Modern use of the term “political correctness” emerged out of the United States in the 1980s when it was used by the right to ridicule liberal thinking. It remains a big issue on the other side of the Atlantic – take a look at the debate raging over a recent legal ruling that declared that the name of the venerable Washington Redskins football team disparaging to Native Americans, or the uproar over comic book hero Thor’s transformation into a comic heroine.
These days however, American conservatives are going in for some political correctness of their own. Members of the National Rifle Association have objected to mass killers being described as “gunmen.” “Climate change deniers” feel the term is offensive and some on the right prefer the “rich” to be referred to as “job creators.”
What about here in Europe? Have we become too “politically correct”? Or, is vigilance needed to clamp down on offensive language? Take the case of Polish far-right MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke. Should he be punished for racism after his use the “N” word in the European Parliament? Or was he simply an elderly (or perhaps, chronologically challenged) man out of touch with modern sensibilities?
Is political correctness also hindering efforts to select the best team to run the EU? Shouldn’t experience and talent count more than gender when picking the incoming High Representative for Foreign Affairs or President of the European Council? Or is it imperative to have greater equality in Europe’s high places?
Contributor Catherine says politically correct gender quotas – like the minimum of 10 female commissioners being sought by Jean-Claude Juncker – belittles women, who can get ahead purely on merit:
Anyone who is worth their salt rises up through the ranks naturally: Margaret Thatcher, Christine Lagarde, Aung San Suu Kyi. No, what you are trying to [achieve is people] being offered roles because of their body difference … Political correctness is an insult to all those women who stand on their own.
What do you think? Do the current political times mean its ever more important to defend equality and fight intolerance? Or has political correctness run amok? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions.
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Debating Europe
Don’t know about being politically correct but you have become undemocratic.
Could you please give us an answer on this point of democratic legitimacy.
Your European Parliament claimed a ‘Slightly higher election turnout averted a ?big disaster? in regards to the legitimacy of the European Parliament.
Will they now declare that because the real figures show a lower MEP election turnout (May 2014) it was in fact a ?big disaster? for your European experiment ?
Your European Parliament and most heads of states in the EU claimed that the increase in turnout was due to the ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ process and so justified the selection for Juncker as Commission president.
It clearly did not so will you be advocating re-running the process of selecting your Commission President ?
If not, can you explain how the EP can still claim to be democratic in the light of yet another fall in voter turnout for your EU & rise in Euro sceptic sentiment and selection of Juncker as president in direct opposition to the wishes of the peoples of Europe and Great Britain by the European Parliaments own criteria.
I look forward to your reply.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11015823/Voter-turnout-in-Mays-European-elections-was-lowest-ever.html
Not yet but well on our way.
and ‘political correctness to say to the peoples of the eurozone, “You do not count anything!” When ever a Bank orders from the state? Where is the policy?
Yes we have.. It is great to show respect and do not allow racists and fascists offending people and discriminate against ethnic groups, or pour their bile against immigrants. BUT it is clear that we NEED to discuss openly about certain issues and allow all voices to be heard. We need to have a debate of European integration, immigration, climate change, LGBT rights.. It is just showing maturity as a society when we openly discuss issues, instead of hiding them under the carpet in fear of offending. The result is just as bad as NOT talking openly within a family: breaking down of bonds and cohesion. Because if our youths are not given the opportunity to openly discuss their thoughts on issues at school or any other platform, they will do so in online websites that host a number or radicals, bigots and racists that will try to indoctrinate them. Isn’t it better to do it at school or through education? Just discuss openly about what kind of societies we want to live in and bring good and bad examples. If we want to be proud that we have freedom of speech in Europe, otherwise it is just a facade!!
@Christos Mouzeviris
I agree that PC has gone too far too, but what is the alternative?
ALL I know is that whatever supersedes a laudable but now discredited movement/ethos/philosophy should in NO WAY allow people to make outright RACIST comments such as those YOU have made in the past.
Have you forgotten your RACIST insults to me ALREADY?!
why is it racist to want to protect your own culture or live your own way ?, after all Muslims do this in Britain , wear traditional desert dress, follow their own culture , build mosques etc. etc. and some don’t even learn to speak English because of that fact , pouring their bile as you put it against immigrants ,why is that not the same as Islamic mobs shouting f… democracy and sharia for Britain , you sir either live in a PC bubble in rural Herts, or are just another Fabien Marxist who thinks that all immigrants are angels and all white Europeans are beasts, try telling that to the women in cologne or the kids in Rotherham or the victims of 7/7 or Paris .and 9/11
These people don’t want our culture or to integrate ,on the contrary they wish to change our culture to suit them , you sir are exactly the kind of person who would have invited Hitler to invade England in 1940 and probably would have become an storm trooper to save your own skin , frankly I am fed up with lefty fools who hate their country, revise history and get into bed with Islamic fanatics and other backward cultures and support it against our own, while blaming and name calling English people for being angry that their country and all that their fathers and grandfathers fought for and believed in ,is rubbished by immigrants who are constantly told by people like you that they can do no wrong and don’t have to fit in or integrate and that it’s up to England to adapt to them.
I could not care less about the blasted refugees these people and their ancestors tied themselves to a backward dogma over 500 years before Europeans ever turned up on their doorstep and most of what they enjoy today in the form of living standards and technology came from the very Europeans that left wing post-modernist so hate , unable to create this themselves because of either Islamic ritual or plain tribalism over a period of 700 years, they now get full support for bringing their rotten culture to Europe complete with FGM, radical Islam, misogyny and lack of respect for any other culture including the more passive cultures of other immigrants , on your last point , how can you have freedom of speech when every time a school kid opens his mouth to express a non-conformist opinion, the police are called and he is accused of being a racist , your arguments are the same as our passive indoctrinated politicians and we have heard this nonsense so many times we can almost lip read what they are about to say , go back to bed Christos, you are on the wrong side of history
I think all too often people forget that it isn’t the word(s) used that are racist. It’s intent of the user. The “N” word as they put it is now used as a term of endearment as well as still being used descriptively and insultingly. Banning word after word after word in no way fixes the problem. So I would say political correctness went too far from word go, since it’s heading in the wrong direction.
Christine Lagarde did not rise up through the ranks “naturally”. She was deliberately picked in 2005 by the then French prime minister (Raffarin) in order to promote more women in the cabinet, when she was completely unknown and had never done any politics! Such public concern to promote more women in politics results from the laws on “parité” passed in France since 1999. Positive discrimination and parité worked so well in Fance that Catherine thinks it all happened “naturally”. Which also proves that promotion through such principles has not belittled anyone.
@ David Mason:
Christine Legarde did not once rely on her physical attributes ‘as a femail’ to rise through the ranks to the job she has. She used her capability as a human being with ambition. Never once did I feel she resorted to pretending to being a psuedo man. Her demeanor, attitude and ‘feminine’ approach, through her career, didn’t need to resort to demeaning women by expecting promotion beyond her ability as a gender game to political correctness. Neither did she reject her gender on her way up. Which would have been an insult to all women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1wJhUjINk
Her style, which I find exemplary, does not fight her femininity. She reminds me of the feminine ambition of Coco Chanel. This makes her an inspiration to women who want a career without pretending to be other than the gender she is proud to belong to. A remarkable woman. Besides, women who make it by using a PC promotion, without the necessary ability for the job they seek, do not get standing ovations by heavily male environments, as she has. Men, as well as women, resent females who use political correctness to achieve levels beyond their natural resource. France should be extremely proud of this women’s ability to succeed
the way she has.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggyy3NRySJw
This does not mean I agree with her political stance on the economy or the pushing of women to put their children into orphanage like situations as a way of life. That is quite another matter.
