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[Sheikh N Bake]

Are all common-sense, well-traveled TEFLers assaulted by self-righteous PC types, or is it only me? I'm not even talking about ME culture; forget about that. At Dubai Women's College I once remarked, within some kind of relevant context, of course, that "Chinese generally like gambling."

The TEFLer I was talking to, a Canadian woman who had never been out of her own country before and had been at DWC less than a year, scolded me severely about stereotyping 1.2 billion Chinese.

First, I said, I have spent years in the Far East, and you should have known from my tone that I meant it only half-seriously.

She replied that a lot of well-traveled people use their travels as an excuse to be racist.

Really? I said. Well, second, I've been married to a Chinese for 13 years.

Third, I was actually quoting from my wife. I learned much from her about Chinese culture.

But you, I said, having been overseas for one year and not anywhere near anything Chinese... perhaps you in your divine and borderline way know more about Chinese culture than my Chinese wife. Here's my cell phone. Would you like to call her and enlighten her? Please do. Here, take the phone.

Any PC anecdotes to add? Would love to hear them!

[johnslat]

Dear Sheik,

My favorite PC person? Stephen Colbert.
Regards,
John

P.S.

Here's an example of extreme PC:
"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.... and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make the USA great (not to imply that the USA is necessarily greater that any other country), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

(In other words, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!)

[hurricane]

Consider yourself lucky. Imagine the pain inflicted upon her students by this enlightened one's teacher induced errors.

[veiledsentiments]

Well SnB, you could probably have turned that one around and ask her what she had against people who enjoy gambling. As long as it is legal... And what about all those old people playing Bingo in the Senior Citizens Center?

And yes, North Americans do tend to overdo the PC stuff.

VS

[Noor]

You might have asked her if there were no generalizable distinctions between Canadians and Americans.

On the other hand, if you feel you elicit an inordinate number of such remarks, perhaps there is something in your delivery that sets off your interlocutors.

[Sheikh N Bake]

Duh...interwhaters?

[Noor]

Your wrestling partner.

[Sheikh N Bake]

Ha ha, I get it. Can be fun if it's a friendly interlock.

[johnslat]

Dear Sheik,
Have I got a find for you:

The Actualized Dragon
Imagining the world�s most politically correct children�s book

http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/12460/the-actualized-dragon/

Order your copies quickly; they're going like organic, gluten-free hot-cakes.

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

That was a great find John... and I loved it... but I noted the masthead of the source and it may not be importable to Saudi. I caught it when the mother patted someone on the tuckus... (but not proprietorially)

VS

[Sheikh N Bake]

Good one, johnslat.

In the bizarre alternate universe of PC we see many aberrations--that's why they're bizarre--such as the western apologists for religious oppression (ever try to criticize a certain religion in Europe in public? If you do, be prepared to emigrate to the US or lose your life).

Or in spoof form is a favorite cartoon of mine that can be found reproduced in a history text about Wyatt Earp. The cartoon is called "Gunfight at the I'm OK - You're OK Corral." It shows two scruffy gunhands, of course, on the verge of drawing their pistols.

The gunman on the left says, "Draw! I respect your new assertiveness in an attempt to self-actualize!" The other gunman responds "No, you draw! It'll release your inner child!"

In dead-serious form, according to a report I saw in the US some years ago (I don't know, it could have been 10 or 20 years ago) the loony left in Britain with its centralized national curriculum banned a young children's book from the curriculum because its depiction of a young girl being kind to a horse was unacceptable. Because that suggested the girl was "weak" and the cruel boy was "strong."

[Stephen Jones]

[Sheikh N Bake]

The report was on-site with a bunch of British educators.

[ItsJustMe]

[ckhl]

TEFL, and education generally, is dominated by political correctness. Dissent is rarely tolerated...PC thus takes on the trappings of a fascist regime. How ironic. Just browse through some TEFL course books...the same knee-jerk, liberal left-wing pieties and reactions.