I was just reading an article HERE at www.news.com.au/

The network insisted the presenter's remarks were not intended to be racist, especially as the pair enjoyed a long-standing friendship.

The network received numerous complaints after Kruger made the derogatory comments about a "sweatshop of illegal immigrants'' slaving away on her wardrobe for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

"Let's just say there's a sweatshop full of illegal immigrants working on them right now,'' Kruger said before referring to Lim, the show's Malaysian-born musical director.

"How's the family, Chong? All right?''

A Seven spokeswoman said last week: "In this instance, it's worth remembering that Sonia and Chong have been working together over eight series of Dancing With The Stars.

"They're very good friends and enjoy each other's company very much.

"However, to any viewer who took offence, without any reservation, we apologise.''

Kruger's comments were made during the celebrity reality show earlier this month after co-host Daniel MacPherson asked about the array of outfits she would require for her four-day stint covering the racing festival.

Which made me wonder, does being so PC actually help? or does it really only succeed in brushing real issues under the carpet?

Fact is that a lot of so called sweatshops are manned by people from under developed countries, and perhaps even run mostly by their own peers/countrymen.

Does apologising for a so called 'racist' comment like the one above remove the focus from any real issue? do we spend most of our time trying not to offend people when we should really be saying 'Yes, actually there is an issue here?' are we actually being more racist by ignoring the problems and focussing on trying not offend?

What are your thoughts?

The first victim of Political Correctness is the Truth.

It doesn't matter if it's witnessed, taped, documented and verified, if it looks like it may offend someone, anyone, anywhere, it has to be sanitized, watered down, revised or just plain buried.

This was well demonstrated during the recent US election. Nobody wanted to say anything about race (though it was lightly alluded to now and then), but you can pretty much guarantee that if Obama had of been white, it would have been Hillary vs McCain in the election.

But, because of "PC", you aren't allowed to state the facts (the truth). This happens in many areas of our societies these days. Too many people spend more time tip-toeing around the truth than actually addressing the problems, for fear of being labelled something (often by the same groups that are the cause of the problems in the first place).

Political Correctness is the devil in a pure wool suit.

In these modern times, sadly being PC will get you quite far...........

Quite far from the truth that is.............

It'd make a hel_l of a lot more sense for them to write an investigative article about sweatshops, for sure. But it isn't as easy.

The term PC is mis-used by both sides of the divide and is used to either disguise provocative, or racist behaviour, but it can be widely encompassing.

Someone says something borderline, someone responds accordingly and up go the arms and shouts, 'PC Brigade', like a bunch of demented slip fielders howling for a dodgy catch.

There are presently new rules on immigration, the UK Gov't has brought in additional criteria regarding spousal visa's, both parties have to be 21 or over to apply for a spouse visa, why? Because they are trying to limit and control forced and arranged marraiges, good idea, one might think, but target the problem areas, not a blanket ban.

This is not only discriminatory but pandering to the PC lobby, now tell me, who benefits in either of the case's above?

Moss

Political Correctness is so dam_n retarded. ..oh, whOops.

Political Correctness is so dam_n retarded. ..oh, whOops.

You mean 'disabled' or 'special needs', surely!

Political Correctness is so dam_n retarded. ..oh, whOops.

You mean 'disabled' or 'special needs', surely!

Would the PC speech for that be "Blessedly Challenged" ?

A lot of PC is only good manners.

A line has to be drawn somewhere, do we allow the terms "nigger", "<deleted>" and "poof" to enter common public usage because it's PC bullshit not to use them?

Sure it gets over done, the woman who made the crack about Chong's family would have no doubt been highly offended if a dummy wearing a mask of her face had been sexually abused on the Football Show, as happened to an effigy of a female AFL director on Australian TV this year.

I disagree that race wasn't made an issue in the recent US elections, the right wing blogs and websites were full of it, and they have a huge following. I believe that the Republican team for the election was so inept and their party's history in office so appalling that a white Democratic candidate would have romped away with at least 65% of the vote. Every closet racist would have voted against Obama regardless of politics.

A lot of PC is only good manners.

^^^

Wot he said...

sceadugna, what took you so long to make the first balancing post about manners? Let me guess that every other poster is straight, male, of European heritage, Christian heritage. Hardly a gay, female, Muslim, Black amongst ya'. Do you let them call your Asian wife or girlfriend anything they want to abuse her with, including harlot and bargirl? Probably not.

