Indeed, I suspect that the history of the extreme version of PC began as a reaction to people seeing “different” things in other cultures and proclaiming them to be “wrong” things simply because they are different. THAT is racism (or culturalism or whatever). BUT, (and I think this is your point, Daniel) this doesn’t mean that we can’t judge ANYTHING about a culture. If a culture has self-destructive characteristics (not placing appropriate value on things like education or hard work, turning a blind eye to crime, etc.), then I see no harm in pointing this out.

Of course, there’s a fine line here too, and it’s important to understand that these are PIECES of a culture and do not imply that an entire culture should be thrown out .. or that the other pieces of that culture are somehow inferior .. or (importantly) that the people in the culture are inferior.

Have I ever mentioned that I see education as the KEY?

By the way, you probably should have said “eastern Kentucky” rather than “East Kentucky” since you’re making it look (to foreigners anyway) that East Kentucky has the same status (state status that is) as West Virginia.

Indeed, I suspect that the history of the extreme version of PC began as a reaction to people seeing “different” things in other cultures and proclaiming them to be “wrong” things simply because they are different. THAT is racism (or culturalism or whatever). BUT, (and I think this is your point, Daniel) this doesn’t mean that we can’t judge ANYTHING about a culture. If a culture has self-destructive characteristics (not placing appropriate value on things like education or hard work, turning a blind eye to crime, etc.), then I see no harm in pointing this out.

Of course, there’s a fine line here too, and it’s important to understand that these are PIECES of a culture and do not imply that an entire culture should be thrown out .. or that the other pieces of that culture are somehow inferior .. or (importantly) that the people in the culture are inferior.

Have I ever mentioned that I see education as the KEY?

By the way, you probably should have said “eastern Kentucky” rather than “East Kentucky” since you’re making it look (to foreigners anyway) that East Kentucky has the same status (state status that is) as West Virginia.

So yes, of course, it’s a problem that crosses all races. Just take a look at East Kentucky or West Virginia if you ever doubt that. My point is simply that the time has come for us to stop being cowards and come out and take action that will help to reduce the amount of pain being created in our society.

So yes, of course, it’s a problem that crosses all races. Just take a look at East Kentucky or West Virginia if you ever doubt that. My point is simply that the time has come for us to stop being cowards and come out and take action that will help to reduce the amount of pain being created in our society.

I agree with Jose too that it is a class thing and not a racial thing — look at the Katrina aftermath. That was pretty clearly about class – and an almost complete lack of understanding by government officials of what poverty means.

I agree with Jose too that it is a class thing and not a racial thing — look at the Katrina aftermath. That was pretty clearly about class – and an almost complete lack of understanding by government officials of what poverty means.

I agree that throwing money at a problem to “fix” it is a flawed approach, and addressing underlying causes makes more sense. There’s nothing inherently PC or not-PC about that. However, it depends what you say the underlying causes are. For example, if someone told me that they thought “those people” committed crimes, sold drugs, etc. because “that’s what those people do” . . . and then told me that they aren’t allowed to say that because “it’s not PC” . . . well, they’d be right in saying it’s not PC, but they’d also be overtly racist (and wrong, IMHO).

I agree that throwing money at a problem to “fix” it is a flawed approach, and addressing underlying causes makes more sense. There’s nothing inherently PC or not-PC about that. However, it depends what you say the underlying causes are. For example, if someone told me that they thought “those people” committed crimes, sold drugs, etc. because “that’s what those people do” . . . and then told me that they aren’t allowed to say that because “it’s not PC” . . . well, they’d be right in saying it’s not PC, but they’d also be overtly racist (and wrong, IMHO).

Perhaps I should make a distinction when talking about this other kind of PC.

Perhaps I should make a distinction when talking about this other kind of PC.