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As my reader will know, I am averse to the phrase "political correctness" because I believe it to have been coined and/or promulgated by racists and sexists and other bigots who were unhappy about being called on their behaviour. The fact that it is now a phrase freely used by people who are neither racist nor sexist may be counted a victory for the other side. If you can make your opponent ashamed of what s/he is doing, then you're halfway to winning.
Having said that, I recognise that sometimes well-intentioned people err too far in the other direction, and try to purge our culture of things that seem to them as though they might offend others. (It's seldom the actual people offended who object, or so it has seemed to me.) Since the things they offer as substitutes are usually forgettably naff, while the things they try to purge have outlasted their time precisely because they are memorable and leave an impression, this is a doomed endeavour in any case.
So maybe it's a little extreme to talk about the "political correctness police." The police are a powerful agency with authority to stop people doing things. You can be arrested, sent to court, tried, convicted and jailed if you mess with the police. The "political correctness police" have no power to stop anyone doing anything. The most they can achieve, as far as I can make out, is to prevent something winning an award, which is not so much fun for the creator of the thing, but then again it is not the end of the world or the end of free speech.
I predict that in fifty years time kids will still be singing about drunken sailors and not about grumpy pirates, especially if the writer of the latter knows no better than to put "giggle" on a spondee. I predict that the sheep selling its wool will still be black, the three little pigs will still be heroically fighting off the big bad wolf. And I predict that people will still be finding non-stories to get all amped up about. That's what we do.
Having said that, I recognise that sometimes well-intentioned people err too far in the other direction, and try to purge our culture of things that seem to them as though they might offend others. (It's seldom the actual people offended who object, or so it has seemed to me.) Since the things they offer as substitutes are usually forgettably naff, while the things they try to purge have outlasted their time precisely because they are memorable and leave an impression, this is a doomed endeavour in any case.
So maybe it's a little extreme to talk about the "political correctness police." The police are a powerful agency with authority to stop people doing things. You can be arrested, sent to court, tried, convicted and jailed if you mess with the police. The "political correctness police" have no power to stop anyone doing anything. The most they can achieve, as far as I can make out, is to prevent something winning an award, which is not so much fun for the creator of the thing, but then again it is not the end of the world or the end of free speech.
I predict that in fifty years time kids will still be singing about drunken sailors and not about grumpy pirates, especially if the writer of the latter knows no better than to put "giggle" on a spondee. I predict that the sheep selling its wool will still be black, the three little pigs will still be heroically fighting off the big bad wolf. And I predict that people will still be finding non-stories to get all amped up about. That's what we do.