Jeff Burgar
An Angus Reid survey says 73 per cent of Canadians think political correctness has gone too far.

We are surprised it is not 95 per cent. The remaining five per cent people will never change, always ready to be insulted or affronted, whether the subject be profanity, religion, sunshine or clouds.

Oops! Just the topic of political correctness is dangerous territory. As the majority of people in the survey agree, some people can be insulted or will take exception with just about anything. Uh oh!

It’s been said many times, American presidential candidate Donald Trump is a breath of fresh air for those thinking political correctness has indeed gone too far. Trump doesn’t back down from his comments on illegal Muslims and Mexicans, walls and border guards, protecting American jobs and his pledge to “Make America Great Again!”

If any remark of his was an isolated case, he would be tarred and feathered and run out of town. But he does it over and over and over again. It just brings him more support! Fool or not, idiot or not, the man has no fear of being railed against by the general might of “political correctness.” That alone has people admiring him.

The criticism of racism, bigotry, feminism and so many more were hijacked sometime ago by the “politically correct” crowd. Those who blame others for being racist or anti-women or whatever you want to name are themselves often horrible offenders in their own way. A fellow makes a statement, and daytime talk show hosts delight in calling him names.

Did anybody object when a person in the news on one popular show was called “Pale, male and stale,” a reference to white, male, and middle-aged or older? Not a one. They all just had a good little snicker and giggle over it.

The simple truth is, bigotry and prejudice and “political incorrectness” is rampant across all colours, every flavour of sexuality, and every ethnic group. Nobody, no matter how they point fingers at others, has themselves some kind of exclusive license on equality. Those jumping up and down about racism, or any of the other “isms” or “anti-isms” are often even worse offenders themselves.

And as those surveyed say, it has all gone too far.

But maybe only in some circles.

Society has come a long ways. The old days of Ukrainian or other ethnic jokes are long gone. Race-based jokes make most people uncomfortable these days. Blonde jokes might be with us forever. Maybe. Lawyer jokes, as they cut across all colours, nationalities and countries will likely last. It just doesn’t seem plausible anybody really cares if a lawyer gets insulted.

But what about those middle-aged white guys? Where are the politically correct standing up for them?

There is truth to the quote, attributed wrongly to long gone American president Harry Truman: “Being politically correct is like trying to pick up a dog turd by the clean end.”

In many cases, being correct has gone too far. But you know, in other cases, it hasn’t even started