@Catherine, as i mentioned when you raised this subject elsewhere, I agree. It is discriminatory to have mandated percentages. But it is apparent that people were being unfairly excluded from job opportunities based on gender, race etc. and since percentages of employment are the only measurable device. What else could be done for short term solution? Obviously long term work needs to be done to remove any stigmas. But what is the good way for immediate improvement of equal opportunity?
Yes, stop it!
Christos, it would be correct to say that if the European Parliament had a chance ‘and autonomy to legislate. After that we discussed what do you do? What for? The BCE, the FMI, the Commission, the markets …. who makes the laws and requires Member? It ‘s all so’ absurd!
If anyone is afraid of what might happen if we open the doors to openly debate or discuss our thoughts and views on sensitive issues, well fear not. From personal experience, it is through constant debate that provokes thoughts, coming into contact with different groups of people like immigrants, ethnic minorities, social minorities or LGBT individuals, that helps you form a better view and opinion. Before I left my home country Greece, I have always wanted to see it more open and multicultural, because I believed that if a number of immigrants entered the country and would be fully integrated, they would bring new voices and ideas into a very closed and conservative society that Greece was some decades ago. When I started traveling in Europe, I came in contact with many people who expressed a different opinion and interestingly they were from countries like the UK, Belgium or France, usually of an older age group who expressed discomfort and complained about immigration levels in their country or the problems that they bring. And so then I changed my opinion and went more “right wing” opposing immigration, taking into account the negative comments of these people! It was only after I migrated myself and became a foreigner into another land, coming in contact with many nationalities both EU and non-EU, with people of all races, religions and backgrounds, and talked about how they live in our societies, what they have to go through and what working rights and living standards that they have, that I formed a more spherical point of view. And so now I again support immigration and multiculturalism, but knowing the problems and issues that they may arise from it, I am not as naive to the problems. I say yes to an open society but with certain rules and limitations to it, to avoid mistakes that other nations have done. It is only after constant discussion and debate that I came to this conclusions and I do not think that we should hold anything back and avoid sensitive discussions in fear of offending!!
My reply to David Mason above has a spelling error I don’t want to leave unaddressed. Of course it is female not femail. I don’t know how I missed it…. But, c’est la vie!
Stefania, the European Parliament SHOULD have the autonomy to legislate on issues that the member states would appoint it to do. It should have FULL and sole power to legislate on European issues. The problem is that it does not right now. Even after the Lisbon Treaty that it gave it more powers, it still does not have the powers that any parliament should have. And that is the problem: national governments intervene and meddle, resulting in intergovernmental ism that is less transparent and democratic! If you want a real democracy and democratic legitimacy in Europe, the only way is a European Parliament with all the powers that it must have to legislate.
No because the democracy belongs on the national level. I do not find it at all democratic that politicians from other countries can vote on what should be the laws for my country, because quite often these EU laws are extremely bad festering excretions that benefit absolutely no one.
Why should Greek, Italian, Spanish, Latvian, Irish, Slovak or Romanian politicians be able to vote that my country should give their country more money? The net recipients will always vote for ‘more’ because it is in their self interest.
As Bismarck once stated, they all want something for themselves but ask for it in the ‘name of Europe’ for these things they don’t dare to ask for in their own name.
No EU Law is valid in Britain. and our laws belongs to the people, and not their elected public servants. As the Commission is not elected and therefore a despotism that can ignore its Parliament’s legislation, it is also an unaccountable dictatorship.
Under British Law, allowing any foreign, off-shore parliament power over Britain is High Treason.
Our juries are the only lawful judges, allowed to convict, or acquit us of a crime, not that fellow misnamed a judge, in a wig, in reality a glorified court manager.
The Eu Parliament are according to their own accountants, less than honest.
@Tony Butler – The President of the Commission is now elected, and he (or she) appoints the various Commissioners in concert with the (elected) governments of Europe. Then the (elected) European Parliament approves or rejects the new Commission. The Commission is also accountable to the (elected) European Parliament, who can force it to disband (and, indeed, the Parliament effectively did just that during the Santer Commission).
The Commission is also bound by the treaties, and can (and has been) taken to the European Court of Justice (and has lost). So, you see, the Commission (despite all its many failings) is demonstrably not a despotism, nor an unaccountable dictatorship. Calling the EU a dictatorship makes you sound like a crank.
Under British Law, the UK honours her international treaties, including the European treaties. It is not high treason to do so, and it does a discredit to your general argument when you talk like that.
F***ING YES.
Christos Mouzeviris
Why should your European Parliament have more powers ?
Fewer people than ever turned out to vote for it, the numbers of anti EU MEP’s increased and the vote for pro EU MEP’s went down.
We have not been asked if we want to be subservient to your EP and when the time comes we will be leaving your undemocratic EU.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11015823/Voter-turnout-in-Mays-European-elections-was-lowest-ever.html
Not turning up to vote is actually showing indifference to democracy and local, national or European social, economic or political issues, indifference for the “commons”.. So if you are indifferent you do not deserve either democracy or things to get better and your voice to be heard or respected!! Yes?
@Christos Mouzeviris
YOUR view is the view of the corrupt political elite!
IF I [and many others for that matter] think that by NOT voting I am registering my disquiet about the political process and politicians per se then MY view has equal if NOT more gravitas than your corrupt political elite view.
Until the corrupt political elite allow for “NONE OF THE ABOVE” as a voting option then I posit that your blinkered view is in fact just that – blinkered.
The reason I don’t vote is because it is meaningless. Especially on the (undemocratic) EU level. Whatever you vote, you will always get the same anyhow, more ‘free trade’ (that only benefits the rich), more bad laws that benefit corporations etcetera.
So on voting day, I stay at home. Also, because I believe that if you vote, you help to legitimize the undemocratic EU (fortunately more than half stayed at home so another reason to consider the EU illegitimate).
But above all, if you vote, you have no right to complain*. You voted them in, you caused the problem, you showed you were incapable of making a good decision.
I on the other hand, who did not vote, now have to suffer and pay for your bad decisions.
* I saw a HBO special by the late George Carlin, and found out that he agreed with me about voting, or since he formed his opinion before I did mine, I agree with him.
In the UK we are forced to chose between a set of options somebody else put forward or to not vote at all. To not vote does not automatically mean an indifference to politics. It may well mean a disgust for all candidates. Just look at the turnout when the UK was asked a direct question I.e. In the referendum. That does not equal indifference to politics in my view.
you are to far from being correct
Christos Mouzeviris
The lower turnout at best means most people are ‘indifferent’ to a political structure they have not been asked if they want.
We are aware that EU federalists care nothing for the will of the people but only a true fanatic would claim democratic legitimacy for a union via the back door of secret ballots, single candidate presidential elections & EP political party stitch up to divide the prize’s in direct opposition to the will of the people using your own EP’s critia.
Viviane Reding describing the spitzenkandidaten as a ?real game changer? & it will be, but not in the way the federalists want.
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/its-official-last-eu-election-had-lowest-ever-turnout-307773
Christos Mouzeviris
The only question left who will leave first, us or the French.
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/08/01/Marine-Le-Pen-Would-Win-French-Presidential-Election-if-it-Were-Held-Today-Poll-Says
I’ve backed France as the potential game changer for some time. Because as soon as the French find out they will be targeted by EU/ECB/IMF and have austerity imposed by a future ‘technocratic’ government, they might actually do something. The French are about the last ones left who take demonstrations a little more serious than the rest, hopefully it will then be followed by a revolution.
Hollande doesn’t want to change anything, he was elected based on a promise to not do anything, of course he has to do little bits and pieces of fauxterity to ‘please’ Merkel. Then Hollande will be voted out next time and some conservative will come in pledging to oppose austerity and ‘German diktats’ and again nothing will happen.