I was fortunate to be raised in a white community that never felt threatened by minorities. I had no idea what it was like to be discriminated against until I tried to get into management when blacks, females and Hispanics were getting all the promotions. Then I came out as a pacifist in a Baptist church, and as a gay man. Now I understand. Your mileage varies.

Your tolerance is not measured by how well you defend your own kind, but how righteously you defend those who are different.

Now let me tell you about this Mexican spic who was diddling this black chick from Arabia....

Political Correctness

Wot he said...

Hardly a gay, female, Muslim, Black amongst ya'.

Almost 20% of the posts cast are in these groupings, there could also be others in your list

because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

sceadugna, what took you so long to make the first balancing post about manners? Let me guess that every other poster is straight, male, of European heritage, Christian heritage. Hardly a gay, female, Muslim, Black amongst ya'. Do you let them call your Asian wife or girlfriend anything they want to abuse her with, including harlot and bargirl? Probably not.

I was fortunate to be raised in a white community that never felt threatened by minorities. I had no idea what it was like to be discriminated against until I tried to get into management when blacks, females and Hispanics were getting all the promotions. Then I came out as a pacifist in a Baptist church, and as a gay man. Now I understand. Your mileage varies.

Your tolerance is not measured by how well you defend your own kind, but how righteously you defend those who are different.

Now let me tell you about this Mexican spic who was diddling this black chick from Arabia....

"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for

people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."

-Noam Chomsky

A line has to be drawn somewhere, do we allow the terms "nigger", "<deleted>" and "poof" to enter common public usage because it's PC bullshit not to use them?

When an African-American is stopped by law from calling another African-American a N_gger then there will some balance.

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

I'm not speaking for Moss. But as a starter for ten, the fact that many local councils in the UK now have to call Christmas Holidays "Festive or Seasonal Holidays", so as not to upset Muslims is just plain crazy.

We don't interfere with their daily prayer times and we don't interfere with their religious month of Ramadan. Nor do we try to stop them calling their Holidays Eid or Hadj.

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

I'm not speaking for Moss. But as a starter for ten, the fact that many local councils in the UK now have to call Christmas Holidays "Festive or Seasonal Holidays", so as not to upset Muslims is just plain crazy.

Do you have any evidence that this is actually the case - other than articles in the Daily Mail?

Do you have any evidence that this is actually the case - other than articles in the Daily Mail?

It has actually happened in a number of cities in different countries. In fact, Bill O'Reilly will probably start harping about it on his show again soon.

Many cities in Canada have gone to "non-denominational" themes for the Christmas Holiday season, specifically to try and avoid upsetting any non-Christian group (not just Muslims). Schools and some "public" places have been forbidden from having "Manger" scenes (you know, with the baby Jesus and 3 Wise Men). Apparently some non-Christian groups may find that offensive.

As we are about to get full swing into this year's Christmas Holiday Season, I expect we will hear many more stories about "banned mangers" and "Festival Trees".

Who would have thought that "Christmas" would become a dirty word ?

The "PC" apologists probably can't even celebrate every time another instance of Christmas is eliminated. After all, celebrating such an event might be offensive to someone, somewhere.

(Gosh golly darn ! I'm not even Christian and I'm defending Christmas !!)

Another example of PC "correctness" in action, was the news that was splashed around for awhile, when prison guards in England were told they couldn't wear pins with the King Georges (?) Cross on them, as Muslim inmates might consider that offensive (being that they apparently still harbour a grudge over the Crusades and all).

And like Mrbojangles, I've never heard of anyone ever even remotely suggesting that other religions should change anything at all about their holidays. Lo and behold, it might be offensive to dare suggest such a thing to a non-Christian religion !

Why is it gravy for the goose and not the gander ? Why isn't it equal across the board ? Why, in this world of "no discrimination, equality for all, blah blah blah", do we still grant special rights and privileges to some groups, often at the expense of the majority, who are basically told to bend over and bare it again and again.

And here is something I thought was hilarious on one hand, pleasantly surprising on the other, and gained a bit of respect for a group many would consider rabidly intolerant of other religions.

