It has been a little over a week since our lovely South Korean foreign exchange student graced our presence with her beautiful smile, entertaining pronunciations and brilliant laughter. It has been uncomfortable at times, enlightening, enjoyable, funny, emotional and yes, challenging.
We waited FOREVER at the top of the escalators at the airport, nervous that we missed her and she was waiting all alone by the baggage carousel, scared out of her mind. Then, finally, she appeared, spotted our ridiculous sign and came over laughing. She had a good trip because she met another student who was coming over to go to the same school and they became pals. The first thing we noticed was her smile and she giggled a lot. She told us her flight was "un-a-comfort-a-bllle," which made us giggle.
The first few days were strange. We felt uneasy in our own home, trying not to fuss, yell, cuss or make her un-a-comfort-a-bllle. I'm positive that all of the "trying" made us fail miserable. But, school started back and we got into the swing of things. Routines always seem to help settle people into something new. With school and regular life came the challenges we knew would be coming our way.
We take our understanding of the English language for granted. I didn't realize that until I began to try to parent a Korean speaking teenager who had only a small vocabulary of English words. Sentences seem to no longer fit into our daily communications. I am sure she has been thrown onto a merry-go-round unwillingly with no way to get off for the next six months. I am also sure that the way we do things, like parenting, differ from her homeland. Strict rules don't seem to be something she is used to.
In my house, what my hubby and I say goes. Just ask our two girls. We are strict, demanding and expectant. We don't apologize for it either. So, anyone who visits is expected to follow house rules too. This includes understanding and acting upon things like "hurry up," dinnertime round up, lights out, no spend the nights on school nights, getting permission to do certain things, etc... Try communicating that to an independent demanding non-English speaking teenage girl!
Jet lag was definitely expected after a 7100 mile, 15 hour direct flight from Seoul. It was also expected that it would start to wain after a few days of sleeping constantly...almost in her spaghetti plate at one dinner. So, I didn't understand why she was nodding off in the middle of conversations later in the week. Come to find out, our "lights out" rule wasn't one she liked and she had no plans to adhere to it. When questioned about being so tired, she informed me that she was staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning, talking to another Korean she met at our school. What? Sympathy for her exhaustion disappeared immediately, fire flashed in my eyes and submission to our "house rules" began. The threat of removing her phone, computer and ipod at bedtime each night seems to have straightened that out.
There have been a couple of more "rule" challenges like that, which were dealt with swiftly and successfully. RJ doesn't seem to be doing much of the "dealing" and gets this look on his face like a scolded little puppy when I correct her. He's no help...the sissy! He does have a soft spot for her and he helps me make compassionate choices in dealing with her.
Yesterday was a hair pulling experience that turned into a heart melting moment. Communication was not in our favor from the time we started our day. She was going to another Korean's host family's house to study for a test...or so I thought. With their address plugged into our GPS, SEATBELTS ON (challenging house rule) and everyone in agreement that we were dropping her off at her friend's house, we headed out on the 25 minute trip across town. Logic tells me that she should have realized what was going on and corrected the miscommunication, but that didn't happen...well, not quickly anyway. We pulled into the driveway and she said "what is this place?" The other host family's house. Apparently, she had plainly stated to us prior to leaving the house that we were supposed to take her somewhere else. Maybe another place, further away, but with the same address as the house we were sitting at? Obviously annoyed, I try to hold my tongue while figuring out where she wanted to go. It seems that a Korean BBQ restaurant across town the other way was her intended destination. Climbing back in the car, I could see on RJ's face that he could tell how disturbed I was getting. This communication thing was really getting to me. I knew where the Korean BBQ restaurant was, so we drove "all the way" over there. She apologized many, many times on the way. Apparently, she can read my body language too. About 25 more minutes and we arrived to find that her friends were not in the restaurant. Luckily, the hostess knew where they were. We walked around the corner to the karaoke room and found her friends, who speak fluent English and were able to tell me where and when I could pick her up. Relieved to get her where she was going and longing to get back in the car, out of earshot to release the tension on RJ, I turned to leave. That's when I was stopped in my steps..."Bye Mom." Awe!!! My heart melted, we giggled and hugged goodbye. She was so happy to be with her people and so appreciative that we brought her "all the way" over. How can you be mad with that?
Now, she's calling me "Mom" and RJ "Dad" and giggles every time she says it. She seems to be adjusting, as do we. Those adjustments aside, she seems to be a really great girl, far away from home, a little scared, a little lonely, missing her own Mom. What can I say, my heart bleeds with compassion. Bedtime, communication, house rules and all considered, I think we're doing ok.
