Is America Selective with Political Correctness?

By: Dr. Bruce L. Hartman

I recently have read in many articles about Joe Biden and his run for President. In these articles, the authors doubt Biden’s chance of winning because he is “Old, White and Male!” “Wow, I say to myself. Finding these comments insensitive and contrary to the theory of political correctness. I can only imagine the drama that would have occurred if the authors used biology to describe other candidates that weren’t “Old, White and Male.” Likely the authors would be vilified and lose their jobs.

To be clear, this article isn’t to say that being “Old, White and Male” is the best qualities to be president. But about the hypocrisy of our national trend of being politically correct. Further as a point of clarity, to be President isn’t about biology, but about the quality and character of the individual. For me this means a patriot that supports the beliefs of the world's oldest democracy, a person that listens to learn, a person of faith, and most important a person who believes in, “We The People.”

Many of these insensitive statements are being made in America’s foremost newspapers and they should know better. Political Correctness shouldn’t be selective. It should respect all people and it shouldn’t matter if they are old. Being respectful to all biologies is noble, but has to be more than a theory. It has to be practiced universally. It can’t be a wall to hide behind or a point of view that supports ones own agenda. Theories are great, but only when they are practiced equally.

It would be hard to disagree that parts of our society have suffered from wage inequality, misogyny, racism and other severe forms of oppression. These wrongs need to be fixed and have no place in any society. At the same time we must be must be all encompassing in our practices, with no exception.

To exclude someone from running for President because of age is ageism, pure and simple. It is also alienating to the many people of this country who are over sixty five. To exclude someone because of race is racism, regardless of their race. To exclude someone because of gender is also wrong. To elect someone because of the content of their character is noble.

The theory of political correctness is worthy to enact and discuss. But more importantly it must be practiced universally and not selectively. In America today we practice political correctness based on agenda and not with the spirit that God intends. In Genesis 1:27 it says, “God created all humankind in God’s image; in the image of God humankind was created, God created both male and female.” There are no exclusions in this fundamental statement of God’s creation.

God didn’t set aside a special biological group to receive more or less than any other group. There is no agenda on God’s part, other than all are equal.

But as a society we continue to ignore the words of Martin Luther King, who said in the famed, I Have a Dream speech, “I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

A specific request for his children, but also imploring a nation to changing its values of measuring capabilities, not on biology but on ability and character. What is most surprising is that the current modern day warriors of political correctness only practice this when is comes to people that think like them. Accusing those who don’t of being oppressors and not the allies most want to be.

We can’t pick and choose where we are politically correct. For those of faith, Genesis 1:27 is our standard. We are called to treat all humankind equally and respectfully. It is God’s desire for us.

Now, I am lukewarm about Joe Biden as President. Not because of his biology, but his politics. As a country we need a voice of and for the people. We need a leader that can unite and not divide. We need a leader that ensures our national interests are protected without harming other nations. We need a leader that listens first and acts second. We need a leader that is a patriot that is willing to give up personal interests for the sake of national and universal good.

If we are going to be a nation that is politically correct. Then Joe Biden should be able to run for President without his biology being a factor. Christians should be able to say Merry Christmas without being rebuked. Women should get equal pay. Jim Crow needs to disappear.

Political correctness won’t work without a universal standard of practice.