Technocratic pro-banker anti-people government is coming for France, it is a matter of time. The Euro is ruining us all and nothing has been saved but for the profits of the rich and criminal manipulative bankers being kept out of jail by G7/8 conspiracy.
If political correctness is synonymous to hypocrisy yes. If EU’s policy towards Ukraine and the tolerance of the slaughter of innocent civilians by the nazi right wings is political correctness fair enough. If accusing Russia for the Malaysian aircraft without any evidence just because uncle Sam demanded it is political correctness fair enough. If the tolerance of the financial support of ISIL by CIA is political correct fair enough. If the banks are more important than the people the yew we are political correct. To conclude EU pretends that it has the will to be political correct but it is not at all.
Last time checked Ivan, all new EU member states had a referendum on EU membership and they all said yes! Besides why do you think Norway is still out? Because they said no! People voted to be part of the EU, not not distort facts please. Even you voted if you wanted to be part of the EEC, and the result was positive!!
Hi, here’s a big bag of money, do you say yes? And here are some unelected tax-exempt jobs for some of your politicians, and here you can travel to Germany/Netherlands/Britain to compete for jobs there.
Of course they voted yes, they were bribed to do so. We on the other hand were not consulted and had no vote, well we did have one in 2005 and we said no but then the criminal Barroso threatened our politicians behind closed doors and demanded they pass the treaty anyway by whatever means necessary. In 2006 elections again we voted for a majority that would have given a second referendum, only for some of them (heavily threatened/bribed/bullied by Brussels) to turn around and renege on the pledge.
How is this democratic. We want out and no longer give money to thieves bordering the Med and criminal gangs from Romania and Bulgaria.
Marcel, with all due respect, but you sound like a hater that indulges in gross exaggerations to make his negative points. Your comments border on the offensive. Either you want to unify or you don’t want to unify. Fair enough, but the reasons you are giving for your aversion to the EU do not reflect reality and are offensive. You just express a kind of introvert, isolated and selfish mentality. Again, your prerogative to think that way, but the reasons you state do not reflect reality. They just show illogical hatred. Sorry…
Christos Mouzeviris
Then your information is wrong.
The British people have not been asked if we want to be in your EU and certainly not been asked if we want to be in your nightmare US of E.
This travesty of the democratic process will be corrected shorty.
@Ivan Burrows
Hmmm, Christos has a tendency to forget things that do not concur with his blinkered view of the world – strange eh!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8513876/The-A-Z-of-political-correctness.html
“M” is quite relevant for this forum and “U” would be laughable if it wasn’t actually true
I said the EEC, not the EU…
Wouldn’t say so! Just remember how France, Germany and UK treated the Roma problem…..
And more importantly how they request that Romania and Bulgaria to integrate the Roma community blaming the romanians and bulgarians for the Roma exclusion but they thermselves(France and Germany) failed to give an example.
@Borislav Valkov
LOL! Damned by your own words – The ‘Roma Problem’ – NOT very PC methinks?
YES
Christos Mouzeviris
?
What has the now defunct EEC got to do with anything, we are in the EU now without being asked.
We have become so politically correct that we never answer the question asked anymore
Christos Mouzeviris
Why are EU federalists so against giving the people of Europe the same right to a referendum of their continued involvement in the EU experiment that the British people are going to have ?
Yes, with the muslims
Ivan it is not the Federalists who do not give you the vote, it is your governments that do not bother! They are afraid of destroying their political career… Referendums are a risky business for a politician.. Go and blame them please!!
yes
Christos Mouzeviris
So your claiming the federalists do want the people of your EU to be asked if they want to be in your EU.
Pleased to hear it.
Federalists want a more democratic EU.. Full stop. Not to keep any member state in by force!!
Unfortunately the motivation to keep countries in the EU is achieved by threats. The pro-EU lobby in the UK only ever go on about how many jobs will be lost or how much trade would suffer, nothing positive. Most people join a club for the benefits it brings not because of the fear of being left out
it is not threats Paul, it is the reality.. unfortunately, some of the concerns raised about the UK leaving the EU are very real…
@Chritstos, I would argue that none of the threats the pro remain group made hold up to scrutiny (neither did some of the leave groups promises). Jobs will only be lost if the politicians do not secure trade deals. It’s impossible to both have a weaker currency whilst simultaneously not attracting export business and/or home made produce for local market. Housing prices plummeting would benefit everyone who is a 1st time buyer and/or upgrading it only hurts mortgage sellers who get smaller profits and developers who trade multiple houses. Exit of the EU for the British people is not bad for the average British people, only an elite select few. Yet our government tried to coerce our vote through fear. If you govern using fear and lies then what else is that other than oppression?
Christos Mouzeviris
Your position is still unclear so I’ll ask the question as simply as possible.
Do you federalists believe that the peoples of Europe should be asked if they (the people) wish to remain in your EU or not ? at the ‘European’ level.
Does that include being financially ‘forced’ to remain in the EU ?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11015823/Voter-turnout-in-Mays-European-elections-was-lowest-ever.html
@ Paul X:
And those threats used daily on the Scots hoping to make them shake in their shoes should they sensibly elect to drop Westminster is what? A friendly we love you just the way you are gesture? But, should you seek to get rid of us, we will not let you use our currency. Bully boy tactics for sure.
@Catherine, I do feel as though Scotland has the right to another referendum on independence given the new situation they are faced with. But I genuinely don’t think it in their best interests to vote in favour of independence. Scotland has almost completely integrated with the UK at large through centuries of cross border activity. My own family tree is only two generations away from Scottish hence my 1st name. There is also political and business integration that would take some serious untangling. As for use of the pound, well Scotland would still have Queen Elizabeth as their ruling monarch (without some form of eire republican change) so the Scottish would still have a right to use the pound for their currency in my book, albeit with further separation of the Scottish pound and the UK’s pound. But ultimately Scotland’s wealth would plummet if independent. But the people living their may well feel differently and they should be allowed their say.
Don’t let this American disease come here, to Europe.Political correctness does not lead to correct politics.It is the motor of politics, but has nothing correct to offer the people.It is hard to describe such an aberation.
Politics isn’t also in Europe ethically correct… Europe, his cradle, center and human rights? If you want to be it, you should also do it in every situation on time. Even if it’s only positive…
When are Nigel Garbage & the Kippers going to get out of the EU parliament ? They don,t want to be there so why are they wasting European Tax payers money by only being there when it suits them (which is not very often ) ^They represent nobody not even the UK,so what are they going on about ? Britain accepted the Maastricht Treaty in 1990 which they agreed to form the EU because John Major signed it on behalf of the UK and it was ratified a couple of months later.So according to you Ivan Burrows this wasn,t democratically done.I take that the Tories were democratically elected by the British people to act on their behalf.So what is undemocratic about that ? The French won,t leaving and neither will Britain.France was one of the founder members so why would they want to leave now ? Front National doesn,t represent the French people.Front National represents antisemitism and racialism.Jean -Marie Le-Pen should be in prison because he said that there is only one way to solve the African refugee Crises was to build new gas ovens.So do you still think that he represents France or is he just the same as Nigel Garbage & the Kippers who don,t represent the majority of people in Britain. They are both minority Idiots who have no place in a normal society but unfortunately we have to tolerate them in the name of free speach
So you claim the Tories who ratified the Maastricht treaty were democratically elected yet all the votes UKIP got in the European elections count for nothing?
Typical Euro-fanatic mentality….i.e… you can have “democracy” but you can only vote for Pro-EU parties…..those who dare vote for anything remotely anti-EU are to be labelled “extremist” “xenophobic” or “nationalists”…. etc….
@Paul X
One wonders why UK politicians agreed to disadvantageous terms for the UK to join the EU e.g. the £3billion FISH TAX the UK pays per annum just to be in the EU.