I loved here before she arrived. I love her more now. I love her more everyday. I have said this before and I will say it again...She isn't the only one receiving the blessing here, she seems to be a bigger blessing to me that I am to her. So, my hair still intact, my attitude adjusted and my heart filled, I sit here amusing myself with the memories of the past few days while praying for her to do good on the tests she has today because she left for school this morning terrified and completely stressed out... Kinda feels like one of my kids already.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Love, Fatih and Life....All in One!
Tomorrow is the day...
The day we go to the airport and pick up the foreign exchange student that will be staying with us for the next 6 months. I am so full of love right now. I always feel immeasurable amounts of love, but right now, I fell as if I just might burst. Happiness has taken over and I feel so giddy. Butterflies are dancing in my stomach and I just want to skip up and down the hall singing "she's on her way, she's on her way."
Just a couple of hours ago, I got a call from M's Cousin. She told me that M has boarded her plane and is now on her way. She told me that her Mom wanted to make sure we would be there to pick her up at the airport. Apparently, she was very scared and lonely when she got on the plane. I wish I could give her a hug right now and make her feel better. She has no idea what kind of people she is flying across the world (7135 miles and 13.5 hours) to stay with. I wish I could reassure her that we are going to be so good to her and she is going to do great. I wish I could relieve the stress she is feeling leaving her family. She will have to make such an adjustment. I love her already and I haven't even met her yet.
Just trying to wrap my mind around this is blowing me away. We are "getting a Korean!" Us, RJ, Patti and L ...Kim too, but she's a little busy with her own thing right now. :-) A Korean...Us...unbelievable. Talk about trying something new, something you would never think to do, something so outside your box that it has to be a God thing for it to be happening. I am so excited, happy, in awe. I can't wait to share our experience and tell stories of how things are going. God is awesome and provisional. This is happening because of Him, through Him and for Him.
BTW, please understand that we don't say "getting a Korean" in a demeaning way. When we first started talking about this, Land I knew that RJ would say NO WAY. So, we started praying about it, asking God to make RJ receptive of the idea and open minded about it. I knew if RJ even considered doing it, it would be because God touched him. Sure enough, RJ didn't make the first negative remark. When L introduced the idea to him, he began asking questions like "where is she going to sleep?" "Will Mom take her to school with you?" "Do you think she will like our house?" I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't even speak, I just listened as God "did His thang!" After that initial conversation, there was a lot of praying, thinking, wishing, hoping and more conversations. RJ and I told L that we had decided to do it. She was so excited, she started singing "we're getting a Korean, we're getting a Korean." We laughed at her, maybe even shed a tear or two, and celebrated with her. It stuck..."we're getting a Korean." It isn't a negative thing, the phrase reflects the excitement behind one of the most wonderful decisions our family has ever made. We're getting a Korean and I love her without even meeting her yet. She is going to thrive with our family...because of God.
LYMI!
The day we go to the airport and pick up the foreign exchange student that will be staying with us for the next 6 months. I am so full of love right now. I always feel immeasurable amounts of love, but right now, I fell as if I just might burst. Happiness has taken over and I feel so giddy. Butterflies are dancing in my stomach and I just want to skip up and down the hall singing "she's on her way, she's on her way."
Just a couple of hours ago, I got a call from M's Cousin. She told me that M has boarded her plane and is now on her way. She told me that her Mom wanted to make sure we would be there to pick her up at the airport. Apparently, she was very scared and lonely when she got on the plane. I wish I could give her a hug right now and make her feel better. She has no idea what kind of people she is flying across the world (7135 miles and 13.5 hours) to stay with. I wish I could reassure her that we are going to be so good to her and she is going to do great. I wish I could relieve the stress she is feeling leaving her family. She will have to make such an adjustment. I love her already and I haven't even met her yet.
Just trying to wrap my mind around this is blowing me away. We are "getting a Korean!" Us, RJ, Patti and L ...Kim too, but she's a little busy with her own thing right now. :-) A Korean...Us...unbelievable. Talk about trying something new, something you would never think to do, something so outside your box that it has to be a God thing for it to be happening. I am so excited, happy, in awe. I can't wait to share our experience and tell stories of how things are going. God is awesome and provisional. This is happening because of Him, through Him and for Him.
