2 Ton Gorilla in the Room

Happy Birthday Political Correctness!

September 7th, 2008

17 years ago today, September 7, 1991, Political Correctness was born. The two ton baby, as I am sure some of you remember, was born in a Las Vegas hotel during an annual meeting of the Tailhook Association. Mother was in labor for three days (baby was finally born only after a few Sailors strategically slapped momma on the ass err butt umm, derriere). The child was given the name “Tailhook”, after the father.

In honor of the birth, the Navy removed “Sailor’s Have More Fun” and “Full Speed Ahead” from our vocabulary and quickly adopted, “Let the Journey Begin” and made most jobs “gender neutral”.

Within a few months of the birth, Clarence Thomas and others quickly found the baby cried the loudest when there was even a hint people may have been harassed in a sexual manner. Not long after the baby realized the distaste of sexual harassment - he would get real upset, even burp up lunch, in the presents of hazing or any actions considered demeaning of another.

It wasn’t until the OJ Simpson trial Tailhook out-grew his name. The trial made him more popular than ever, growing pains for the populace commenced in earnest. Political Correctness was now all grown up with a full set of teeth.

Over the past 17 years the Tailhook Association and more importantly the Navy and our Nation have become more sensitive and aware to the feelings of others. People overall are more tolerant and accepting. Yes, in many ways some organizations and individuals take the meanings to extremes but overall the diversity and inclusion PC brought upon us has made us stronger - we all might not like the two ton gorilla in the room but we really can not argue with the results so far - we even have an African American and a woman nominated by their parties for the highest offices in our country. Nicely done and Happy Birthday PC!