Subject: Fwd: Political
correctness
Although I
consider myself reasonably fluent in English, that term was not in my
vocabulary.
Curiosity got
the better of me so I decided to do a little research, and after two weeks of
chasing fruitless leads, I found what I’d been looking for at the Truman
Library and Museum in Independence Missouri .
An unnamed
source there sent me copies of four telegrams between then-President Harry
Truman and Gen Douglas MacArthur on the day before the actual signing of the
WW2 Surrender Agreement in September 1945..
The contents of those four telegrams below are exactly as received at
the end of the war - not
a word has been added or deleted!
(1) Tokyo , Japan
0800-September 1,1945
To: President Harry S Truman
From: General D A MacArthur
"Tomorrow we meet with those
yellow-bellied bastards and sign the Surrender Documents, any last minute
instructions? "
(2) Washington, D C
1300-September 1, 1945
To: D A MacArthur
From: H S Truman
" Congratulations, job well
done, but you must tone down your obvious dislike of the Japanese when
discussing the terms of the surrender with the press,
because some of
your remarks are fundamentally not politically correct! "
(3) Tokyo , Japan
1630-September 1, 1945
To: H S Truman
From: D A MacArthur and C H Nimitz
" Wilco Sir, but both Chester and I are somewhat confused, exactly what
does the term politically correct mean? "
(4) Washington, D C
2120-September 1, 1945
To: D A MacArthur/C H Nimitz
From: H S Truman
"Political
Correctness is a doctrine, recently fostered by a delusional, illogical
minority and promoted by a sick mainstream media, which holds forth
the
proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the
clean end! "
Now, with special thanks to the Truman Museum and Harry himself, you and
I finally have a full understanding of what ‘POLITICAL CORRECTNESS’ really
means.
Posts
6 comments:
This one was dissected about a year ago.
Two funny things about political correctness.
It was a term created by RW think tanks to mock and deride the left's call for a more civil discourse (which basically boiled down to "It's ok to disagree, just don't be an asshole about it".
And the RW have their own version of PC, especially when it comes to trumpeting for war. Just ask the Dixie Chicks.
Yes, the right engages in their own special versions of political correctness. For example, there was (truly) a tirade letter to the editor of my local nooz paper last Sunday. Said conservative ranted about how it's all the "liberals" who are total racists, not Trump supporters. And how "divisive" Pres Obama has been. And so forth.
Not grounded in any sort of reality, but that's the default these days.
Oh yes, conservatives have their very own politically correct ways of talking. Such politically correct ways of talk are bellowed at them 24/7/365 by rightwing media (all of it) and hate radio.
Oh shoot! I did a repeat!
dave
No worries, Dave. Given how much political correctness has figured into the Trump campaign, it's worth a repeat.
No sweat.
Repeats can be interesting to see how the introductions change over time -- as in new, improved BULLSHIT.
" Wilco Sir, but both Chester and I..."
Said no theater commander about another theater commander to the Commander-in-Chief - EVER!
Post a Comment