BTW, please understand that we don't say "getting a Korean" in a demeaning way. When we first started talking about this, Land I knew that RJ would say NO WAY. So, we started praying about it, asking God to make RJ receptive of the idea and open minded about it. I knew if RJ even considered doing it, it would be because God touched him. Sure enough, RJ didn't make the first negative remark. When L introduced the idea to him, he began asking questions like "where is she going to sleep?" "Will Mom take her to school with you?" "Do you think she will like our house?" I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't even speak, I just listened as God "did His thang!" After that initial conversation, there was a lot of praying, thinking, wishing, hoping and more conversations. RJ and I told L that we had decided to do it. She was so excited, she started singing "we're getting a Korean, we're getting a Korean." We laughed at her, maybe even shed a tear or two, and celebrated with her. It stuck..."we're getting a Korean." It isn't a negative thing, the phrase reflects the excitement behind one of the most wonderful decisions our family has ever made. We're getting a Korean and I love her without even meeting her yet. She is going to thrive with our family...because of God.
LYMI!
Food: Snow Day Cooking
It started simply enough with an idea to cook some bbq in the crockpot. Kim told me about a recipe for bbq sauce a while back, so I thought I'd try it. Turns out, the recipe is one Alton Brown used with some ribs on Good Eats. So, the sauce was loosely based on his recipe:
5 Chicken Breasts w/ Ribs & Skin
Dry Rub:
4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Kosher Salt
2 tsp Cajun Spice
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/4 tsp Old Bay
1 tsp Cumin
Rub breasts with Dry Rub. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.
Braising Liquid:
1 Cup White Wine
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Honey
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
Heat braising liquid in crock pot. Brown skin of chicken breasts in frying pan (use 2 Tbsp butter if needed). Place breasts in braising liquid. Cover crock pot and cook until chicken is tender and cooked thoroughly. Remove breasts and wrap in foil to keep warm. Pour liquid in pot and reduce to thickened sauce. Add 1 Tbsp Mustard and 3 Tbsp Ketchup if desired.
This recipe was balish. We ate 3 of the breasts and I put the other 2 in the fridge to use later. Remember, the snow and ice was keeping us at home. Boredom overtook and the need to cook was overwhelming. So, I went to the fridge to see what I had to work with. With the chicken breasts, I also served creamed corn. There was some of it left too. An idea began to develop...
Chicken White Bean Chili
2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Creamed Corn
3 Carrots, diced
2 Celery Sticks, diced
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
2 Cans White Beans (I used Navy Beans)
1 Packet White Chili Spice Pack
32 oz Chicken Stock (I use reduced sodium, fat free, no added msg)
In a skillet heat oil, cook onions, garlic, carrots, celery until onions are clear and tender. Add corn to skillet and stir until corn is warm. Stir in spice pack Put in preheated crock pot. Add Beans and Chicken. Stir in Chicken Stock. Cook until veggies are soft. Add water and salt if needed.
The soup turned out delish and we have snacked on it several times. This got me to thinking that I love soups on cold days. RJ and L like potato soup...hmmm...so, we had to make a trip, on the icy roads, to the grocery store for more ingredients. The store was surprisingly well stocked, except for potatoes, but I managed to find some I could use. So, this is what I did...
2 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Cup Chicken Stock
2 All Purpose Idaho Potatoes, chopped
8 Purple Fingerling Potatoes, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
3 Carrots, chopped
2 Celery Stalks, Chopped
1 Qt Half & Half
1 Tbsp of your favorite spice mix. I use one from Mercier Orchards that I can't recall the name of right now.
Salt
Water
Heat Oil in a large pot. Add Onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook until onions are clear and tender. Add potatoes and chicken stock. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cook for a few minutes. Add half & half, spices and salt. Cook on low heat until potatoes are soft, stirring often to prevent scorching. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and bacon if desired.
While this soup was cooking, I put a roast in the crock pot to cook. For the roast, I did the following:
1 4-5 lb. Rump Roast (you can use a different cut, but I really like the rump best)
1 Onion
2 Tbsp Garlic
2 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
2 Potatoes, Medium
2 Tbsp Herb & Garlic Spice Mix
Cut into 3/4 to 1" pieces the Onions, Carrots and Celery. Place in preheated crock pot. Add Garlic and Potatoes. Brown the Roast in a skillet and place on top of veggies in the crock pot. Sprinkle with spice mix. cook on high until roast is tender. Add liquid if needed.
It smells really good, but I don't know how it tastes yet. My crock pot doesn't seem to be cooking as hot and quickly as I would like, so the roast is still cooking. Since we were supposed to have it for dinner, I had to scramble to prepare something for us to eat. I have been craving rice lately, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make my favorite Red Beans and Rice Recipe. I love this stuff!
