what's wrong with being pc?

[LBernier at tribune.com]

Bonnie has taken me to task once again.  I would point out, though, that
I said "there are those . . ." not "I"

And yes, I do understand that the issue is complex, I was simply trying to
put the surface arguments against PC-ism into a nutshell.  Not even my 
closest friends would call me PC, however. 

Now, that said, I personally grew up with broad exposure and participation
in ethnic cultures - Cuban, Black (of the southern variety) and Quebecois, 
to name the three nearest and dearest.  They have enriched my lives in many 
ways.   I would not suggest that those cultures should in any way completely 
assimilate themselves into white English society, but, if one refuses to 
participate at ALL in the dominant culture, then one can indeed be 
marginalized.

If the dominant culture is oppressive, as the American is, as
English-Canadian was, then it can be problematic for one to buy into
that culture.  Ideally, slow change will bring both sides to some middle
ground, and a new, synthesized culture may emerge.  One thing is clear:  
neither side profits from the intolerance and "all or nothing" 
attitudes on both sides that characterize current racial debate. And 
there's still that walking on eggshells problem - I was once taken to task
by a white woman in our office because I told a black co-worker, who
had just come back from Jamaica, that her tan looked great.  (Because it 
did!)  The white woman did not realize that black people tan, just LIKE 
WE DO!  

The real problem is that the multi-culturalism vs. melting pot debate is 
represented very simplistically by the media (the "those" of my initial post.)  
Which then allows some whites who don't delve any deeper into the issues, 
and who also lead insular lives, to simply dismiss the whole thing 
out-of-hand as minority ingratitude.  The Harper's article is a good example
of this type of flippant journalism.

humble Jean.

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: what's wrong with being pc?
Author:  <Kyburz at ASU.Edu> at Internet_tco
Date:    10/30/96 11:18 AM


Far too simplistic a reading of multiculturalism, which suggests not 
simply *lip service* and, simply, assuming the moniker, only, of "color 
blind," but seeks to explore and problematize the sources or 
racism,sexism, whatever, the assumptions that guide it vs. our lived 
experiences.  It is contextualized, problematic.  Much  more complex.  
And there's a hell of a lot more written on it that one 
article in Harper's.  See Trimbur & Bullock's THE POLITICS OF WRITING 
INSTRUCTION: POSTSECONDARY, or Henry Giroux (anything) or bell hooks.  
Lisa Delprit has a wonderful piece on the desires of marginalized groups 
to learn *skills* that will get them jobs, as opposed to exploring 
diversity, which will help them to think--and, by extension, hopefully, 
to lead productive lives within contexts that would have them view those 
lives uncritically.
     
So many teachers I know are willing to refer to mc as pc, avoiding the 
real dynamic exchanges that take place when mc is conceived of as highly 
complex and worthy of investigation both as heuristic and as critical 
thinking -- even as the lesson itself.
     
as for not allowing minority groups to "participate in a power 
structure," they have to understand their positions vis-a-vis power 
structures in order to get some.  This calls for examining minority lives 
in real context, often ugly, not "pc."  
     
and money?  I won't go there, given this forum, but I will add that the 
"incorporation" argument is a bit reductive, as well.
     
Jean, I usually like what you have to say and recognize that you may 
simply be attempting to characterize the debates.  I simply can't take 
these reductions lightly anymore, and so am resonding, similarly, to a 
larger, global set of concerns.
     
     
Forgive me, but the retrogressive epistemologies of old keep wafting back 
into vogue.
     
Bonnie L. Kyburz (sig below)
     
     
     
On Wed, 30 Oct 1996 LBernier at tribune.com wrote:
     
>      Diana, there are those who claim that PC-ness, as defined by those who 
>      would treat ethnic groups with kid gloves (i.e., always using the 
>      nom-du-maintenant when referring to said ethnic group, "sympathising" 
>      with their plight, etc.) is condescending, priggish, and generally 
>      racist, but oh so subtle.  The idea being that, in a perfect world, 
>      you plain wouldn't notice any difference, but would treat everyone the 
>      same, black, white, purple, whateber.  
>      
>      There is also the idea that multi-culturalism can be used to isolate 
>      and marginalize groups, by relegating them to some minority slot, and 
>      not allowing them to participate fully in the power structure.  There 
>      was an interesting article in Harper's a couple of years ago that 
>      pointed out the corporate cash-in aspect of multiculturalism as well.  
>      Sorry, I don't remember the issue.
>      
>      Jean.
>      
>      
>      
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator 
________________________________ _
> Subject: Re: what's wrong with being pc?
> Author:  Diana York Blaine <dyb0001 at jove.acs.unt.edu> at Internet_tco 
> Date:    10/30/96 8:46 AM
> 
> 
> um, ted, did I miss something?  "Lady" bosses who are stupid?  I was 
> asking about political correctness and how it's ethnocentric.  Since we 
> are in America and I believed in the pap about equality, I am just 
> surprised that so many people take umbrage anytime some marginalized group 
> points out that it aint coming their way.  Sorry for your troubles!  Diana 
>      
> 
     
Bonnie L. Kyburz, Instructor
Department of English			(602) 965-7756 (office) 
Arizona State University		kyburz at asu.edu
Tempe, AZ  85287-0302			*or* surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu