Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Thursday Thirteen--#10


13 "Politically Correct/Incorrect" Things that Annoy me:

1. The honor roll being done away with. When I was still teaching, they wanted to do away with listing those students who earned all A's and B's, so as not to hurt the feelings of those who didn't. Um, right..how is that fair to the ones who earned it? Too bad to the others! Life isn't fair. Get over it.
2. The endless bumper stickers of "my kid is amazing bla bla bla". I'm sure the kids are fantabulous. Do we need to advertise it to make them feel important? Aren't they fine and dandy without it being driven around?
3. Taking "moments of silence". The idea is wonderful. Replacing "moments of silence" for the word "prayer" is a joke.
4. Extending wishes of "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Sorry, folks. Like it or not, December 25th is CHRISTMAS.
5. Being -Challenged. Fat=horizontally-challenged, short=vertically-challenged, etc. Come on. It means the same thing!
6. Custodial Engineer for Janitor.
7. Neighborhoods requiring Nativity Scenes be removed from your very own yards, because it may offend those who choose to not believe in Christ.
8. The simple idea of removing "Under God" from the pledge, as well as our financial currency.
9. Allowing "social promotion" in schools in place of retaining a student back a year (who is not ready to advance academically).
10. Job-profiling. Searching to hire someone of a specific background just to say "we have people of all races/nationalities...". Bull. Hire based on qualifications and experience.
11. Breast-feeding. It's fine. You can do it discreetly in public. And so what if some skin is seen by another? They would'nt be complaining if it was a model in a string bikini showing some skin.
12. Granting same-sex marriage or civil unions. I know it's a hot topic, but I'm not holding back this week. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Other arrangements are not the same and don't merit the same benefits.
13. Withholding comments on another's blog so as to not reveal differing opinions. ;) Hey, we're all adults here. Agree to disagree, or just flat-out disagree. I am fine with that. I don't want to compromise my beliefs for the sake of someone else, and I don't want someone else to compromise beliefs, either.

Some extra fun...go here for humorous PC terms and phrases.
And for a serious, sensitive touch, go here to read a beautiful poem about being PC.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


32 comments:

jenn said...

I like the honor roll in school. It gives my kids something to work towards. They are so proud when they are recognized for their hard work.
Happy tt!

Dreamer said...

I will be back to visit your blog, I really like you. :) I totally agree with you on all of those things, it's like you read my mind. :) Happy TT!

Jennifer said...

Applause, applause! :o)

I liked your comment about breastfeeding (model in a string bikini)--So so true! Don't get me stahted dahling! I need to start doing the thursday thirteen thing!

Kacie said...

Lol wait a sec...you're mad when they take away the honor roll, but irked at parents who make their own honor rolls on their bumpers? ;-)

Janet said...

#7, really? That's just ridiculous! As for #12, we'll definitely have to agree to disagree...love is love.

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

Oh these are all so true.

Nicholas said...

Don't forget in future to refer to window cleaners as transparent wall maintenance operatives!

#7 is utterly ridiculous. I don't believe in Christ but I am not in the slightest bit offended by other people's nativity scenes.

SJ Reidhead said...

The Happy Holidays just frosts my cookies!

The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog

Stacey said...

Re: #2 - I saw a bumper sticker that said "My child is an 'honor student' at" bla bla bla high school. The quotation marks around "honor student" were a nice touch.

Re: #5 - I hope "mentally challenged" is okay with you. Most other terms used to describe that community are derogatory.

Re: #12 - A dude marrying a dude doesn't hurt my marriage or my family in any way. Do unto others...

Re: #13 - I disagree. (Not really. Just thought I'd be ironic.)

Re: Everything you said about schools - JEEZ what is with people these days. We punish those who do well so as not to hurt those who don't. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

candyQ said...

Merry Christmas!!! :o)

Hurray for breastfeeding! That's what women's breasts were made for.

Jenny McB said...

I agree with most and am impressed with #13, so here goes.

I resent the "under God" only for the reason that it was put in and that it represents a time in our history where it was a "witch hunt" to weed out those who did not conform. It bothers me b/c God means a different entity to different people, but it seems our country likes to push the Christian God.

#12- I know some same sex couples who have been together longer than the some typical marriages. Love is love and commitment is commitment. As if being a man and woman always equals the perfect relationship? I disagree.

I agree with all the education and it appears that no one is allowed to lose anymore.
Have a good day!

Sharon said...

Kacie-to clarify:
Lol wait a sec...you're mad when they take away the honor roll, but irked at parents who make their own honor rolls on their bumpers? ;-)
I think the actual honor roll ones are fine. I'm talking about the others, the ones that are simply there for the sake of being there. Like one I saw "My kid is an amazing boy at such & such school...", or "my kid will excel at this school". Recognition is important, (and I know much of it is advertising for the school), but just to have it there for something to replace the honor roll one is what gets me. Hope I made some sense clarifying! lol. I'm on SUCH little sleep right now. :(

Anyway, thanks everyone for visiting so far!

Susan Demeter said...

