The True Meaning of Political Correctness
The term “politically correct” was coined in the case of Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 419 (1793), where it meant not some “socially offensive” language but, rather, interpretation of laws according to the Constitution. Thus, “Constitutionally correct” and “politically correct” were synonymous. What is more, the Supreme Court in Chisholm held that once people are treated as servants to the state, not the state as a creation by the people and for the people, any conduct and speech flowing from such Constitutional distortion will become “politically incorrect.”
As Justice Wilson stated: “A state, I cheerfully fully admit, is the noblest work of Man. But, Man himself, free and honest, is, I speak as to this world, the noblest work of God.” [Ibid. p.463] By this he means that the state was created by Man to serve Man but Man himself was created by God. We should never forget the hierarchy of values from which we derive morals and ethical conduct. Justice Wilson then continued to cite several examples from human history, including Homer and Demosthenes, in which “politically correct” meant “classically correct,” such as the appellation “the people of Athens,” ergo: “the People of the United States.” Politically correct thus meant legally subject to the “more perfect union” (the quote comes from the Preamble to our Constitution) which meant the Union of the United States, a confederacy, if you will, where states are treated on an equal footing, subjected to federal laws and government.
“In order therefore to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for common defense, and to secure the blessings of liberty…” – we all know these words and they ring in our ears as indelible common sense truths today. Legislative and Executive powers are vested in our Constitution. What we have seen in the last seven years, however, has been distortion upon distortion, a Three-Card Monte game of thorns played upon us by our leaders: Find the Lady – Liberty. Where is she? He in Power provided her with “shelter.”
TRANQUILITY, COMMON DEFENSE, LIBERTY – they have all been undermined and eroded by what we call “political correctness.” More than that, we are losing them because we have permitted the term “politically correct” to be radically transformed: instead of “Constitutionally correct” it means “inoffensive to anyone.” If we act to preserve our borders and TRANQUILITY (domestic peace), it is not “politically correct.” If we strive for COMMON DEFENSE, be it by providing our police with what they need to defend us, financing our military, managing and securing American foreign policy and our strategy, we are not “politically correct.” If we see something suspicious going on in our neighborhood but we are afraid to say something in order not to offend someone…
Alas: there lies true political correctness! When we do not stand for our Constitutional rights and liberties, then we are not “politically correct” in the sense in which the Supreme Court defined political correctness. To be American first, to be a patriot, to be unafraid and fight for your Constitution: that is the only “political correctness” that matters. It is the political correctness of action, not that of the word.
