Readers' views: Political correctness

The appointment of Wayne Mapp to be National's political correctness eradicator has stirred a strong response from readers after we sought reaction.

Dr Mapp is keen to get on with the job of devising "a clear political programme to reverse it, to remove the viewpoints and language of the politically correct from the institutions of government. The minority capture of public institutions by the politically correct is a basic cause of people losing faith in the institutions of government."

Readers were clearly split over the position, as this selection of views illustrates.

IN FAVOUR

Good on National for raising this most insidious of censorship issues. It is time New Zealanders were mature enough to allow robust debate on any topic. Next they can have a go at highlighting politicians who play the man rather than the ball in an attempt to close down intelligent debate. Labour needs to muzzle the vitriolic little man who likes to spend other people's money before he does even more harm to his own and the party's credibility. Steven Heath.

* * *

At last someone recognises the absolute stupidity of this "PC" BS and is taking it seriously enough to do something about it. I congratulate Don Brash for taking a stand against the insidious nature of this and just hope NZ can return to commonsense and sanity. Ed Welander.

* * *

I agree with Dr Mapp. PC is divorced from mainstream values and the real concern is that these substitute values are imposed on society without actually convincing us of their correctness. If I want to make a positive change in the way my business runs, I find it best to explain to my staff what we are trying to achieve and convince them of the validity of my proposal. I also ask them for any other ideas that may achieve our goals better. Danny Wrigley.

* * *

We all know what political correctness is; those who purport to have trouble with the concept are usually the ones most guilty of it. Political correctness is the antithesis of real, tangible achievement and abhors success. If there has to be success, PC would prefer it was somewhat nebulous and difficult to quantify. Political correctness is threatened by individuality. G. Willemsen.

* * *

It is about time someone took a stand against the politically correct nonsense we get handed out by the Government and its agencies. Mainstream New Zealanders should be able to express their opinions and live their lives without the politically correct controls we now suffer. It should not only be the lefties who have the right to free speech. Alan Muller.

* * *

If we do not allow people the basic freedom of expressing their views then we do not have a free society. Some people find it easier to be "offended" by someone else's thoughts and opinions than to either ignore them or, better still, engage in a rational debate on the issues. If Dr Mapp can help bring issues out into the open and lead the debate then that is a good thing. Shine the light of rational analysis on to some of the laws and procedures that we have had foisted on us and, hopefully, they will be improved. Linda Wright.

* * *

I fully support the move of Dr Brash to eliminate the current regime of "political correctness". This is simply an incipient mode of mind control which will ultimately result in the assertion that good is evil and evil is good. Peter Lewis.

* * *

What a superb and long overdue decision by National to appoint Dr Wayne Mapp to the role of Political Correctness Eradicator. Michael Cullen is guilty of both legislative and personal projection in his criticism of the role being "chillingly fascist". It is the Labour Government's repeated attempts at "thought-policing", "behaviour speak", and "group think" that are the tenets of a fascist mindset, and one Dr Cullen, Helen Clark, Steve Maharey et al have been enthusiastic champions of perpetuating. Steve Taylor.

* * *

It seems to me that political correctness is a veiled tyranny which oppresses and has caused many to be afraid of using any wrong word that may hint particularly of being homophobic, sexist or racist - the big three in the fabled "victim" group around which PC inevitably revolves. Murray H. Pirret.

AGAINST

If Dr Brash thinks that the purpose of a government is purely to represent the interests of the majority he is slipping a bit in time. Governments make laws to protect minorities and minority viewpoints because their presence creates a healthy society. If he wants to return us to a point where might makes right and the biggest club rules the cave, he is headed in the right direction. But then again, he does admit to being a bit old-fashioned. Eric Rowe.

* * *

Dr Mapp has no future in lexicography. His "definition" of political correctness as "a set of attitudes and beliefs that are divorced from mainstream values" would appear to be inclusive of the National Front, Exclusive Brethren and members of the Act Party. In fact, his mission to eradicate non-mainstream attitudes and beliefs makes him, by his own definition, a politically correct person: one who "has a prescriptive view on how people should think ... " Michael Tritt.

* * *

The purest form of political correctness is when a politician takes it upon him- or her- (oops, was that too PC?) self to decree what constitutes right thinking. By his own definition Wayne Mapp is the most politically correct person in New Zealand, as the only politician dedicated to promoting a prescriptive view of how people should think and what they are permitted to discuss. It seems that in Wayne's world, boring, beige, monocultural, misogynistic, homophobic arrogance is the new political correctness. Michael Smythe.

* * *

What is Mapp saying? If you are not part of the "mainstream" (presumably defined by him) then your views, values, thoughts, and ideas will be targeted? Doesn't much sound like freedom to me. Jane Lawrence.

* * *

The pejorative use of the term political correctness has become the prerogative of regressive elements in society who would really rather not bother with the rights of any minority. They see themselves as "mainstream" and, as a result, having a right to rule over those that are different. Drs Brash and Mapp are part of this elitist "mainstream" club and they use the term political correctness to denigrate those with a progressive or alternative viewpoint. This appointment by Brash is just further evidence of his dated, conservative and naively neo-fascist political view. Murray Rosser.

* * *

What next for Dr Brash? A take on John Cleese and his Ministry of Silly Walks? R. McVicar.

* * *

Irony of ironies. Those against political correctness create a position of spokesperson for the eradication of political correctness in an endeavour to prescribe that we must not be politically correct. Luke Sarfas.

* * *

Dr Brash has been watching way too many movies and imitating way too many American Republicans lately. The idea for the political correctness eradicator clearly comes from the Terminator character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, now the "Govinator" of California. Who could possibly take a portfolio based on such a joke seriously? Don Badman.

* * *

If you are going to eradicate political correctness, you have to determine what you are going to replace it with. You might find what you end up with is just another form of political correctness. Grant McLachlan.

* * *

This has to be one of the most asinine political stunts that has been off-loaded upon an increasingly cynical public in recent decades. While it's fine for a smaller party such as Act to come up with such an "appointment", it does not bode well for National if it seeks to assume leadership of New Zealanders in 2008. Patrick Baron.

* * *

To "eradicate" an idea, one would have to make it illegal to express or advocate it. For instance, one would have to take action against a parliamentarian or civil servant who tried to write "PC" language or definitions into a new law. Morally, how is this any different from the worst excesses of PC itself? Mike Kew.