What are the Differences Between McCarthyism and Political Correctness?

[lawrocket 3]

Because I don't see much difference.

See, anybody who said anything remotely considered to be "Un-American" was deserving of ridicule and to have his or her life destroyed. They got blacklisted from Hollywood. They were the face of public scorn. And the free-exchange of ideas and thoughts was repressed for fear of the reprisals of saying something that could be interpreted at communist.

You even had the Cincinatti Reds change their name to the "Redlegs" and remove "Reds" from their uniform because of the association with Communism.

And the movement had supporters. PLENTY of supporters. Even the ACLU ejected one of its founders because she was a member of the Communist Party, which they said was proof she wasn't a civil libertarian.

Today, a person faces ruination for mentioning certain things. Today, Bill O'Reilly is facing charges of racism because he had the audacity to point out that a restaurant is a restaurant, whether it is in Queens or Mahattan.

You've got Imus getting ruined for the mention of "nappy headed hos."

You've got the president of Harvard, who resigned amid votes of lack of confidence by the faculty because he had the audacity to point out that there may be innate differences between men and women that are not affected by socialization.

You've even got athletic teams and mascots who are being required to change their names because of perceived issues with the names.

Why have we not learned about this stuff?

p.s. - it comes from the right with the "terrorists", too.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[billvon 3,132]

>Bill O'Reilly is facing charges of racism because he had the
>audacity to point out that a restaurant is a restaurant, whether it is in
>Queens or Mahattan.

Well:

a) he's not charged with anything and

b) the thing people are objecting to is that he expressed surprise that it was just like a regular restaurant "even though it's run by blacks." It's akin to saying "you know, that CEO is plenty smart even though she's a woman."

Now, I don't think he's "guilty" of doing anything more than saying something without thinking about it. An appropriate way to handle such a mistake would be a statement like "I misspoke; it came out wrong and I really meant xxx. Sorry." But it is of course becoming a big huge stinkin deal because he's the kind of person who will never say that, and is defending his statements. Which means people are looking them up and wondering what he meant.

And O'Reilly himself is launching blistering attacks against people who report on it, thus propagating the controversy. It's a good way to keep himself in the spotlight, which is important for entertainers.

But it is indeed another example of a tempest in a teapot.

>You've got Imus getting ruined for the mention of "nappy headed hos."

Another screw-up. Less of one in my book because he admitted he said something stupid and apologized for it.

>You've even got athletic teams and mascots who are being required to
>change their names because of perceived issues with the names.

That's dumb IF that's the only reason. OTOH, if a school body votes to change the name of its team or mascot for any reason at all, I'd say that's more 'democracy in action' than PC-ness.

PC-ness does indeed get out of hand sometimes. But I don't think the Imus and O'Reilly things are good examples of that. They intentionally try to say controversial things; getting people offended to just the right degree is part of their job. I can't lose much sleep over the issue when they discover they've gone over the line.

In addition, I think there's a difference between the government taking action against people (as happened during McCarthyism) and people/the media dissing someone (as is happening with those two radio personalities.) One is wrong; the other is the result of an open media.

[jakee 1,611]

How many people have ever had to appear before a House committee on Political Correctness?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[kallend 2,183]

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How many people have ever had to appear before a House committee on Political Correctness?

I often wonder what a Parliamentary Committee on Un-English activites would investigate. Not using the correct fork for the fish course? Shooting grouse out-of-season?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[DZJ 0]

^^^ Hits the nail on the head.

[DZJ 0]

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How many people have ever had to appear before a House committee on Political Correctness?

I often wonder what a Parliamentary Committee on Un-English activites would investigate. Not using the correct fork for the fish course? Shooting grouse out-of-season?

We wouldn't waste Parliamentary time on such outrages - off to the Tower with them!

[NCclimber 0]

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>You've got Imus getting ruined for the mention of "nappy headed hos."

Another screw-up. Less of one in my book because he admitted he said something stupid and apologized for it.

He got fired from a job he'd had for nearly 30 years, for a single gaffe, that he did just about all he could to apologize for.
It's about the reaction, by both the race baiters and his employer, in response to his action. Seems pretty extreme to me.

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>You've even got athletic teams and mascots who are being required to change their names because of perceived issues with the names.

That's dumb IF that's the only reason. OTOH, if a school body votes to change the name of its team or mascot for any reason at all, I'd say that's more 'democracy in action' than PC-ness.

You think students, who might be there for four years, should be able to do away with the "Nittany Lions" or the "Fighting Irish"?

But that's not really the point. It's about the NCAA, bowing to splinter Native American special interests and forcing colleges to get rid of mascots with a Native American theme. THe NCAA is labelling teams that don't comply as racially, culturally and ethically "hostile" or "abusive" and it's banning them from post season play. The policy has been comply now, then sue us to reclaim the right for your mascot.

[billvon 3,132]

>Seems pretty extreme to me.

Yes, the response was disproportionate.

>You think students, who might be there for four years, should be able
>to do away with the "Nittany Lions" or the "Fighting Irish"?

Yes. It's their school and their team. They are the ones who pay to operate the school, they have to play on the team, and they are the ones whose school is represented.

[NCclimber 0]

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>You think students, who might be there for four years, should be able to do away with the "Nittany Lions" or the "Fighting Irish"?

Yes. It's their school and their team. They are the ones who pay to operate the school, they have to play on the team, and they are the ones whose school is represented.

So, all the alum, particularly those making frequent and/or significant contributions to the school, don't have a say?

[ryoder 1,590]

The best current example of McCarthyism is the "War on Drugs". In the McCarty era you were automatically assumed Communist unless you swore otherwise. Today you are automatically assumed a drug user if you don't pee in a cup.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[billvon 3,132]

>So, all the alum, particularly those making frequent and/or significant
>contributions to the school, don't have a say?

Well, they have as much say as someone who contributes large amounts to a senator. In other words, no direct say, but a lot of influence.

[NCclimber 0]

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>So, all the alum, particularly those making frequent and/or significant
>contributions to the school, don't have a say?

Well, they have as much say as someone who contributes large amounts to a senator. In other words, no direct say, but a lot of influence.

Of course, this is all just a sidebar issue to the NCAA strong-arming schools into doing away with mascots that may be deemed political incorrect.

Do you think that practice smacks of McCarthyism?

[billvon 3,132]

>Do you think that practice smacks of McCarthyism?

I'd say they have a lot in common with the late senator. If the government got involved it would be a lot like McCarthyism.

[lawrocket 3]

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How many people have ever had to appear before a House committee on Political Correctness?

You mean people like Clarence Thomas? Or Frank Zappa?

p.s. By "McCarthyism" I am speaking of the political or social ostracization. Not necessarily as a result of the political body, which is why I mentioned the blacklisting in Hollywood.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[kallend 2,183]

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I am speaking of the political or social ostracization. Not necessarily as a result of the political body, which is why I mentioned the blacklisting in Hollywood.

I someone behaves in a way that I find offensive, why should I be obliged to socialize with that person? Social ostracism is a far cry from government mandated behavior.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,132]

>p.s. By "McCarthyism" I am speaking of the political or social ostracization.

You mean the way we would ostracize someone like OJ Simpson, Mark Foley or a KKK leader? I don't see that as a bad thing. People make up their own minds over who to associate with (or vote for.)