I often think that several of the UK politicians that agreed to such poor terms may have been subject to coercion to sign said agreements because of possible bedroom [PC ALERT] ‘antics’.
Let’s see what comes out in the wash over coming months regarding the sexual peccadilloes of some of the UK’s [mostly retired] political elite…
@Ander Anderson
Under English law what John Major et al did in signiging the perfidious MAASTRICHT TREATY was ILLEGAL and TREASONOUS.
FTR, the idea of the UK being in the EU is not a bad ONE, but the deal the UK has got is a VERY POOR one for the UK!
A COMMONWEALTH UNION would be better for the UK. More people, more land, more sea, more resources and a growing young population.
The EU has too few people, too few resources, too little land, too few sea resources, a declining and aging population.
Simples!
We don`t vote UKIP to help your poxy union , but to hinder it and eurocrats like junky and wormy von ropey…and UKIP the party of out Won your eu rump election whereas nick quisling and the limp dems the party of in lost all but 1 mep….i cannot wait to get out of your federal europe…..
For the UK to rely on the Commonwealth is humorous in the extreme. I’m sure Tonga is going to keep the wolf from our door. Or, perhaps, Papua New Guinea is going to rock for us in the near future?
http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchandcommonwealth/commonwealthmembers/membersofthecommonwealth.aspx
Most of them are a drain on the public purse one way or another. The ones worth keeping want to jump ship as fast as they can carry themselves. That pretense at how they love us so much, with royal benefit stooges taking their baby to keep the interest going, is a farce. The only exciting thing they got from that circus was they got to see Cinderella’s knickers once or twice.
UKIP have served their purpose. So long as May upholds the referendum result and the promises she made before entering downing street as prime minister then UKIP’s pole ratings and number of seats will drop like rocks.
Yes
The modern use of the term “political correctness” used in 1st world countries is a political ploy! The US should have used it after slavery was abolished in 1865 by the 13th Amendment.
Jean-Claude Juncker? His name rings a bell! If in our first world a politician wants to introduce affirmative actions and quotas for woman- where woman suffrage was achieved mainly around 1918 already- this raises serious questions!
Such a state of mind or political agenda of such party needs urgent medical attention & his action exposed as plain gimmick- hiding his confusion & moral bankruptcy!
I can agree with Catherine, that everybody in Europe has enough equal opportunities and freedom of choices in ever growing fields of applications today- only limited by personal will and ability! Nowadays it sounds rather patronizing! But- LCJ/EP’s intends should either be supported, rejected or laughed off as ridiculous by woman folks in Europe & not me! What is lacking nowadays is a protection against unsuitable male politicians and a strict vetting process for them! What a waste of taxpayers money!
If J.C.J. would be the king of Saudi Arabia- where woman suffrage only comes in 2015, where woman can’t drive cars and many things more- that than would be some honorable deed! Please export this reject “president” to a 3rd world country!
Ander Anderson
UKIP are going to get the British people the only thing we want from your EP.
Out of your undemocratic EU.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/26/ukip-european-elections-political-earthquake
In the questions of abortion and homosexuality certainly.
Up to the point of preventing us from understanding each other. It`s mere hypocricy.
What is political correctness? Since when equality, tolerance and empathy is political?
@Conrad Wallenrod
The concept of PC is a praiseworthy endeavour.
However, the very concept has been misused and abused to the point that it is now stifling legitimate debate and riding roughshod over legitimate concerns.
Now we have equalitization and NOT equality.
Now we tolerate what was once the intolerable.
Now we empathise with those who lack empathy.
PC HAS gone too far.
PS: Interesting non-PC image you have! LOL!
There was no referendum about Maastrich Treaty and the introduction of euro anywhere and it was introduced in Germany and France against the will of the majority of the people, according to the results of public opinion researches. Oh, democracy of the federalists of the EU! We need more of it, don’t we? The new European Constitution substituting the Treaty of Rome was an object of referendum only in three member states and all three rejected it. Then the document was renamed and called Treaty of Lisboa and was accepted without any referendum in any member state – except tiny Ireland. It was accepted there by the effect of an enormous one sided “yes” campaign organised and financed by the government. (The main organiser of that campaign was later arrested with charge of corruption in some other issue…Nice, honest, creditabe guy of a nice, honest, creditable campaign…) And the “no” campaign got no money from the government. How democratic! And how politically correct! And when Hungary was to decide whether to enter EU or not a same type of one sided governmental campaign prepared the referendum about it with minimal possibility of real debate about it. How democratic! How politically correct! (And I think the same thing happened in the other new member states, too, before joining EU.) Federalists only PRETEND to want more democracy and they only PRETEND that only small and rascist parties are eurosceptic and not a substantial part of the population of the EU. And they only PRETEND that they don’t understand, why.)
oh yes it has!! and its dragging europe down.
Ivan my dear you are a very bad debater…As I mentioned above already, every state that joined the EU after 1995 had a referendum in order to join. In Sweden they had a referendum, in Croatia- the most recent member they also had a referendum!
@Christos Mouzeviris
Most of the countries that joined the EU after 1995 were only too pleased to join the EU and do whatever their EU political masters told them to do because they wanted to join the EU gravy-train where they could get free money, free kudos, free gravitas and free access to the Northern [in the main] net contributing EU nations.
Your point thus was?…
Why do you need another pan European referendum? Every state before it joins must give its people the option, as it is happening already! If the people say yes that means that they want to be part of the EU.. Now I understand that you in the UK want a referendum in EU membership and you are bloody getting it in a few years time!! So what are you going on about? Nobody holds you in by force, apart from your OWN government!!
Christos Mouzeviris
so that’s a no then, you will not be asking the peoples of Europe or if they want to be in your United states of Federal Europe.
The referendums for joining after 95 was for joining the EU (with subsequent bailout / free handouts as incentives), what will they do when our money stops going into your EU coffers? The countries that joined before 95 have not asked their people if they want to be in your EU let alone your US of E.
Thanks for the confirmation that your EU was created without the mandate of the people.
http://www.dw.de/german-finance-minister-schuble-warns-eu-of-uk-exit/a-16660598
Ivan your imagination runs wild and your little Englander bigotry knows no bounds!! All the best in your cause!!
@Christos Mouzeviris
Please refrain from OFFENSIVE POLITICALLY INCORRECT LANGUAGE!
Your pejorative usage of the phrase ‘Little Englander’ is both risible [in the context of this debate] (but more seriously) contemptuous.
Yes! Stop this hypocrisy.
I expect answers from the case Ares (2014) 1502108.
On 12 May 2014, registered the above case involving questions-clarification for start and functioning IACS system acting cross-checks for payments rural EU support.
Because the competent European Commission not replied , i resorted on 11 July 2014 to the Ombudsman 01253/2014/ANA to mediate to answer my questions.
So far I have not gotten any response.
Is this ordinary for Europe ?
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/direct-support/iacs/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-funding/audit/pdf/2007_en.pdf
@Dim Zev
…….desperate & angry for being ignored? Why not try DE’s route & ask them if they could give you a lead- using: info@debatingeurope.eu – Otherwise, get on your horse, bicycle or helicopter to the EU in Brussels, known office block, floor, room number & known name! Than knock- knock who’s there & see! Maybe it’s a one way computerized cyber office?
Yes, gone mad!
Political correctness is a profound insult to us all. And we, the public, are to blame for allowing it to have ever been imposed on us in the first place. We went along with it. It is a sinister method of absolute control. And the only reason you ever get a state or leading group wanting to implement such an oppressive lifestyle is because they are well aware that what they are pushing at you is against the law of of natural decency.