1 Pkg New Orleans Johnsonville Sausage Wieners
1 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped small
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped small
1 Tbsp Cajun Spice
1 Cup Basmati Rice (you can use any kind of rice, but basmati is so balish)
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Cups Water
3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Cook onions and garlic until they are tender. Add Cajun spice. Cut wieners into 1/4" rounds and add to skillet. Brown the wieners. Add Basmati rice and brown lightly. Combine Stock and Water and warm in a pot. (keeping it warm prevents the cooking process from being interrupted by cooling the pan with cold liquid.) Add 1 cup of stock/water to skillet and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup at a time until the rice is tender. Just before serving, add the butter, let it melt and stir it in well.
Dinner was a hit with RJ, L and CL (L's friend). We had a friend stop by while I was cooking, so I packed up some of the rice and some of the potato soup for him to take home. I bet he liked it too!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this cooking, I also baked a cake. Yes, me...baked a cake. You KNOW I must really be bored and have cabin fever if I take to baking. It was a box cake, so I won't add the recipe here. Just go to the store, buy a box, buy the ingredients pictured on the back, take it all home, follow the directions on the box, and viola', you have a cake.
The snow / ice is melting slowly, so it looks like we will only have another day or two to endure. It doesn't look like I will have a lot of time to cook. If that changes, maybe I will share the recipes for the meals I make.
Try some of the recipes...or all of them. Let me know how you like them. If you put your own stamp on them, let me know what you did. I love to change up recipes and try new things. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen.
LYMI!
5 Chicken Breasts w/ Ribs & Skin
Dry Rub:
4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Kosher Salt
2 tsp Cajun Spice
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/4 tsp Old Bay
1 tsp Cumin
Rub breasts with Dry Rub. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.
Braising Liquid:
1 Cup White Wine
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Honey
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
Heat braising liquid in crock pot. Brown skin of chicken breasts in frying pan (use 2 Tbsp butter if needed). Place breasts in braising liquid. Cover crock pot and cook until chicken is tender and cooked thoroughly. Remove breasts and wrap in foil to keep warm. Pour liquid in pot and reduce to thickened sauce. Add 1 Tbsp Mustard and 3 Tbsp Ketchup if desired.
This recipe was balish. We ate 3 of the breasts and I put the other 2 in the fridge to use later. Remember, the snow and ice was keeping us at home. Boredom overtook and the need to cook was overwhelming. So, I went to the fridge to see what I had to work with. With the chicken breasts, I also served creamed corn. There was some of it left too. An idea began to develop...
Chicken White Bean Chili
2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Creamed Corn
3 Carrots, diced
2 Celery Sticks, diced
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
2 Cans White Beans (I used Navy Beans)
1 Packet White Chili Spice Pack
32 oz Chicken Stock (I use reduced sodium, fat free, no added msg)
In a skillet heat oil, cook onions, garlic, carrots, celery until onions are clear and tender. Add corn to skillet and stir until corn is warm. Stir in spice pack Put in preheated crock pot. Add Beans and Chicken. Stir in Chicken Stock. Cook until veggies are soft. Add water and salt if needed.
The soup turned out delish and we have snacked on it several times. This got me to thinking that I love soups on cold days. RJ and L like potato soup...hmmm...so, we had to make a trip, on the icy roads, to the grocery store for more ingredients. The store was surprisingly well stocked, except for potatoes, but I managed to find some I could use. So, this is what I did...
2 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Cup Chicken Stock
2 All Purpose Idaho Potatoes, chopped
8 Purple Fingerling Potatoes, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
3 Carrots, chopped
2 Celery Stalks, Chopped
1 Qt Half & Half
1 Tbsp of your favorite spice mix. I use one from Mercier Orchards that I can't recall the name of right now.
Salt
Water
Heat Oil in a large pot. Add Onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook until onions are clear and tender. Add potatoes and chicken stock. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cook for a few minutes. Add half & half, spices and salt. Cook on low heat until potatoes are soft, stirring often to prevent scorching. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and bacon if desired.
While this soup was cooking, I put a roast in the crock pot to cook. For the roast, I did the following:
1 4-5 lb. Rump Roast (you can use a different cut, but I really like the rump best)
1 Onion
2 Tbsp Garlic
2 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
2 Potatoes, Medium
2 Tbsp Herb & Garlic Spice Mix
Cut into 3/4 to 1" pieces the Onions, Carrots and Celery. Place in preheated crock pot. Add Garlic and Potatoes. Brown the Roast in a skillet and place on top of veggies in the crock pot. Sprinkle with spice mix. cook on high until roast is tender. Add liquid if needed.
