Political “correctness” ... and the “liberal minded”

How does a person make sense, these days, about what can and cannot be said in public or over the air waves on radio and TV.  A week ago the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council made a ruling that the 25 year old Dire Straits song entitled “Money for Nothing” should be censored. The ruling came about due to one complaint from a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in Newfoundland.

This was allegedly due to the repeated use of the word “faggot” in one of the verses (the full lyrics to the song are below so that this verse can be read in context).

See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up
Yeah buddy that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's millionaire

It seems this person was either not aware, or didn't care, that the words of the song were not about name-calling, nor were they homophobic.  Rather the person they are singing about, who is using the word in this negative and demeaning way, is clearly trying to bolster their own negative self image and place in life.    

They are having a ‘pity party’ feeling sorry about themselves doing hard physical labour, moving furniture and appliances.  Meantime, he sees these musicians as having lots of money, a plane, and all these good looking hot ‘chicks’.  Think about that one for a minute; if these musicians were indeed homosexual, why would they want all these hot chicks.

Clearly they think it’s an easy life -- all they have to do is wail away on a guitar and bang on drums, to which they say … “that ain’t working”, and that a “chimpanzee” could do that.

David Marsden, free form radio guru and founder and creator of Canada's first alternative station CFNY, called the ruling “the goofiest thing I've ever heard . . . There are other songs with much more offensive lyrics.”

So now, my point.  In the past decade those who consider themselves to be the “Politically Correct” police have decided to take many things out of context of the time they happened, the place, or what they were about, to the point we have reached the ridiculous.

The Road Runner cartoon is considered violent and harmful to children ... all people that taught at residential schools were evil and had a negative effect on first nations people ... classic books from decades and decades ago, written in the words spoken at that time, need to be revised to today’s “acceptable” language ... and on and on it goes.

What is or isn't offensive though?  That usually depends on what group or community you are a member of, but often times it’s determined by those who are considered to be “liberal minded”; not those who may be considered to have more conservative – or perhaps “family” values.

Think about TV programming for a moment, and count the number of times swearing is used in the dialogue of prime time drama’s and other programming. Just the other day I started to watch a comedy program, I thought would be entertaining, and the “F” word was used 3 or 4 times in the first couple minutes I had it turned on.  

Okay so obviously that was intended to be “Adult” programming right?  Wrong … the rating for that show said it was okay for anyone over the age of 14.  What do you think -- are you fine with young teens being told that hearing the “F” word over and over is acceptable?

And then what about the use of God's name?  Many people feel it's okay to 'damn' Him because people that have religious beliefs are apparently a joke, and not worthy of consideration.  You won’t ever hear them using Allah or Buddha in that way though because that's not politically correct.

I don't know what you think, but I sure wish the same “correctness” was shared by the so called “liberal minded”, as they expect from those with more traditional or conservative ideas and beliefs.

I'm Alan Forseth, and those are the thoughts of one conservative.

Dire Straits -- Money for Nothing (1988)
Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it,

You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it,

Money for nothin' and chicks for free

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it,

Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger,

Maybe get a blister on your thumb

We gotta install microwave ovens, Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators, We gotta move these color TV's

See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up
Yeah buddy that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's millionaire

We gotta install microwawve ovens, Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators, We gotta move these color TV's

I shoulda learned to play the guitar
I shoulda learned to play them drums
Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera
Man we could have some fun
And he's up there, what's that ? Hawaiian noises ?
Bangin' on the bongoes like a chimpanzee

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Get your money for nothin' get your chicks for free

We gotta install ovens, Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators, We gotta move these color TV's, Lord

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' get your chicks for free
Money for nothin' get chicks for free