Look first at what is taking place right here in the UK as I write. And yet parents are too afraid to reject it by walking out and refusing to go along with this crazy bullying against our traditions and social culture as it is insidiously decimated before our eyes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2722340/Trojan-Horse-purge-threat-Christmas-Independent-schools-academies-forced-drop-celebrations-new-rules-tackle-extremists.html
However, the very matter that should concern us all in Europe is, why have ‘we’ followed the Americans in this crazy pursuit of indoctrination and obsessive abuse which goes profoundly against our natural rights as human beings to express ourselves freely and truthfully? Who is running the EU? And why are we allowing them to get away with an allegiance to another State we have not been asked to give consent to? It is a repulsive move against the freedom of thought and against humanity in and of itself, yet we stand for this infringement upon us like sheep to the slaughter. Why? And why have we allowed ourselves to be ruled by a country of mendacious idiots without once getting up, collectively, to rid ourselves of them and the horror they impose on us and our children?
http://townhall.com/columnists/garyshapiro/2012/02/16/political_correctness_is_hurting_america/page/full
Here is another example from today’s news. The joke being, our government according to this article, wants us to get closer to accepting control by the unelected US insults by forcing us to pull out of the human rights policies because, it tells us, being part of it stops us being able to deport criminals. Which is an absolute lie. They are using this can’t get rid of criminal to fire more hatred of Europe in order to align us further as a State under US control, where human rights in that place are the equivalent of third world dictatorships.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2722361/We-pull-Euro-human-rights-rules-May-tells-PM-It-s-way-rid-foreign-criminals-says.html
We are to blame for our own demise, because we allow it to continue. The only answer to this hell on earth we are being lead into is to demand Direct Democracy for the entire European continent. This would take the power from those who are selling us out and placing it back with the citizen (us) who has to live with the fall out from this abuse.
Referendum on any controversial issue or political policy that will change our lives profoundly, at the call of the citizen, will enable us to choose how we wish to move forward in freedom. It is a fight against persecution.
Stomp on the face of political correctness and charge those who insist on it with a crime against humanity. Put them in jail, the same way they use that method of brutality toward us when we dare to speak freely.
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My personal opinion is that we can never be too politically correct… Citizenship enhancement is a never ending job, and embracing the cultural learnings of that effort and putting them into practice politico-juridically is what democracy is all about. We can always question the language that is used in order to be politically correct (see for example that mocking politically correct children’s stories book) but what matters at the end is the posture of inclusiveness. The same stands, I think, for situations where a special opening is created for gender or specific ethnical backgrounds. Our culture is traditionally biased in favour of white men of middle or high socio-economic status, and it is not easy for “others” to qualify if they keep on trying from “outside” instead of being given the opportunity to learn from the insiders experience. There is still a lot to do in terms of banning offensive language. Take a look at pop and rap songs lyrics. They are really offensive.
@ Caterina Passos:
Rap songs are the cultural language of those you are looking to ‘save.’ Which you even thinking that way is a racist insult of the kind you say you abhor. Do you honestly believe that political correctness will stop these groups them using the N word or worse, gotta slap my bitch today, in their loved but hideous so called music? If your answer to that is, yes, you need to read up on the origin of what you want to change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9vTzCLkYA
Another GM import from that land of the free.
@Catarina Passos & Catarina…………………..they are mutually inclusive?
Citizenship enhancement and PC is or is not?
Before pc became fashionable there was just ordinary decency, good manners & ethics. If interested, please enhance yourself thoroughly with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness
and than with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Politically_Incorrect_Guide
@Catherine Benning
MYSOGYNIST terms/word/epithets are of EQUAL vulgarity/disgust/concern as RACIST terms/words/epithets – please try to treat ALL dis-empowered groups EQUALLY!
My personal opinion is that we can never be too politically correct… Citizenship enhancement is a never ending job, and embracing the cultural learnings of that effort and putting them into practice politico-juridically is what democracy is all about. We can always question the language that is used in order to be politically correct (see for example that mocking politically correct children’s stories book) but what matters at the end is the posture of inclusiveness. The same stands, I think, for situations where a special opening is created for gender or specific ethnical backgrounds. Our culture is traditionally biased in favour of white men of middle or high socio-economic status, and it is not easy for “others” to qualify if they keep on trying from “outside” instead of being given the opportunity to learn from the insiders experience. There is still a lot to do in terms of banning offensive language. Take a look at pop and rap songs lyrics. They are really offensive.
If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;
Your fathers taken by the silver beards,
And their most reverend heads dash’d to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted upon pikes,
Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused
Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry
At Herod’s bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? will you yield, and this avoid,
Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy’d? Shakspeare…..oh look …NOT PC …..lets ban that shall we??.
Anyone can tell me that Europe is democracy?
If democracy is the will of a people Why Europe supports fascism to oppose the people expressed in the Catalan polls?
Should EU allow the full membership of some european countries like Albania or Bosnia? It is not right to isolate them but instead support them by accepting entering the EU. I think that their isolation is a political mistake which leades to various problems between them.
@Vaggelis Ridvald Dhimo
…….would you consider qualifying for EU membership as political correct or incorrect?
If certain EU Commissioners, pro EU supporters, foreign lobbyists and the blind would have it their way- ‘fringe countries’ as you mentioned- would probably be allowed in tomorrow! At least there are some conditions to avoid complete chaos! They are called the ‘Copenhagen criteria’. Please read them first:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/conditions-membership/index_en.htm
Once you have familiarized yourself with them, you might ‘not think’ anymore to be “isolated”. Very simple, they just do not qualify! To obtain any ‘qualifications’ in life-common understanding is: they need to be earned & worked for- not given! Is that difficult to understand?
Many of us think the ‘Copenhagen criteria’ and many other documents were decided in error and ‘undemocratically’, they need to be re visited, rewritten, made tighter or abolished to reverse the present destructive trajectory of Europe!
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When referring to the EU, I dislike the use of ‘democratic deficit’ where the correct term should be ‘totally and deliberately undemocratic’.
I shall continue to be disinclined to acquiesce to any request of conferring the label ‘democratic’ upon the European Union.
The so called ‘Commonwealth’ is a useless relic of colonialism that makes a laughing stock of the British people and the UK government.
http://www.dw.de/commonwealth-must-advocate-rights-or-face-irrelevance/a-15490514
Anyone who believes otherwise is a backward thinker living in the days of slavery and colonial rule. But, what to expect from those who have little education other than indoctrination on how to be a good boy and stay away from what it means to be a modern European. Political correctness is what keeps those foaming at the mouth, akin to mad dogs who stay too long in the midday sun, able to go on wagging their tails.
@Catherine Benning
BTW and FTR, I’m not a fan of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, it has allowed too many poor-calibre European countries to join the EU without same honestly addressing their cultural baggage eg corruption, misfeasance, malfeasance, poor judiciary, poor police service, poor legal system etc etc.
Indeed, I prefer the new-fangled concept of POLITEFUL CORRECTNESS wherein one can legitimately critique so long as one does so in a POLITE manner adhering to EXACTITUDE.
Thus, in the interests of POLITEFUL CORRECTNESS might I suggest that when criticising another person’s intelligence, please try to construct your sentences in a manner that agrees with the rules of English language grammar! LOL!
Oh and thanks for the confirmation of my English heritage courtesy of your Noel Coward melodic reference1. I however, cannot confirm likewise regarding your heritage judging by your REPEATED, UBIQUITOUS, OMNIPRESENT English language errors evident in so, so many of your forum posts.
1You may need to look up the person in question as you seem to be a tad ‘lacking’ regarding English and/or British culture.
☻
Amusing! Guess, Marcel is an innocent bystander?
C4C- KEYLINGO- lingua franca- lingua royale, lingo house of common visa lingo house of Lords? Beware if ones language is not up to scratch! What would ‘rofa’ stand for? I have a direct line to Elisabeth and the HRC- need help?
I would like to propose some changes as to how the media refers to the EU.
