By By Tracy L. Brady
Record Reporter
For my generation, "P.C. (Politically Correct) is the way to be."
We don't use hate words or force our beliefs on anyone. My generation is open-minded and accepting.
We fight for the rights of gays and lesbians, stay-at-home-dads, women in the workplace, minorities, atheists and agnostics, the underprivileged, young girls who have been made to feel unworthy by fashion industry standards, and young boys from the suburbs who open fire on their classmates and teachers for no apparent reason.
We rally together to form support groups and Internet chat rooms to give all of these groups a voice.
Just give us a cause and we will be more than happy to jump on the bandwagon.
Unless, of course, the cause supports any traditional convention.
For instance, my generation apparently has no concern for the traditional convention of classic literature.
A British theatre company recently adapted the title of the classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to "The Bellringer of Notre Dame" as not to offend people with scoliosis.
Perhaps "Snow White and the Seven Vertically Challenged Men" will soon be at a theatre near you.
In other news, some national organization for the omission of possibly derogatory words recently deemed the word "oriental" as a hate word.
If anyone can explain this one to me, I welcome the input. An hour of Internet research turned up nothing.
A local radio talk show recently discussed the topic and took calls from several Asian Americans. The funny thing was the callers had absolutely no idea why the term might be labeled as offensive either.
And now Michael Newdow of California has challenged one of our country's most treasured traditional conventions-the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Bush called it "ridiculous." Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle called it "just nuts." Alabama Schools Superintendent Ed Richardson said "enough is enough."
Missouri Sen. Christopher Bond said it was "political correctness run amok."
I agree with each of them.
As atheists, Newdow and his second grade daughter apparently feel as if "the majority religion was overpowering them."
Bless their hearts.
Newdow has now opened the door for other cry babies to challenge "God Bless America," "America the Beautiful," and "The Star Spangled Banner."
Same goes for currency. "In God We Trust" may become a historical reference to my children.
I would love to glue this guy's feet to the floor during an "All in the Family" marathon on Nick at Night. A few hours with Archie Bunker just might make him appreciate how liberal and "P.C." America actually is. This country has made concession upon ridiculous concession for nearly 30 years and, quite frankly, I am tired of it.
The time has come to risk being politically incorrect and so no to these absurd concessions.
Maybe I'll start a support group for politically incorrect Generation X-ers like me.
I'm sure someone will jump on my bandwagon.