499 - Political correctness has breached its boundaries.

There is good reason that political correctness was brought to our awareness.

The fact is, for too long we belittled others to build ourselves up and keep them down.

Most people never intended to offend or put others at a disadvantage. Ignorance was no excuse.

I know now that things I learned as a child were horribly degrading to others. As I got older and was made aware of the demeaning things we were taught, I changed.

I was horrified at how ignorant we had been.

Once you are made aware that something you say or do is offensive to others, the logical and right thing to do is apologize and change the way you speak.

For too long, we thought everyone else should accept such language as status quo. They shouldn't be so"sensitive". That is, until something was said that offended us personally.

Now, political correctness has breached its boundaries to include everything we say. People now attempt to redefine long understood quotes, idioms and other forms os speech.

Have you noticed that often when you use a famous quote, someone has to speak up to outdo the quote or set you straight on it?

People love to show how knowledgeable they are. Sometimes when they attempt to "set everyone straight", they openly display that they completely missed the point.

As an example, let's take the popular adage "fake it 'til you make it".

Originally, it had the same connotation as JUST DO IT. Get to work, stop over thinking everything.

It was simple and meant to be motivating. There was nothing negative about it.

Then came political correctness and people began to weigh in on how negative that term is. (rolling eyes) "It's not positive to fake it".

Another example, BNI. Business Networking International, the largest networking organization of its kind, has a slogan, GIVERS GAIN.

This meaning was simple. In order to get, you must first give. It's all about giving.

Somewhere along the line, Givers Gain got turned negative.

I heard one person say that the term implied that you "have" to give in BNI or you won't get referrals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! Clearly, that person had never experienced BNI.

We don't have to rewrite words of wisdom, rather we would do well to question our own thinking.

"You don't have to see the whole stair case, just take the first step" ~MLK

I heard someone comment, "Yes, but you still have to climb the whole staircase".

In each case, THEY COMPLETELY MISSED THE POINT!

Stop analyzing and tearing apart what others said. The words still have their original meaning, even if you can't grasp it or think you must improve on it.

Political correctness has been diluted and we are part of the problem.

Rather than dismiss what others say, consider first what the words were meant to convey.

Do you think political correctness has gone too far?