Again, since my patient this morning took about an hour to see instead of a half hour, due to our conversation.... I will continue the conversation here ....
My 70+ yr old patient went on to talk about how she had a meeting in her apartment with management and a few other members that represent the apartment residents.
Their issue is that they raised rent almost 50% when the Landlord and Tenant Board said it should only be 1.8%. (I guess it only applies to residential buildings that are under the Residential act but that's besides the point of this story).
She went on to explain that there was an asian man sitting to her right and a black man sitting to her left. Both fellow apartment residents, talking to the apartment management lady.
The asian man explained the situation quite eloquently and captured exactly what my patient was thinking about the rental increase.
Thus my patient said, "I agree with what the Chinese man said"
All but the manager were OK with her statement.
However the manager practically brought the meeting to a halt saying:
"what did you just say?!"
"I said I agree with what this Chinese man said"
"You can't call him that."
"Why not, he is Chinese."
"Well, that's not right to say that, its offensive"
The asian man chimed in "Hey whats wrong with it, I am Chinese."
"Well its not nice to say it that way, you should be offended."
"But I am not, why should I be?"
"Well, (addressing the man to my patient's left) how would you like it if someone called you a black man?"
The man answered, glancing at his backhand, "Well, I have no problems with that, I am black."
"Well its not right."
"Listen, I don't understand what I said wrong", continued my patient.
"Well, how would you like it if someone called you a White lady??"
"I have no issues with that, I am a white lady"
...... My patient paused and then continued.....
"But if someone said, that white lady rolling their eyes or spitting after in disgust, yes, I would have a problem with it. But otherwise no, I have to problem with someone saying I am a white lady, because I am one. It's HOW they say it that matters, the context and the attitude that goes with it, not the description itself. And no, I don't think there is anything wrong with me saying that this man is Chinese."
I laughed at this situation in agreement.
This apparently sums up a lot of what is happening these days.
Correction of words over correction of attitude. The focus is misdirected, though it means well.
It reminds me of the Munk Debates on Political Correctness, when Stephen Fry (a lefty) was sitting on the Righty side and explained why.
"I believe that one of the greatest human failings to prefer to be right than to be effective....... I don't care what you call me, it's how we are treated that matters....It's nothing to do with Political correctness, it's to do with human decency, it's that simple."
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