Instead of ‘pro-EU’ vs ‘anti-EU’, I think that it would be more appropriate to refer to ‘anti-democracy’ (=pro-EU) and ‘pro-democracy’ (= anti EU).
‘Pro-democracy’ sounds nicer and is more accurate.
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UKIP is anything but “pro-democracy”.
It’s pro-fascism. It is the tea party of Britain.
@Crayven
How on earth can a person like you from a country with a track record of fascistic and extremist politics accuse UKIP [with many people of BME (a PC term nonetheless) origin] of being a fascist organisation?
LOL!
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Here is a, C Span Today, discussion on what political correctness is. Where it comes from and where it’s leading. It is serious and dangerous for every one of us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq6Gctxe81E
Yes, political correctness has gone too far. There have already been formal complaints about it by various linguistics’ bodies. It is considered a killer of linguistic diversity but also, beyond language, we can see it being a hurdle to acknowledging certain social and political problems, which means they do not get addressed. For example: “Anti-Semitism in Europe is on the rise”, a newspaper title creating the impression that “white” Europeans attack Jews. Actually, Jews in Europe get attacked primarily by Muslim immigrants from other continents. Nobody dares say it like it is and so the problem get swept under the carpet. There are other examples such as the one above.
Depends on what issues.
Usually people who say “PC has gone too far” are racists and fascists angry that they can no longer spread their stink around unchecked.
Sure, there are some who have valid reasons.
Feminism has become VERY “PC” to the point of policing everyone’s ‘thoughts’ even.
LGBT groups are not “too PC” however.
Racism and talking how anti-EU parties have a fascistic smell about them is not “PC”, it is reality.
So these issues are dependent on the context.
Religions the same.
Outside of the EU immigration should especially be a thorny issue right now.
With ISIL the EU should severely restrict immigration of muslim individuals – at least for the time being.
This is considered very “non-PC” i know, but pragmatism sometimes needs to take precedence.
Xenophobia of inside-EU immigration needs to be addressed and it is not “too PC” to talk about it.
Europe must look out for europeans first.
As much as we would like we cannot carry the whole world alone if we are ruined.
Europe ( and maybe Ukraine ) first, the world afterwards.
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In my opinion political correctness is in itself a contradiction
@DebatingEurope
Oh err, it appears that DE has gone a bit PC-mad.
Never mind…
Censorship hath charms to silence the valid treat.
It is most likely i was drawn into a pointless fight with you – which one would think i should have known better not to get into <.<
@Crayven
We all make mistakes PRIETEN, but please try to cut down on the [often unnecessary] usage of profanities, the threats of physical violence and above all try not to [ab-]use POLITICAL CORRECTNESS to defend negative aspects of your own culture.
BTW and FTR no CULTURE is perfect [e.g. the UK’s Booze culture] BUT when one abuses the laudable tenets of [what is now (unfortunately) discredited] POLITICAL CORRECTNESS simply because certain facts are not to your liking, you only help reinforce a certain NEGATIVE cultural stereotype/meme.
I can only theorise as to your abrupt volte face, but whatever the reason and going forward I welcome a more mature, sanguine and considered debate in future.
Perhaps if you would stop attacking “eastern Europe” like we’re Satan or something i would be more open to “debate”.
So far all you give your very malthusian thinking of “we should piss on them to get more for us” mentality. Which is not very appealing if i am the one being pissed on, i’ll tell you that.
Do we have our problems?
Sure. Do we work to fix them? Of course are.
Does it work? That’s debatable. And we can have a debate about that if you want.
But don’t and tell me how we are “untermensch” because we didn’t progress from being to hell in two world wars – and i mean bombed to hell, razed. My town was razed completely in ’44, they had to rebuild everything. There are barely 50 structures before then and they are held as museums – to your level with russian thieves stealing our resources every day.
That’s just crazy.
It’s spelled “Prieten-e” ( because you are addressing me personally.
“Prieten” = “friend” as a random word.
@Crayven
I do not ‘attack’ Eastern Europe per se, indeed I am very fond of countries like Poland or Hungary, so please ‘do not put words onto my page’. ;)
Furthermore, your usage of hyper-emotional language e.g. ‘Satan’, ‘p#@s’, ‘Untermensch’ etc is unnecessary and impolite – contrary to the (partial at least) raison d’etre behind POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
You are clearly an intelligent person [although often under-informed – case in point ‘LGBTQI’] but you appear unable to express yourself without recourse to profanities and/or threats of violence and/or sentimentality and/or OTT terminology.
FTR, why should the UK give Romania money, after all Romania is over 1,000 miles and umpteen countries away from the UK?
Why should the UK not prefer to give money away to more needy countries that have far closer ties (cultural and more) to the UK than Romania and too will have far greater trading power and influence in the future (if not already) than Romania?
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS aside, the UK does not exist merely to service the self-inflicted problems of Romania, although as a Brit [the biggest charity-givers in Europe and the 2nd biggest (when you include the EU FISH TAX on the UK) EU net contributor] I actually don’t mind helping countries such as Romania.
However, your PC inspired national VICTIM-CARD and your national ADDICTION TO EU-CHARITY (courtesy of the EU net contributors like the UK) are truly galling to behold.
Currently, there is a horrible paedophile-scandal dominating the UK media – said scandal was allowed to fester because of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
I fear another scandal of a ‘mass crime from (a) poor basket-case EU nation(s)’ nature is already fermenting and fomenting in the UK. Unfortunately, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS has already stifled debate, elucidation and illumination on such a disturbing and developing EU-inspired scandal.
As regards your sentimental soliloquy about your home-town, can I remind you that others suffered too over the same period over the same issues – why do you think you or your town or your country warrants especial treatment?
It is people like you that have helped destroy the credibility of the once laudable movement called ‘POLITICAL CORRECTNESS’!
PS: Thank you for your grammatical correction BUT I’m a tad confused by your last sentence and usage of the word ‘random’.
@Tarquin Farquhar:
I will skip over the sappy dribble and address your points.
“Why should the UK not prefer to give money away to more needy countries that have far closer ties (cultural and more) to the UK than Romania and too will have far greater trading power and influence in the future (if not already) than Romania?”
Because otherwise migrant workers from Romania and Bulgaria will have no choice but to come to UK and look for work.
Clearly, if you had the roles reversed you would want us to do the same for you.
This is the point of the EU, to cooperate, not ask constantly “what’s in it for me!!??”.
The UK has much to learn about that.
“POLITICAL CORRECTNESS aside, the UK does not exist merely to service the self-inflicted problems of Romania, although as a Brit [the biggest charity-givers in Europe and the 2nd biggest (when you include the EU FISH TAX on the UK) EU net contributor] I actually don’t mind helping countries such as Romania.”
You do realize there are countries in the EU that get more help than my country ( which you are apparently focusing to make me feel ashamed, it’s not working by the way ) and there are many more countries who “give”.
This is the principle of cooperation.
Those who have more , give to help those who have less.
You’re the 2nd donor. ok, we appreciate your donation. What now? I mean i don’t really understand what you want.
You want us to kiss your feet from doing what every developed country in the EU is doing? Or what?
“However, your PC inspired national VICTIM-CARD and your national ADDICTION TO EU-CHARITY (courtesy of the EU net contributors like the UK) are truly galling to behold.”
I seriously laughed.
“PC inspired national victim card”.
When you get national newspapers publishing “Hordes of romanians and bulgarians will FLOOD BRITAIN, over 20 million of them !!” i think a REACTION is to be expected from teh Foreign affairs office.
It is xenophobic and alarmist.
Not to mention bunk. What? is our whole population just…i dunno…LEAVE and come there?
how many romanians have come? How many “invaded” ? Hmm?
