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Highlands Today

So That's What It's All About

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By Norm Cukras | Highlands Today

Published: July 4, 2008

I love Brussels sprouts, beets and pickled pigs feet.

Actually I don't, but I can't say I dislike brussels sprouts, beets and pickled pigs feet without running the risk of offending that minority group of people who produce Brussels sprouts, beets and pickled pigs feet. To do so would not be politically correct.

Political correctness, or PC, which should not be confused with the contraption most likely currently sitting on your desk, "is a term used to describe language, ideas, policies or behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups." Although it apparently is not politically incorrect for members within one of these groups to use offending language or gestures on other members within the same group.

Political correctness was born sometime in the '80s and now has all the earmarks of a congressional act. It's blossomed into a boundless entity. People are overwhelmed by it. People are bewildered by it. People have grown weary of it.

Do I Need So Many

These satellite guys keep trying to tempt me to subscribe to their services by flaunting the large number of channels they offer. They've got 'em by the hundreds. And for "a few dollars more" additional ones are made available. I've got satellite, but I still find the channels I use very limited. On occasion I'll satellite-surf only to discover that there is nothing there that really interests me in the 125 or so channels that are beamed into my house.

I like game shows so I paused on the game show channel (GSN) one day and watched a segment of a give-away show. One prize offered was a brand new stereo system complete with a record changer and 8-track tape deck. Does that kind of date the show for you?

I always get a kick out of the shows, even today's "Wheel of Fortune," that give a "brand new" anything. Can you see a contestant winning a year old automobile with only 9,465 actual miles on it?

Still, I do enjoy my old movies. Old enough that newspaper people and secretaries still used typewriters.

If you have trouble deciding if a movie is old or not, look at the actors' or actresses' teeth. In the old ones they are natural, complete with spaces and eyeteeth. In the newer films the teeth are even like some cosmetic dentist took a grinding wheel to them.

Self Discipline Required

I can't help but wonder why so many Letters to the Editor have to be support-my-candidate motivated. In November, when it's time go to the polls, vote for the guy of your choice. For now your letter has an equal chance of turning an "undecided" off as convincing him that your guy is better than the other one. I'm sure you'd rather have Hillary on the ticket, although I'll never understand why, but you can't. Regardless of your political affiliation you want to tell everyone how great your candidate is or to broadcast the shortcomings, real or imaginary, of the opposition. But come on now; spare us.

In the coming months we are going to be bombarded with signs and spam and computer dialed phone calls and street corner pundits. Let's preserve the integrity of the opinion page and reserve it for stuff that wouldn't otherwise be called to other reader's attention.

Overheard

Overheard at the checkout counter: Happy day-after-the-fourth everyone. Let freedom ring. Let all nations know how happy, proud and fortunate we are to be Americans.

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