Monday, February 11, 2013
6:30 PM
To register for this event: GlobalNet21events

Published by: Christina Wiltshire.

Very few subjects get people hot under the collar more than political correctness. Some people believe that Political Correctness around the world is stifling of liberty and common sense, chronicling a slowly developing thought dictatorship. Others believe that political correctness applied sensibly protects minorities and the vulnerable from abuse and discrimination.

At this meeting we have two of our members who take slightly different views over how we should approach the idea of political correctness but both agree that we need a more open exploration of what often can turn into a “cartoonish debate.”

Andrea Gordon believes that political correctness is harmful and that by treating people with politically correct kid gloves is insulting to them as well as a severe restriction on freedom of expression. Andrea works with many comedians and actors – many who feel that the politically correct environment of the 1960s onwards is no longer wanted by most including minorities.

Anne Bennett is a psychologist who works with community groups, top executives in corporations and public services and is interested in how ‘PC’ debates – including the media and political representations of our current epidemic of ‘offense taking’ – show us the state we are in. She promotes working with ‘whole systems’ to improve our appreciation of diversity before getting tripped up by it. She is interested in how we are currently relating to each other, what drives and causes ‘PC’ conflicts and how we choose to ignore, avoid, confront or attempt to fix them

What do you think in this debate? How can we be free to express what we will without hurting others? What are the ground rules and the boundaries and have these changed significantly from the somewhat constrained days of a few decades ago?

Join us and see if there is a real difference or if it is often manufactured in our minds for ulterior reasons. How can we create a diverse society where there is mutual respect and still have the freedom of expression to explore and develop ideas?