, Columnist
The Successes and Excesses of Political Correctness
The debate over the term and its meaning is coming back. It also never really went away.
Stomping on principle.
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Political correctness seems to be at the center of more debates lately, if not explicitly then implicitly. So it’s worthwhile to revisit the historical roots of the P.C. debate, to try to see where this latest version might be headed.
First, as to the definition: People differ on what the term means, but I view political correctness as a complex bundle of beliefs and practices, ranging from simple politeness and consideration to censorship and also vilification of those with different opinions. Often it is an attempt to police discourse so as to avoid any possible offense.