It smells really good, but I don't know how it tastes yet. My crock pot doesn't seem to be cooking as hot and quickly as I would like, so the roast is still cooking. Since we were supposed to have it for dinner, I had to scramble to prepare something for us to eat. I have been craving rice lately, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make my favorite Red Beans and Rice Recipe. I love this stuff!
1 Pkg New Orleans Johnsonville Sausage Wieners
1 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped small
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped small
1 Tbsp Cajun Spice
1 Cup Basmati Rice (you can use any kind of rice, but basmati is so balish)
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Cups Water
3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Cook onions and garlic until they are tender. Add Cajun spice. Cut wieners into 1/4" rounds and add to skillet. Brown the wieners. Add Basmati rice and brown lightly. Combine Stock and Water and warm in a pot. (keeping it warm prevents the cooking process from being interrupted by cooling the pan with cold liquid.) Add 1 cup of stock/water to skillet and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup at a time until the rice is tender. Just before serving, add the butter, let it melt and stir it in well.
Dinner was a hit with RJ, L and CL (L's friend). We had a friend stop by while I was cooking, so I packed up some of the rice and some of the potato soup for him to take home. I bet he liked it too!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this cooking, I also baked a cake. Yes, me...baked a cake. You KNOW I must really be bored and have cabin fever if I take to baking. It was a box cake, so I won't add the recipe here. Just go to the store, buy a box, buy the ingredients pictured on the back, take it all home, follow the directions on the box, and viola', you have a cake.
The snow / ice is melting slowly, so it looks like we will only have another day or two to endure. It doesn't look like I will have a lot of time to cook. If that changes, maybe I will share the recipes for the meals I make.
Try some of the recipes...or all of them. Let me know how you like them. If you put your own stamp on them, let me know what you did. I love to change up recipes and try new things. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen.
LYMI!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What is all this "PC" talk about?
My number one New Year's Resolution for 2011 is to avoid being "politically correct." Why would I want to do that? Because I believe liberal media outlets in this country (and other countries who should stick their nose OUT of our business) pressure us to change the way we speak, think and communicate based on the model they want us to fit into, that they (the governing body) control. Doesn't that sound like this form of ugly governance we call "communism?"
The term "Politically Correct" or "PC" is defined by Wikipedia as "a term which denotes language, ideas, policies and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability and age related contexts." As I understand, in plain English, being PC means changing what you would say or how you would naturally say it so that you don't hurt the feelings of someone who is oversensitive or offended by truth and honesty.
Former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan states "PC is cultural Marxism...Its trademark is intolerance." Richard Bernstein further defines it as "pressure to conform to currently fashionable ideas." Doesn't the very definition of PC go against our Constitutional First Amendment right of Free Speech? Am I no longer free to call a "spade a spade" without suffering repercussions from someone who has a different view or opinion? I believe that freedom to express differing opinions and beliefs without rebuke is part of what makes this country great. Isn't that partially what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they declared our independence?
Making certain terms taboo or repressing the use of certain descriptions is an attempt to control communication and thought patterns. Again, I ask what form of ugly government that sounds like. For instance, it is now PC to say "firefighter" instead of the offensive "fireman," or "physically challenged" instead of "blind" or "handicapped." My favorite is the adjective "Caucasian culturally disadvantaged" instead of "white trash." Come on, really!
The "Politically Correct" are so egotistical that they go against the very meaning of the term in describing those who do not subscribe to their way of thinking. If someone is not PC, they are characterized as racist, bigoted, or hate mongers instead of just honest and outspoken. A "politically incorrect" person then is bullied into shying away from speaking based on their personal beliefs. Those bullies strive to force me to adhere to their standard of expression based on their judgement that mine is unacceptable. They will not concede to the fact that outside of God's laws of kindness and love, there is no basis for an authority to enforce "Political Correctness." The liberals, communists and progressives in this country desire to be just that. They cannot succeed if patriots like me and you stand up for the Constitution and the unalienable freedoms we are granted by our Creator and prevent the denial of the rights we have simply for being Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought and died for this and it is our responsibility to keep it alive.
