This hub consists of 1,061 words.

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Political correctness belongs in politics! Make it happen!

Rachael Ray appears on the Food Network television channel where she has hosted the successful “30 Minute Meals” program since 2001.

Ray has a large number of other successful endeavors as well. Too, she has been the spokesperson for Dunkin’ Donuts since March, 2007.

As I researched her business history, I became convinced she is truly a great American. Great enough, I guess, for the political correctness cry babies to take potshots at her.

During May, 2008, Dunkin’ Donuts started advertising online with Ray as their pitchwoman. Ray wore a fringed black-and-white scarf with a paisley design. Dunkin’ Donut pulled the atrocious (I use this word with extreme sarcasms) ad later in the month. Why? Because, it resembled a kaffiyeh, an Arab headdress.

The cry babies among us claim such a scarf symbolizes Muslim extremism and terrorism. Because Yasser Arafat wore a kaffiyeh and because there are videos showing Muslim terrorists wearing kaffiyehs , are we Americans not to wear something that merely looks like a kaffiyeh?

My gosh! Does all this mean firearm manufactures can no longer show online pictures of their products at their own websites?

Think about it! Will some of us less educated Americans think a picture of a gun that merely looks like one a Muslim terrorist uses symbolizes Muslim extremism and terrorism.

It is good business sense for Dunkin’ Donuts to pull the ad but I bet all the management members held their noses when they made the decision to do so.

For more information, read the May 29 Associated Press article appearing at Foxnew.com and prepared by business writer Mark Jewell.

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There are more laughable, but pitiful, political correctness stories too.

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Here are some. Tiger Woods apologized for using the word “spaz” - a word meaning klutz or inept in the United States - to describe his performance after losing the 2006 US Masters Tournament.

In the United Kingdom, however, spaz is an abusive and taboo word that refers to a medical condition. Woods, pressured to do so, apologized when learning his comments offended some United Kingdom citizens.

The Brits had no cause for getting themselves in an uproar. And, Woods should not have felt an obligation to apologize for, after all, he used terminology that is acceptable in his country, the United States of America. Had he known beforehand, he probably would have used a different word. I would have and I think most of us would have.

Here's the point: Those across the Atlantic should respect our use of our language and we should respect their use of their language when spoken without malicious intent.

The news item appeared at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/4899216.stm as recent as June 1, 2008. Like the news vendors say, “Read all about it.

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At its website, Fox News posted an article, “Textbook Changes Draw Charges of Political Correctness”, dated May 1, 2003 and written by Anita Vogel. It describes a textbook review process taking place in states across the country. Here are the article’s highlights with my comment in parenthesis:

No more pictures of hot dogs, sodas, cakes, butter and other kinds of food that are not considered nutritious. (Huh!)

Our Founding Fathers are now The Framers as a way to sound less male-dominate. (Huh!)

No more reading about Mount Rushmore because it appears to offend some American-Indian groups. (Huh!)

It is now snowperson, not snowman. (Huh!)

It is now “older person” instead of the demeaning, “senior citizen.” (Huh!)

“Jungle” has been replaced with “rain forest.” (Huh!)

The word “devil” has been removed without a replacement. (Huh!)

American Indians should no longer be depicted with long braids, in rural settings or on reservations. (Huh!)

Briefly stated, the reason for all this is that we don’t want to offend anyone.

Vogel quotes from author Diane Ravitch, who has written extensively on the subject according to the article. Ravitch is right. “It's outright censorship.” She says, “It dumbs down our textbooks, makes them bland, far less interesting than anything children might see in the movies -- even in G-rated movies or TV.”

Ravitch tells that the fear of losing business, and therefore money, (my words, not hers) is the problem. Why? Well, it seems that textbook publishers and test developers cower when complaints come along that will lead to controversy.

Complaints from where?

Complaints from the schools, that's where.

The reader of Vogel's article will learn something about the California Department of Education. It's deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Sue Stickel, likes the notion. If you read Ms. Vogel's article, pay particular attention to Ms. Stickel's reasoning. I don't agree with her but I'm often wrong in matters outside my "field of expertise."

Now, I can't fault the publishers and the test developers. To stay in business they have to satisfy their customers. Just like Dunkin' Donuts. Just like all businesses that have competition. Even those without competition, such as the only fast food restaurant in town, needs to make customers happy because someday there might be a second and a third and on and on.

(By the way did you know one attorney in town will go broke but two will get rich? Competition is a good thing.)

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Does all this mean I will get shot if I:

Tell a woman she is a lucky dog?

I realize dog when used as, "She is a real dog," is taboo but when used with the word lucky? If I cannot use the word, "dog," in the feminine sense then do I have to stop using it in the masculine sense? Equality, you know.

Ask a woman I know, who works at the grocery store where I shop, if she is laying eggs when stocking the egg shelf?

She won't shoot me but some PC nut might hear and shoot claiming I called my friend a hen. Whew!!

Say, "No thank you. I can handle her." to a bellhop when asking if I want him to take my bag.

No shot here for sure. Just the opposite. My wife will shoot me the day I lose my humor.

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Hogwash!

What nonsense! We need a world of more people who go about their daily lives like Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy, when he is on stage.

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