using the stupid expression "political correctness gone mad" . First, political correctness is a stern, fierce movement which is completely sane and sets out deliberately to stop us from saying - and thinking - various things. It is not a joke, nor is it out of control. It is deliberate, purposeful and serious. Those who enforce it plan to change the world and they will succeed for as long as we treat PC as a laugh, or as some sort of batty bureaucratic mix-up which will go away in the end. </i> (...) http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/3544.html <i><blockquote>Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to.</i> AS should be obvious, the main problem is Orwellian thought control. A couple of quotes to help make it clear to the willfully blind:
http://antimisandry.com/harrys-corner/peter-hitchens-political-correctness-409.html
Please can we stop using the stupid expression “political correctness gone mad” . First, political correctness is a stern, fierce movement which is completely sane and sets out deliberately to stop us from saying – and thinking – various things. It is not a joke, nor is it out of control. It is deliberate, purposeful and serious. Those who enforce it plan to change the world and they will succeed for as long as we treat PC
as a laugh, or as some sort of batty bureaucratic mix-up which will go away in the end.

(…)
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/3544.html

Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to.

]]> By: DRJ http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-441984 DRJ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:14:44 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-441984 Karl, Eric is right. David E is still in moderation and I'm certain some of his comments are there now. I approve them on occasion but usually I leave them for Patterico. Karl,

Eric is right. David E is still in moderation and I’m certain some of his comments are there now. I approve them on occasion but usually I leave them for Patterico.

]]> By: reff http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-441979 reff Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:37:46 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-441979 Full disclosure (with apologies to JD) I'm a racist...must be because I can't see what NK is saying... NK, care to go deeper so as to help me understand...I just went back and listened carefully to the words to the PARODY, and read David's (to me) extremely racist screed about how I must see a black man like Obama.... And, I don't see them that way.... So, I must be a racist and I am soliticing help here from the bloggers to find a solution to my white guilt.... (or, I'm just trying to stir some crap here...) Full disclosure (with apologies to JD)

I’m a racist…must be because I can’t see what NK is saying…

NK, care to go deeper so as to help me understand…I just went back and listened carefully to the words to the PARODY, and read David’s (to me) extremely racist screed about how I must see a black man like Obama….

And, I don’t see them that way….

So, I must be a racist and I am soliticing help here from the bloggers to find a solution to my white guilt….

(or, I’m just trying to stir some crap here…)

]]> By: Alta Bob http://patterico.com/2009/01/03/la-times-blogger-it-sure-was-racist-to-use-that-phrase-that-first-appeared-in-our-newspaper/comment-page-2/#comment-441977 Alta Bob Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:10:33 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=20594#comment-441977 Sock puppet anyone? Sock puppet anyone?

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