Day 142
I wonder why we are so easily offended these days? The rush to drop any word or term that might be construed as offensive of upsetting to somebody has become ridiculous. You can’t erase everything that has past because it no longer fits the current dynamic. There are many words and terms that naturally disappear for various reasons. They fall into disuse because they cause offence or are no longer relevant or have meaning. Those who read this regularly will know I have a fondness for old words and there meanings particularly if they apply to the current world. I am all for equality and not causing people pain or offence (I can think of some exceptions but enough of that today) but when we force the issue as we are now does it really make any difference? An argument could be made that by eradicating certain offensive terms we will progress and maybe have a fairer society? Where will it end and how far should it go? We cannot be shorn of all offending history lest we forget where we have come from and the advances we have made. And we have made advances even though it sometimes feels as though nothing has changed. Even oppressive regimes have made some enlightened progress. We are a long way from where we would like to be, a long way but looking back it was far worse and much has been achieved. If we continue to remove offensive language that has become anachronistic simply because it might upset then we are doing a disservice to those who come after us. The truth is these adjustments are a band aid over a problem that runs far deeper and until it is eradicated from peoples minds and hearts will never be defeated! Actually keeping certain words and excepting them for what they are and not what they are often used for might actually be a good thing? We appear to have substituted the word offence for tolerance!
Stay well
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