Today\’s quote comes to us from CNN news anchor Don Lemon. Here is what Mr. Lemon had to say on Thursday, during a radio interview on blackamericaweb.com (the bold print is mine):
“Are you too politically correct for your own good? Do you allow room in your space for those who disagree with you? Do you ever call your co-workers or someone you don\’t even know you overhear talking or even the person on the radio or the person on the TV, do you ever call them \’stupid\’ because you disagree with them or because they don\’t hold your same opinion about an issue? If so, then you might be too politically correct for your own good and for society\’s good.
“It is so much of a problem now, lately, that even comedians, the most outspoken people on the planet, like Chris Rock, they\’re complaining about it And just the other night comedian Jerry Seinfeld said \’There\’s a creepy PC thing out there now that really bothers me.\’
“Here\’s my take. This is from me, that I\’ve noticed for being in the business for a long time: Political correctness has become dangerous We have to stop looking for reasons to be offended. We have to allow people leeway to make mistakes in conversations without calling them racists, bigots, stupid, dumb, sell-outs or whatever your word choice may be. Not everyone is going to, nor should they have to, agree with you. In fact, it\’s better when people don\’t agree with you. That\’s how we learn. That\’s what conversation is really about.
“After almost 25 years in the news business, you know who is the most easily offended and the least tolerant? Liberals and progressives. Because many of them don\’t really want to hear anyone else\’s opinions but their own.”
Don Lemon wins Quote Of The Day honors for two reasons. One is that he is so dead-on accurate in his assessment, and the other is that he has demonstrated the courage to go public with this assessment, thereby risking the personal attacks that are so likely to now come his way, from exactly the people he has defined so well.
Thank you, Mr. Lemon. You are a journalist who has every right to look yourself in the mirror this morning….unlik so many other “journalists” who continue to duck away from this reality and should be ashamed to go near their mirrors.