I bet you not nearly as many, in fact LESS since they percieve the UK to be racist and xenophobic. And publications like Daily Mail and telegraph are the cause.
“national addiction to EU charity”. I seriously fail to see what that means.
Our country is less developed because in case you missed it, we fought the turks, russians, we’re leveled during two world wars and we didn’t have an empire to suck resources from.
So while we protected your ass from the islamic hordes centuries ago we got our ass pounded constantly, it is a wonder ANYTHING developed at all.
I don’t understand? What? you expect that centuries of conflict and decades of communism to simply be releaved by a bit of foreign aid overnight?
HAH!
“As regards your sentimental soliloquy about your home-town, can I remind you that others suffered too over the same period over the same issues – why do you think you or your town or your country warrants especial treatment?”
I am willing to bet no town in Britain has been leveled like mine has.
And Germany had trillions of the Marshall plan so don’t give them as an example of ‘rebuilding’.
We were always under one foreign rule or another, our history is different and of course you can’t understand it. You’d have to LIVE here for a few years at least to get to know things.Furthermore i didn’t demand ‘special’ treatment, but i notice you keep picking on MY country specifically as if you have a grudge against it, personally.
It’s easy to sit aside and spit on those who you don’t understand.
P.S.:
It’s hard to translate the grammar, just think of it this way.
The way you used “prieten” it’s like you would say “friend” in this phrase: “He is a friend”
“prietene” is used like you would ‘friend’ in this phrase: “Listen, my friend..”
And if you are wondering, yes, the word was adopted from russian.
Ha ha…Poland and Hungary are in CENTRAL Europe, not Eastern. And…what exactly is the negative image of Romania? I’ve never heard of it? Surely it is some kind of stereotype based on what people say as opposed to something obvious to everybody…
@Crayven
I criticise your country because of its ENTITLEMENT-CULTURE and its SENSE-OF-ENTITLEMENT and MOST significantly because of YOUR frequent attempts to portray your country as a VICTIM and simultaneously frequently ignoring and/or underplaying the part Romania had to play in its own demise and its own negative image.
You have (ab-)used POLITICAL CORRECTNESS to defend the indefensible thereby discrediting yourself and unfortunately undermining POLITICAL CORRECTNESS too.
Please note:
I am well aware that Romania [like Poland] fought the [as you say] ‘Islamic hordes’ and suffered as a consequence.
I am well aware that Romania [like Poland] fought Russia and suffered as a consequence.
I am well aware that Romania [like Poland] suffered terribly in both World Wars.
BUT when you contrast Poland with Romania today I know which of the 2 has my respect and sadly [for you no doubt] its NOT Romania…
The UK demos has never voted to ‘co-operate’ to the extent of political union with basket case nations in the EU; thus, if you come across a certain disdain from UK citizens regarding said countries then please try NOT to be aghast as our [UK] democracy has been undermined and our own poor and our own infrastructure are suffering whilst we pay SOLICHARITY to the likes of Romania.
However, please note that I am STILL prepared for my country to pay LIMITED, CONDITIONAL SOLICHARITY to Romania as I feel well-off countries have a moral duty to support lesser nations.
Furthermore, please consider that for me said noble endeavour extends to countries beyond the EU that are often much poorer than the likes of even Romania and indeed some of which have suffered because of the actions of the UK in the past.
As regards your critique of UK national newspapers I am quite AMUSED that you attach such gravitas to said media when you have frequently in the past mocked the verisimilitude of same.
Please try to keep on-topic if you wish to continue this thread. I grow weary of your emotional, stereotypically defensive [and often] irrelevant outbursts. FTR, I am quite sure that Romania has something positive to offer the UK but as it stands it is primarily a lesser derivative of perhaps the greatest ever European nation viz. Italy. I look forward to you rising to the challenge and informing me and others regarding my upbeat assertion about Romania.
PS: It is clear that “It’s hard to translate the grammar” [as you put it] regarding the word of interest. Unfortunately, your exposition confirmed that to be the case and I am still unfortunately none the wiser, sorry.
@Tarquin Farquhar:
“I criticise your country because of its ENTITLEMENT-CULTURE and its SENSE-OF-ENTITLEMENT and MOST significantly because of YOUR frequent attempts to portray your country as a VICTIM and simultaneously frequently ignoring and/or underplaying the part Romania had to play in its own demise and its own negative image.”
What ‘entitlement culture’ ? You think we sit with our bellies up and just open our mouths for the EU supplies to drop?
We work our butts off, it’s not our fault the leaders are corrupt and the corporations screw the workers at every turn.
“my attempt to portray my country as a victim” – yeah, i’d say we are a victim of Daily Mail ‘s xenophobic propaganda.
Wouldn’t you agree?
How exactly did we “participate in our downfall”. Last i checked UK media started bashing us out of the blue.
What? You’re gonna say that because some romanian idiots stole in the UK now ALL of us are thieves? That’s just nuts.
“You have (ab-)used POLITICAL CORRECTNESS to defend the indefensible thereby discrediting yourself and unfortunately undermining POLITICAL CORRECTNESS too.”
Really? So defending my country against racist xenophobic attacks is me using “political correctness” ?
WOW…
Poland this poland that. I don’t know what you THINK Poland fought. But you need to re-learn European history as the ottoman empire NEVER reached as far north as poland.
So much for them “fighting the islamic hordes”.
So much for them being under Austro-hungary imperial exploitation for 400 years…yeah you conveniently forgot that one too.
And lastly how it is the people’s fault that their leaders are idiots?
By this logic all brits are morons because they voted Cameron into power, right?
I also can sense your seeping utter disdain for my country through words like “countries the LIKE of Romania”.
I take it you never visited this place but i’d take my country over yours any day – and i have seen both…unlike you.
“As regards your critique of UK national newspapers I am quite AMUSED that you attach such gravitas to said media when you have frequently in the past mocked the verisimilitude of same. ”
That phrase kinda proves my point actually…
First of all, bud, if you don’t enjoy my style of commenting you can always stop replying – there is that free choice.
Second – the simple fact that you think any country into the EU must “offer something to the UK” as if you’re some supposedly important big shot is hilarious. Again , i point you to the definition of “cooperation”.
There is nothing i can “inform” a spiteful person such as you who has already made up his mind and i don’t need to ‘defend’ my country against such frivolous insults.
just go, have your stinking referendum vote and for the love of god just leave the EU already.
You keep commenting here , repeating ad-nauseam that “we didn’t want the EU”.
Well ok, first of all you’re just a minority here – you and some other 3 people. That’s it.
Second, you were promised a referendum – for the love of god shut up, stop commenting on this forum as you don’t care about the progress of this union anymore since you want out and vote when the time comes as you see fit.
I mean seriously why do you keep commenting here if you don’t even WANT into the EU?
What? you think you’re going to co-opt people to your cause? Surely you jest.
THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN REMOVED BY MODERATORS FOR BREACHING OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. REPLIES MAY ALSO BE REMOVED.
THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN REMOVED BY MODERATORS FOR BREACHING OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. REPLIES MAY ALSO BE REMOVED.
This thread is rapidly drifting off-topic and the comments have been growing unnecessarily personal.
Please keep the discussion on-topic and treat all fellow participants with mutual respect or we will be forced to lock the thread.
perhaps it should be locked – there hasn’t been a new comment in a while except our little exchange between me and Tarquin.
And if he posts once more, you can be sure i’ll reply and the thing will start all over again.
@Crayven
Yes, what a sterling idea!
DITCH IT ASAP
Political Correctness has done nothing but ruin social cohesion within the UK where people (myself included) are scared to say what they really think. It has made the silent majority afraid of speaking out in case of being called racist or similar.
Every day it seems a public figure is attacked for saying something which isn’t quite acceptable to the current times we are living in and ends up either being sacked or prosecuted. Today a judge, yesterday a football manager, the day before a footballer.
