PC Protection Racket

[travelinman]

PC Protection Racket

At long last the presidential election of 2004 is history. So hectic was the final week before the vote that one rather strange story failed to elicit some much needed analysis. Some viewed it as comic relief, but it was more than that.

In the town of Puyallup, Washington, school officials banned Halloween celebrations in class. In a dumbed-down nation, one can certainly sympathize with such a move on the part of educators. Such activities generate a lot of waste material and deprive students of valuable class time, better spent acquiring basic knowledge and skills. However, the educators' motive proved rather different.

The Puyallup authorities issued their ban so as not to elevate one tradition over another. Even in this respect, however, some traditions are more equal than others. More specifically, officials feared that girls dressed as witches, with warts on their noses, black pointed hats,and broomsticks in tow, might offend the delicate sensibilities of Wiccans. These ladies are apparently an organized religion of vaguely pagan theology but practicing only "white" magic, not the black, evil kind.

Exactly how much clout the supposedly downtrodden Wiccans might wield in Puyallup and its environs remains unclear. But school officials believed this group, virtually all female, needed special protection. This protection was not from attack, loss of jobs, access, or anything like that. It sprang from the perception that they needed protecting from schoolchildren in Halloween costumes who have not the slightest clue that they might be giving offense. This involved a "final and irreversible" ban on dreaded Halloween activities.

A local Wiccan high priestess ? apparently there is a hierarchy of some sort in this group ? thought this decision was rather silly. That did not, however, deter the officials from their steely determination to protect even those who announce that they are not offended. Therein lies a lesson, or several.

Political correctness has not faded away but is, in fact, rampant and getting worse, particularly in education circles. One of its hallmarks is the notion of intellectual democracy, that all ideas and traditions have the same value and merit the same respect. Actually, they don't.

A tradition of democracy, free enterprise, and human rights is more worthy of respect that a tradition of, say, slavery, superstition, human sacrifice, and oppression. In other words, the tradition that allows women to become prime minister, or national security adviser, is better than a tradition that forbids education for women and forces them to walk around in burlap sacks. More to the point, a tradition that cultivates science is more worthy of recognition than one that looks to magic, of whatever color.

The "diversity" that politically correct types claim to advance is really a marked antipathy toward the Western tradition. But while the politically correct mindset is at pains to keep people from being offended, ironically, their efforts lack diversity. One can't imagine efforts to prevent giving offense to businessmen, the police, or soldiers. Only accredited, politically correct victims deserve that treatment, with women such as the Wiccans perceived as particularly needy.

Such nonsense is, of course, offensive, particularly when it comes from bureaucrats paid out of the public purse. When it takes place women should speak up. And there is something else they can do. Women should look into educating their children at home, a growing trend.

School officials, part of a government monopoly, who indulge political correctness are unlikely to be performing well at the job they are supposed to be doing ? educating children. The Halloween episode is more evidence that women who are parents should be able to choose where their daughters and sons go to school.
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[LanDroid]

Most of the Halloween bans are done at the behest of conservative Christians. I guess that's OK because it is supposedly non-PC?

[Piña]

Why sure, Lan. After all it's not like it's a real christian religion or anything. Just a silly fad that can be belittled at will and given short shrift when it comes to respect and dignity.

I find the condescending tone of the article above to be offensive and indicative of the ignorance of the author.

[Lew]

Well, I would never condemn anyone's beliefs, I only have respect for the views of others (even if they are wrong) but....

Jenn and I were in Salem, Mass early last year and we went to the Witch Museum. Lo and behold it's run by these goth chicks who, apparently, practice wicca or something like it. Most gift shops have the usual crap, you know, snow globes, coffee mugs, etc. This gift shop had spell books, potions, animal fur. I'm like, what, no talking Billy Bass? Get real.

So you go through this place, and they do tell about the Witch Trials (which is a sad story, no argument). But then they get into how unfair history has been to witches. And they showed Wizard of Oz and what-not.

But I'm like....uh, hello.....anyone ever heard of Elizabeth Mongtomery? What's the problem there?


Didn't think so.

[Raven Soul]

Being someone who practiced Wicca for sometime, let alone being a man who practiced the religion there is a horrible, horrible misconception that follows the religion. One is that it is a religion of evil that worships the devil. Ironically, the religion of Wicca doesn't even believe in the Devil or God. Wicca is a very peaceful, balanced and most of all harmonious way of thinking, and as such promotes unity with all creatures on Earth. Now, I know the article was not directly attacking the religion, all though there were a couple of cheap shots, the mere fact that Halloween might offend witches is absurd. Halloween is a pagan holiday, one that is celebrated. Halloween, known as Samhain is celebrated as the Celtic New Year and marks the time of the "dark half" of the year (winter). This is the end of Harvest time and the end to summer. So the mere fact that the this place has decided to speak up for all Wiccan's, only shows how uneducated people in power are.

Being someone who is now a full-fledged Christian, I have taken some things I have learned from the Wiccan way, and that is respect nature for all it's glory.