Merry Christmas :) I'm not really a Christian, but people wishing each other or me a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holiday (many other festivals, and holidays occur at this time of year too Hanukkah, Saturnalia etc) is ok. I think it is the sentiment that counts. Happy TT :)

Unknown said...

I'm a fellow orthodox Roman (must use that) Catholic who feels 'xactly as you do. To all of them. Know what bugged me when I was teaching school? The took away extra credit. WHY?

Anonymous said...

I hate political correctness. I love this post, however.

My TT!

Andrea said...

Great Sharon! As usual we are thinking along the same lins. AI agree with you. Love the breastfeeding one. Yes - If some model was in a string bikini or even nude (for some) it'd be awesome - but me nursing is replusive. Grrrr! Love your TT.

Andrea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pussreboots said...

I disagree with you on a number of points. Unfortunately Blogger just ate my comments.

1) December has a number of celebrated holidays. Not just Christmas (which was moved to December!!!)

2) Marriage should be between any two consenting adults.

3) "Under God" is a recent addition going back only to the McCarthy era. Do you really want such a reminder of an oppressive era? I certainly don't.

SandyCarlson said...

GREAT post. Your education peeves are mine, too. Sure would be easier to accept failure and deal with it than go through all the charades to pretend it didn't happen. We really do load on the baggage in kids' lives!

God bless.

SandyCarlson said...

Good one, Nicholas!

Head Gaggler said...

Yup, I agree. The PC movement has gotten out of hand. For those of us who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays still doesn't make us feel included. So stick to Merry Christmas. Its a rouse that isn't working.

Natalie said...

I agree with most of those. And yay for breastfeeding. I'm not comfortable just pulling my boob out for all to see, but I think I should be allowed to discreetly feed my baby in public. So yay!

My Thursday Thirteen is up too! :)

Anonymous said...

Very true! Enjoyed your list!
www.mamapj.com

Shesawriter said...

We must have been separated at birth because I agree with most of these! Were you reading my mind??? LOL!

Happy TT!

My Thursday Thirteen #3

damozel said...

I don't agree with you on quite a few of these points, but it would be a dull world if we all agreed, yes?

I AM very bothered by the honor roll thing. It's a very bad lesson to teach children that doing extra-good or excellent work doesn't deserve special recognition. For one thing, it doesn't prepare them for the real world, where effort counts in your favor, but results are what matter in the end.

That's a very regrettable decision, especially since winning a place on the honor roll is one of the few rewards that children have control over (unlike, for example, winning a beauty contest or the lottery).

Ugh. I'm as politically correct as can be, but that one isn't "politically correct," but simply misguided.

thanks for visiting ours: BN-Politics

Holly said...

Being PC has gone to extreme limits. I too, like the honor roll and dislike having to come up with "something-challenged" comments.

Happy TT-13!

Smiles,

Holly
http://theabundanceplace.com

PamelaMKramer said...

SWEET list!!!!

Need I say more? Don't think so.

Tink said...

I always use Happy Holidays, because only some of my friends celebrate Christmas, others Chanukka, Yule, etc. But other than that, I agree with you on a lot of your list. :-)

Tink said...

I overlooked the same sex item. Strongly disagree there too. In my country it is legal and I support that fully.
Agree to disagree, respect for everyone's opinion. I like your attitude towards that. :-)

Malcolm said...

I like a TT that dares to stir the pot. I agree with you on quite a few of these (1, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 13 to name some).

As for the "Happy Holidays" greeting, it's not intended as a way of trying to do away with Christmas. Instead, it's used to acknowledge the fact that Christmas is NOT the only holiday that is celebrated this time of year. When I worked retail, I and many of my co-workers used "Happy Holidays" when talking to customers. You just never know if the customer is Jewish, non-religious, or what. Now, if customers had stamps on their foreheads which stated their religious affiliation/how they wanted to be greeted, it would make things much easier.

In regards to #10, the company that I work for actively seeks out minorities and women to fill positions. However, they are only interested in those that are qualified for the job in question and won't hire them just to fill a quota.

There may be many who aren't going to like it, but we aren't that far off from legalizing same-sex marriages/civil unions in every state in the U.S. I feel that if I am allowed to get married, two men/two women in loving relationships should be granted that same right.

Once again, thanks for writing this TT... even though we disagree on key points.

Anonymous said...

I am so with you on number 11. I actually heard that Applebee's (in a certain state) had a policy that if you are nursing your baby you must go into the bathroom to do it. That is the most terrible thing I had ever heard. They changed their mind after a local group of women held a 'nurse out' at one of their restaurants (Every woman came in and began nursing at the same time).

Oh and about the Janitor thing, my husband is one and I am not ashamed of it. He makes good enough money for me to be a stay at home mommy and live in a nicer area of California. His job title is actually Senior Lead Cutodian and he manages a team of custodians on a college campus. I don't think you should judge people based on their title or what they prefer to be titled.

We always wanted to go back to school but we have two special needs children. We are two smart people that do the best with what we are dealt. So what does it matter if my husband decides to label himself 'Master of the custodial arts' or something to that nature?

sexy said...
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