What I find most annoying of all is the skewd take being given to modern history especially the 1970s. It reminds me of what the Nazis did when they burnt books that held views they didn’t agree with whilst promoting books which showed a false history of the germanic people.
Ok this comment will be more general and talk about multiple issues.If political corectness tought us something is that we allow others to abuse and take advantage of us.Lets face the problem we see in England.England belong to english people.Its a non muslim country with their traditions ,values and culture.One day they dearly and generously ivited and accepted imigrants who are just guest regardless if they have id and passport or not.They live on british wellfare and and take full advantage when they shouldn t have the right.With all that instead of being grateful,they cause crimes ,violence of all kinds and the worst terrorist attacks! This days i read so many comments and i just realise that people live in unknown,some simply resigned about their situations and just very few have the courage to speak up thereal issue.Today if u expose a major issue u are easy ridiculed,attacked or acused of being a racist.Ignoring problems will only take the situation in a condition where there is no return.People talk about Anders the Norway killer and say,”why we make such a big deal out of Charlie killings ,Anders did the same and was a Christian”This statement show clearly that people are unaware and clearly not ready to face major issues.First of all what Anders did was serial killings done by a crazy person and once he was removed from the society life returned to normal.Terorists its way above that.It means that there are some bad roots that continue to grow and they will never end.Even if we kill all terorists today will grow others tomorrow to back them up.This is a never ending story and the only way to stop is to gently but surely remove all muslims out of the countries .cancel their pasports and id.This people enter the country as a guest ,they comit atrocities and try to take over the country like its theirs.Gouverments fight for strangers and disrespect and abuse their own people.U no need to be ashamed or feel guilty of defending yourself ,u guys are not responsible for this undeserving people.They belong to Pakistan and Banglades .For a country to have peace love and harmony ,gouverment must make peace with their own people first and then others.While in theory the idea that we are all equal and we have same rights- sounds good,sadly in practice it doesn t work.While we are all people we arw very different .To me its very clear that our idea of harmony doesn t match muslims idea of harmony so they will be doing better and be more happy away in their own countries.So the solution to restore peace love and harmony its clear and this is the only way to put a stop to terorism for good.If u fear them,u are already a hostage and this is what make them strong and u weaker.If muslims are good peaceful and honest people like they say they are,they will understand why their removal was necessary if they fight back against u that show u just further that u guys are in big trouble and thatSmake u think again about who u allowed to enter your country.Remember leting someone in your country it means u let them in your life.I don t hate,im not racist,im not Charlie,im not christian,jew or muslim,im not british,im just a citizen with strong sens of what is right ,with a strong sentiment for justice.im just a citizen who is impartial and don t keep sides.I alnalyze and at the end i protect and defent what is right.Heroes fight the evil ,don t fear him or accept to live with him side by side out of fear.Some of us are visionary people and weare able to see well below the surface,really to the bottom of it and in consequence we can predict the future well before things happen.Situation we face today was predictable but very few wanted to listen and those who did didn t have the power to prevent .We just watch helpless how everything crush around us.Wish u all a very good day.
I perfectly agree that we should get rid of political correctness. It is getting rid of social cohesion in European countries and is allowing scummy left leaning politicians to stay in power in Europe. These are the very same politicians who say ¨multiculturalism has failed¨, and at the same time are pushing for Europe to be overrun with outside ideas and cultures. I am an American democrat but I can’t stand how we are allowing the guilt of the past 120 years to hamper our moral judgement and decisions on what is right or wrong. Political correctness is also the main reason for why the UN tried to pass an islamic style anti-defamation law condemning any criticism of islam even when the criticism is just on the tenets of islam and not the believers’ ethnicity. It has reached an amount of absurdity which will be insurmountable for our future children and grandchildren to deal with. Get rid of it wholesale ! It is getting rid of our opportunity to say what we want as citizens ! And it also is part of the reason for Europe’s radicalizing muslim population. If we don’t get rid of political correctness it will swallow all of us up until we no longer have a voice.
.
Are we allowed to answer that without being labelled raciest or homophobic ?
Yes, we cannot call being overrun by immigrants an invasion.
It is the stupidity and corruption of our leaders, who are destroying the beautiful, safe and developing Europe, who our ancestors had built with hard work and love – all because of the lust for more money, more power and a misunderstood Democracy.
It has
There is not enough political correctness. Good language keeps the discussions and debates on the intellectual level. Bad strong language raises strong primitive emotions instead, like hate and defensive feelings, preventing clear understanding of the situation. Strong negative emotions prevent understanding the aspects other than the immediate egoistic self denfense.
There is not enough political correctness. Good language keeps the discussions and debates on the intellectual level. Bad strong language raises strong primitive emotions instead, like hate and defensive feelings, preventing clear understanding of the situation. Strong negative emotions prevent understanding the aspects other than the immediate egoistic self denfense.
No, just common sense has been forgotten.
No, just common sense has been forgotten.
Another stupid question …Of Course yes..
Another stupid question …Of Course yes..
‘Debating Europe’ switch your name to ‘Trumping Europe’ you are obviously craving for it.
‘Debating Europe’ switch your name to ‘Trumping Europe’ you are obviously craving for it.
The answer is yes ,
The answer is yes ,
YESSS
YES!
Se eu puder responder a isso na minha língua e dizendo o que penso sobre a mísera existência da UE, talvez o politicamente correcto ainda não tenha ido longe demais.
Yes!Political correctness will destroy and divide us…it slowly started since the constitution of the eu and it is accelerating nowdays…
You should watch the last season of South Park! you will find some answers there for political correctness
political correctness is nothing more than aggressive censorship
Much too far!
I did not know there is such a thing ……those 2 terms seem to in opposition to each other.
It went too far years ago! People across Europe are opening their eyes and mouths in protest!
А long time ago.
That is not political correctness it is Marxist censure! LAWS for “hate speech”, that is COMMUNISM! I know, I have lived in commie society.
Political correctness is another name for political censorship…
Political correctness has got to the point of discrimination of local populations. It has nothing to do with “correctness”.
political correctness also go us to that political leaders, and more so political hopefuls, will mince every word before they utter it, leaving voters to know they cannot trust what politicians say. One always has to question what they say, since they could mean or want something very different, but cannot afford to say it they want to stay in power, or want to get into power. This, with a few other things, completely eroded trust in politicians for many years now. Too bad for democracy.
Political correctness is a form os radicalism.
Yes!!
Why are people here complaining about the EU? Why are you following Europe debating if you don’t like thr EU?
oh, look at all the crybabies in this thread whining about how it is not acceptable anymore to insult minorities and incite hate
Yeees, tooooooo far. Freedon of speech does np longer exist.
Yes…but then i find it ironic the so called liberals love this old Soviet policy.
our society have become way to sensative. And also from time to time even interpet some things as bad even wen it was ment as the opposite. Becue peopel onlly want to se that every one is a villan when serin words is used and never look at the big picture. So yes its olreddy way to sensative and its becomin counter produktiv cuse its to mutch corectnes int interpetation of that things allways is bad.
No!
Definately yes!!!!
Yes!!!!!
YES !
Political correctness is a cancer it has broken the number one rule of life. It has allowed words to speakl ouder than action. George H.W. bush said it best. History has proven that when Government tries to micro manage casual conversation it creates mistrust. if you encourage people to search for an insult in every word action or gesture you have created diversity in the name of diversity. and that is exactly what it has done anytime you place the name of a country infront of American you have separated and dis disenfranchised those people from. America” African American,” “Asian American”, ” latin American”
“Native American” then “Caucasian.”
So here is a case of political correctness being a hurdle to election law being enforced and electoral fraud tolerated. Obviously, this raised questions with regards to the Brexit referendum as well:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37055521