The Bahrain International Airport is decked out in CHRISTMAS decor !! The fishermen in the dhow are dressed like elves. Santa's sleigh with reindeer is hanging from the ceiling. Trees with lights and ornaments. And wouldn't you know it, even a mechanical SANTA CLAUS !

Little kids would run up to it and laugh while holding Santa's hands as they slowly waved up and down (I'm sure there was a recorded "ho ho ho" as well) The parents of the kids seemed to have no concern about it at all.

No Manger scene (wouldn't have expected that much), and signs/banners said "Happy Holidays", but hey, that's still one h3ll of a lot more than I would have expected in a place like that.

(argh, I really have to stop typing these essays every time I respond to a post ! Why can't I learn to do "one-liners" or just post smiley's as a response)

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

I'm not speaking for Moss. But as a starter for ten, the fact that many local councils in the UK now have to call Christmas Holidays "Festive or Seasonal Holidays", so as not to upset Muslims is just plain crazy.

Do you have any evidence that this is actually the case - other than articles in the Daily Mail?

Well George Orwells '1984' indeed warns of PC defacing a nations language and blunting it from it's true meaning.

Yes the racist words were/are bad but changing words whilly nilly for wooley euphanisms all the time really does a lot more damage

Dumbing down is PCs biggest drawback and it pretty much has succeeded in dumbing down the English language.

Thankfully, some of us keep the language alive enough for it not to have a great effect

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

A side step from my post that Brian O'Driscoll would be proud of, however I already posted the answer to yours in an earlier response.

Good Luck

Moss

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

A side step from my post that Brian O'Driscoll would be proud of, however I already posted the answer to yours in an earlier response.

Good Luck

Moss

I have no idea who Brian O'Driscoll but if you're talking about your post re arranged marriages passing laws which affect one racial group and not others is illegal. It's called racial discrimination.

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

I'm not speaking for Moss. But as a starter for ten, the fact that many local councils in the UK now have to call Christmas Holidays "Festive or Seasonal Holidays", so as not to upset Muslims is just plain crazy.

Do you have any evidence that this is actually the case - other than articles in the Daily Mail?

Loads of evidence Endure. The company who i work for, is one of them.

Now let me tell you about this Mexican spic who was diddling this black chick from Arabia....

Pray tell us more, the audience is all ears...

Now let me tell you about this Mexican spic who was diddling this black chick from Arabia....

Pray tell us more, the audience is all ears...

Or the readers of an unpublished book perhaps?

If I had said it, I would have been nailed

Moss

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

A side step from my post that Brian O'Driscoll would be proud of, however I already posted the answer to yours in an earlier response.

Good Luck

Moss

I have no idea who Brian O'Driscoll but if you're talking about your post re arranged marriages passing laws which affect one racial group and not others is illegal. It's called racial discrimination.

Brian O'Driscoll is one of the premium Rugby players of our time, suitably known of his ability to break tackles and side step opponents.

Although I do not disagree with you, I believe this law is more to do with being Politically Correct, than racial Discrimination, simply because it is a blanket ban and does not target the problem areas, instead of incurring the wrath of one strong lobby group, use a catch-all and negate the thrust of a more influential body.

TB testing regarding visas is specific and not blanket, or am I to be educated otherwise? And if so, why is medical reasons treated different to social norms?

Moss

Not to detract from the immediate preceding posts of course.

Moss

Stop using 'dearie', nurses told

Calling older patients "dearie" or "love" is set to be ruled out as offensive by new guidelines from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7748164.stm

"I think most people will see guidance such as this as the world having gone mad." - Shadow health minister Anne Milton

My giddy aunt. Or maybe I shouldn't say this as it's disrespectful to my aunt!?!

Actually, in my line of business I work with a lot of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims, and both I and they would probably consider it very rude if I were always going around wishing them a 'Merry Christmas' this time of year! It only takes a little thought and consideration.

Although manners is a good rule to stand by, PC has still gone too far and a lot of us are affected by it.

Moss

In what way are you personally affected by PC?

I'm not speaking for Moss. But as a starter for ten, the fact that many local councils in the UK now have to call Christmas Holidays "Festive or Seasonal Holidays", so as not to upset Muslims is just plain crazy.

Do you have any evidence that this is actually the case - other than articles in the Daily Mail?

Is The Guardian an acceptable source for you?