Opinion Coercion or Political Correctness

Political Correctness is a tool of Fascism

Making sure you and I do not stray from the politically correct position on things is the first step in changing the face of a society. No, I do not swear incessantly just to be outside the norm. Certain words have been in my vocabulary since an early age. Even the military did not break me of them. LOL.

In the 70′s life became uncomfortable. Suddenly, the attitudes which I had carried most of my adult life were no longer acceptable. Withdrawing seemed the better option than protest. After all there are more women than men. My take on marriage, relationships, society seemed to have been stuck in the stone ages. Funny, it didn’t feel that way to me.

In retrospect, I was correct. The vehicle used to force me into silence was nothing more than a form of bullying. As political correctness has been elevated to an art form, I have been less and less tolerant of it. To the point of many times walking away from people and conversations rather than listen to the b.s.

Yes, to the individual speaking political correctness, it may seem merited. “Who should be against x-y or z?” Well, me for one, if I believe something is immoral or impractical. I too should have a right to express my opinion instead of being labeled a (plug in appropriate word).

The coercion of the population or segments there of, is not new. The tool has been used for many generations to form opinion or keep people in line.

From a link to a previous post came this. Congrats to Serendipity on a collection of excellent links.

John Stuart Mill, Essay on Liberty

The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion. That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him, or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise. To justify that, the conduct from which it is desired to deter him must be calculated to produce evil to someone else. The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.” — John Stuart Mill, Essay on Liberty (Library of Liberal Arts edition, p.13)

On Liberty