Still not sure what it means to be "Politically Correct?" Here are a few examples:
"The Arizona shooter is an idiotic uneducated white trash cultist raised by idiotic, sorry excuse for parents who should have been sterilized" is not PC. Rather, "He is a victim of an untreated mental and psychological imbalance who was raised by Caucasian culturally challenged individuals."
Killer = Innocent victim of his upbringing
Nancy Pelosi talks too much = She is abundantly verbal
Hillbillies = Appalachian Americans
A few common ones:
Black = African American
Indian = Native American
Gay = Alternative Sexual Orientation
Short = Vertically Challenged
Tall = Vertically Advanced
And the all time worst:
Merry Christmas = happy holidays ( I hate that...I mean, I strongly dislike it...No, I mean I HATE THAT!)
What are the PC statements that stand out most to you, funniest, most offensive or just down right tee you off?
Thanks for reading.
The term "Politically Correct" or "PC" is defined by Wikipedia as "a term which denotes language, ideas, policies and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability and age related contexts." As I understand, in plain English, being PC means changing what you would say or how you would naturally say it so that you don't hurt the feelings of someone who is oversensitive or offended by truth and honesty.
Former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan states "PC is cultural Marxism...Its trademark is intolerance." Richard Bernstein further defines it as "pressure to conform to currently fashionable ideas." Doesn't the very definition of PC go against our Constitutional First Amendment right of Free Speech? Am I no longer free to call a "spade a spade" without suffering repercussions from someone who has a different view or opinion? I believe that freedom to express differing opinions and beliefs without rebuke is part of what makes this country great. Isn't that partially what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they declared our independence?
Making certain terms taboo or repressing the use of certain descriptions is an attempt to control communication and thought patterns. Again, I ask what form of ugly government that sounds like. For instance, it is now PC to say "firefighter" instead of the offensive "fireman," or "physically challenged" instead of "blind" or "handicapped." My favorite is the adjective "Caucasian culturally disadvantaged" instead of "white trash." Come on, really!
The "Politically Correct" are so egotistical that they go against the very meaning of the term in describing those who do not subscribe to their way of thinking. If someone is not PC, they are characterized as racist, bigoted, or hate mongers instead of just honest and outspoken. A "politically incorrect" person then is bullied into shying away from speaking based on their personal beliefs. Those bullies strive to force me to adhere to their standard of expression based on their judgement that mine is unacceptable. They will not concede to the fact that outside of God's laws of kindness and love, there is no basis for an authority to enforce "Political Correctness." The liberals, communists and progressives in this country desire to be just that. They cannot succeed if patriots like me and you stand up for the Constitution and the unalienable freedoms we are granted by our Creator and prevent the denial of the rights we have simply for being Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought and died for this and it is our responsibility to keep it alive.
Still not sure what it means to be "Politically Correct?" Here are a few examples:
"The Arizona shooter is an idiotic uneducated white trash cultist raised by idiotic, sorry excuse for parents who should have been sterilized" is not PC. Rather, "He is a victim of an untreated mental and psychological imbalance who was raised by Caucasian culturally challenged individuals."
Killer = Innocent victim of his upbringing
Nancy Pelosi talks too much = She is abundantly verbal
Hillbillies = Appalachian Americans
A few common ones:
Black = African American
Indian = Native American
Gay = Alternative Sexual Orientation
Short = Vertically Challenged
Tall = Vertically Advanced
And the all time worst:
Merry Christmas = happy holidays ( I hate that...I mean, I strongly dislike it...No, I mean I HATE THAT!)
What are the PC statements that stand out most to you, funniest, most offensive or just down right tee you off?
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Common Courtesy, Not So Common
Is it just me, or are people getting more and more rude? Maybe it is the economical stresses, the political state of our country or any number of other factors, but the general public seems to be losing their minds where manners are concerned.
On a recent trip to Disney World, we were surrounded by rude, manner less foreign people. America is an awesome country. People who are not citizens here are privileged to be on our soil. As a country, we tolerate a lot from foreigners, both legal and illegal. It is taking things too far when they come to our country to visit the places we vacation and are rude to us. America is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. To be disrespected by those who do not live here, pay taxes, work to keep this country free, etc... is quite bothersome. I have had enough already!
On a recent trip to Disney World, we were surrounded by rude, manner less foreign people. America is an awesome country. People who are not citizens here are privileged to be on our soil. As a country, we tolerate a lot from foreigners, both legal and illegal. It is taking things too far when they come to our country to visit the places we vacation and are rude to us. America is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. To be disrespected by those who do not live here, pay taxes, work to keep this country free, etc... is quite bothersome. I have had enough already!
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