POLITICALLY CORRECT – I’M CHALLENGED (16-Apr-2021)

Relevant to this write-up, an apt saying from a well-known philosopher “A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” 

A new era…it is the ‘politically correct’ era or so the ‘intelligentsia’ claims.  Our sensitivity quotient should not be measured by the western-influenced ‘politically correct’ statements.  More people today are globe-trotters gaining abundant grey matter and being sensitized to the dynamics of a westernized society.   Politically correct statements are more outward in nature, while what matters the most are those genuine statements - who we really are, what drives our intent, and what intent shaped our statements and subsequent actions.

Politicians as well as page-3 persona are dissected for their faux pas, an increased number of occurrences in the recent days, advertently or otherwise.  It is no longer palatable to say physically handicapped, instead the right reference is PWD – Person with Disabilities.  For those who belong to my clan who are typically five feet some (little)thing, we are happy when someone comments ‘you know this applies to people who are not tall such as yourself!’  It is no more audacious to say, ‘you shorty!’  Interestingly the days when it becomes habitual to refer as ‘vertically challenged’ are not far off!

Is it not enough to be ‘genuine’ and ‘sensitive’ rather than always be ‘politically correct?’ Is there an end to how much we need to change in our external communication to be politically ‘pleasing?’  If one extends help to the ‘PWDs’ with not even an iota of understanding of having to be politically correct, is that ‘politically incorrect?’  How do we then address elderly people or is it the ‘age challenged’ or more commonly ‘senior citizens,’ to whom one extends help and in turn receive their blessings?! 

Some sections of the society do ‘empathize’ with other people’s feelings but that has not stopped them from saying ‘this time the Circus has an act by ‘dwarfs’ and they are hilarious.’  If one must cautiously allude as ‘I am taking my kids to the circus to see the act by the ‘vertically challenged,’ then do we lose the punch and is the essence dissipated?!

An obese friend of my friend admonished him by saying ‘I am only ‘horizontally challenged!’ and how dare you call me fat?’  My friend was lost - like they say it was like a ‘doosra / googly’ in the game of cricket!  My ‘doosra’ to the beauty world and its ‘game changers’ who have in their repertoire a plethora of products ranging from cream to lotion to beauty treatment products, is it right to say, ‘skincare for your dark skin?’  Instead, should they be saying ‘perfect skincare if you are epidermis-color challenged?!’

Ads appear in newspaper stating ‘Cure for Baldness’ another fast-expanding clan!  Don’t these companies learn to be politically correct?  A response in rhetoric ‘in today’s world gaining more face in the society’ is apt and to put things in the right perspective ‘follicular challenged’ appears to be in perfect harmony with political correctness – truly hair-rising!

Extend the right attitude to differently abled people around us like a true human-being, and don’t always have to bring them under the umbrella of ‘inclusivity.’  This world is beautiful in its diversity and a better place for all of us to live in – why an external focus for ‘politically (in)correct’ statements?!  Appreciate politically pleasing feedback!