"Political Correctness"

Last night, in a conversation, I ended up explaining why I dislike (despise) the term "politically correct" or "PC." This morning, while driving, I was listening to The Savage Nation and, just in case I had forgotten, Michael Savage made sure that it was brought back to my attention.

He was busy comparing the folks in Iraq to Hitler and those who believe we should not be there to those who wished to appease Hitler. The towelheads, apparently, are totally to blame for things - or at least for what the Democrats are not to blame for.
********
But the term PC is what got me, again.

The term implies insincerity. It suggests that the person who is being 'PC' would make derogatory comments or use name-calling, but for the current political environment.

It is probably accurate as a term for a lot of people - but most of them are not the people he is complaining about! Most of them are the people like Sen. Allen of Virginia, who denied his own heritage.

I object to terms like nigger and kike and slut. I object to them when they are said in my presence and I object to them at other times as well. I am one of those people who object to ethnic humor and who does not think that slapstick is particularly cool - though I will confess to having laughed at more than a little of it along the way.

Humor that is at the expense of other people bothers me. Not just a little. Perhaps it is because I was the subject of so much of it when I was little (and I mean small for my age as well as young). Perhaps it is because I was raised by very liberal parents.

Regardless, it is how I am.

And I do not do it out of any sense of the "political" environment. I am not 'PC!'

Tremors, a follow-up

Almost 5 months ago, I wrote http://joshwriting.livejournal.com/105442.html about the palsy, the tremor in my hands at times.

Last night, I finally talked directly to my father about it - about his.

Josh: Have you ever gotten a diagnosis for your tremor?
Dad: No. Why would I? It does no harm.
Mom: That's not a very helpful response.
Dad: Maybe Fred did (his older brother), but if he did, he never told me about it.
Josh: No, I am pretty sure that he hasn't.
Dad: Well, it is not as if his tremor is any worse than it was.
Josh and Mom: Yes it is.
Dad: Well, then, mine isn't!
Josh: Yes, it is.

The conversation continued. He did not know/had not noticed that I have it, too. Nor had my mother. (who does not seem to have it - and yes, it is relevant. Her great-grandparents (mother's father's parents) are the same people as his paternal grandparents.)

I noted that I test myself a few times a year by threading a needle (as mentioned in the earlier post). He replied that every morning, when he tears open his sugar-substitute, he tried to put the small corner back inside the sugar packet.

It's the same testing behavior. What can I do? Can I still do this?

I am mostly amused. Though, it might have been nice if he had talked to a doctor about this - now, I think I really ought to... even if I am fairly certain that the benign essential tremor notion is on target.