Thread: Common courtesy doesn't equal political correctness or does it ?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I once read that politeness and courtesy are the glue that holds our social fabric together.

Might be from Judith Martin (Miss Manners) -- one of my favorites!

I think that the truly courteous person doesn't really think too much about 'political correctness', they don't really need to.
What is referred to as being 'politically correct' usually just means that you avoid causing offence by engaging your brain before opening your mouth.
My late father died before the term 'political correctness' was coined and yet you could say that he was. Despite coming up through the ranks in the Royal Air Force I never heard him need to swear either.

Originally Posted by detroyt

Since it is my thread that sprouted this conversation, do you feel that I was not being courteous with my post? I don't feel I should have to explain my intended P.C. but for clarification I was trying to keep the conversation on topic from the get go, I apparently failed....

Not at all. I opened up a separate thread because I didn't want to hijack yours. Just trying to be courteous.

"The Fort Hood shooter was only able to get where he was through a series of situations made possible by the fear of retribution that pervasive PC has created. No one wanted to be the first "bigot" (a career-threatening tag to be stuck with) even though the several situations that should have been been acted on had nothing to do with actual bigotry. "Diversity" and "multiculturalism" were the trump cards that blocked any proper response. PC kills. Not in theory but in observed fact."

I've said this before elsewhere: I cannot fathom how some folks have been able to determine exactly what motivated/prompted the Ft. Hood shooter to do what he did, absent having anywhere near a full set of facts. To claim to know what led to Hasan doing what he did is just, IMO, naive, although it seems to fits some folks' political agenda. The truth is we don't presently know anywhere near enough of the actual facts to be in a position to draw any conclusions. While I am not ruling out the theory cited above versus this guy having just mentally snapped, claiming to know what really happened at this early stage of the investigation is irresponsible.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

I cannot fathom how some folks have been able to determine exactly what motivated/prompted the Ft. Hood shooter to do what he did, absent having anywhere near a full set of facts. To claim to know what led to Hasan doing what he did is just, IMO, naive, although it seems to fits some folks' political agenda. The truth is we don't presently know anywhere near enough of the actual facts to be in a position to draw any conclusions. While I am not ruling out the theory cited above versus this guy having just mentally snapped, claiming to know what really happened at this early stage of the investigation is irresponsible.

See many comments, including ...

Originally Posted by http://dakotabeacon.com/entry/mark_steyn_jihad_and_the_scandal_of_the_tragedy_of _diversity/

Two joint terrorism task forces became aware almost a year ago that Major Hasan was in regular email contact with Anwar al-Awlaqi, the American-born but now Yemeni-based cleric who served as imam to three of the 9/11 hijackers and supports all-out holy war against the United States. But the expert analysts in the Pentagon determined that this lively correspondence was consistent with Major Hasan’s “research interests”, so there was no need to worry.. That’s America: Technologically superior, money no object (not one but two “joint terrorism task forces” stumbled across him). Yet no action was taken.On the other hand, who needs surveillance operations and intelligence budgets? Major Hasan was entirely upfront about who he was. He put it on his business card: “SOA.” As in “Soldier of Allah” ...

Originally Posted by http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/

I am also tired of the asinine questioning, “Why did he do this?”—as if we are to be perplexed that Hasan the deep philosopher inexplicably committed mayhem. We have reached real Bathos, when talking heads ponder whether trying to contact al Qaeda is really that bad, or whether yelling “Allahu Akbar” as one blows apart human flesh is really an act connected to radical Islam.

Originally Posted by http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2FjZjA5YjMxYmM2ZmNhZjQ3ODQ4MzQ0OWVmYmFhZjE=&w=MQ==

Hasan went a different way. He opted to give a bizarre PowerPoint presentation in which he defended suicide bombing, explaining that non-believers should be beheaded, be burned alive, and have boiling oil poured down their throats (presumably not in that order). He argued that all Muslims should be discharged from the military.

One slide concluded: “We love death more then [sic] you love life!”

According to the Post, the medical staff in attendance was deeply disturbed by the incident. But there’s apparently no record of anyone’s reporting it to authorities. That would be insensitive and discriminatory.

The following year, intelligence officials discovered that Hasan had been sending e-mails to Anwar al-Aulaqi, a prominent American-born radical cleric now based in Yemen with ties to al-Qaeda.

And there are many more "subtle clues". Google them yourself. But perhaps we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that this "Soldier of Allah" who wanted to behead, burn, (etc.) non-believers, who was in long-term contact with the enemy we are at war with was dangerous. It is probably just a coincidence that he acted in perfect concert with his oft-stated beliefs. Yes, lets not pretend we have any reason to draw conclusions.

If we had to restrict ourselves to your standard for drawing inferences, reaching conclusions, and making decisions we would never even get around to tying our shoes in the morning -- why bother? Maybe some crazy stressed-out American GI will just "snap" and mow us down for no apparent reason. Life sure is a tragic mystery. Better not offend anyone. You know how sensitive people can be.

"If we had to restrict ourselves to your standard for drawing inferences, reaching conclusions, and making decisions we would never even get around to tying our shoes in the morning -- why bother? Maybe some crazy stressed-out American GI will just "snap" and mow us down for no apparent reason. Life sure is a tragic mystery. Better not offend anyone. You know how sensitive people can be."

You know-you're right. What the heck was I thinking. In fact, why even gather the all the facts? Let's not even bother with a trial-what a waste of time that would be. Just execute him and while we're at it, let's just kick all Muslims out of the military. They just can't be trusted. And while we're at it, let's purge our military of the Jews too. Although it may be politically incorrect to say so, we all really know their real allegiance is to Israel, not the USA. And I'm having some second thoughts about the blacks, too.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

"If we had to restrict ourselves to your standard for drawing inferences, reaching conclusions, and making decisions we would never even get around to tying our shoes in the morning -- why bother? Maybe some crazy stressed-out American GI will just "snap" and mow us down for no apparent reason. Life sure is a tragic mystery. Better not offend anyone. You know how sensitive people can be."

You know-you're right. What the heck was I thinking. In fact, why even gather the all the facts? Let's not even bother with a trial-what a waste of time that would be. Just execute him and while we're at it, let's just kick all Muslims out of the military. They just can't be trusted. And while we're at it, let's purge our military of the Jews too. Although it may be politically incorrect to say so, we all really know their real allegiance is to Israel, not the USA. And I'm having some second thoughts about the blacks, too.

I think you are missing the point. There were plenty of things that could have been done to prevent Hasan from acting as he did. It's not as if there were no warnings.

BTW, it was Hasan who proposed removing all the Muslims from the military, not me.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I think you are missing the point. There were plenty of things that could have been done to prevent Hasan from acting as he did. It's not as if there were no warnings.

BTW, it was Hasan who proposed removing all the Muslims from the military, not me.

Billy didn't miss the point. His specialty is trying to make you look like an ass to bolster his argument. Just have a little fun with it or don't respond.

Originally Posted by JMS

Billy didn't miss the point. His specialty is trying to make you look like an ass to bolster his argument. Just have a little fun with it or don't respond.

Or better yet I was courteous enough to start another thread on that topic. So don't hijack this thread ....be courteous and take it to this thread here and you'll be on topic.

"Billy didn't miss the point. His specialty is trying to make you look like an ass to bolster his argument. Just have a little fun with it or don't respond."

Gee Mark, I had no idea my methods were so devious...I'd never try to make you look like an ass. Really. I mean it. No kidding.