‘Herbert Marcuse was said to be one of the most prominent Frankfurt School promoters of Critical Theory’s social revolution among college and university students in the 1960s. It is instructive and interesting to review what he has written on the subject:
“One can rightfully speak of a cultural revolution, since the protest is directed toward the
whole cultural establishment, including the morality of existing society …
there is one thing we can say with complete assurance. The traditional idea of revolution
and the traditional strategy of revolution have ended. These ideas are old-fashioned …
what we must undertake is a type of diffuse and dispersed disintegration of the system.”
This sentiment was first expressed by the early 20th century Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci.’
Source – About the Frankfurt School
Dr. Gerald L. Atkinson CDR USN (Ret.)
Political correctness is an imposition upon the soul of the British people; it does not ‘fit’ the character of the people, but has been enforced through diktat, rules and regulations from both the UK and EU governments, and by a deeply misguided political class, especially New Labour., and is now being enforced through the so called ‘Conservative’/Lib Dem Coalition, who have substantially taken on the mantle of New Labour.
From being something that people laughed about and made fun of a few years ago, the concept of political correctness has now become altogether a more formidable beast in more recent years, especially under the last government, and is the vicious and ruthless harbinger of big government power in the future. It is a vehicle to usher in totalitarianism into our society, first of all ‘soft’ totalitarianism, but eventually it will be hard unless it is opposed. The newspapers have reported a continual stream of stories which have become more and more alarming as the years have progressed. Those stories have been of freedoms being constrained and conscience being crushed in the name of ‘tolerance,’ How many times have you heard the phrase, ‘You can’t say that anymore.’ This is a sure sign that we probably need to say those things that are ‘forbidden’ by the prevailing atmosphere. It is time to move in the opposite spirit.
Before you deal with political correctness, you have to know what you are dealing with. The spirit behind political correctness is a spirit of fear and intimidation: It is a spirit of coercion. ‘You will say this or believe this, and you will not say that or believe that.’ This is the attitude that prevails behind it. It is designed to ruthlessly impose a uniform ideology on everyone without exception. It threatens possible censure by those around, disapproval, social alienation, and at the worst suspension from work or even a court case and possible fine or jail. This is no joke, as already these things have begun to happen. The country I grew up in made room for all forms of opinion and beliefs, without recourse to the law for dealing with an opinion you do not approve of. The life of a healthy democracy is slowly but surely being crushed in this nation as this spirit winds its way into every aspect of our lives, seeking to control everything we do and say. It makes a mockery of democracy because it says that the only opinions you can have are those approved by the State, which says that if we disapprove of your opinion then we should not allow it in public discourse. What sort of democracy is that when you are only allowed to express the official opinion? We are seeing the beginnings of totalitarianism in the UK. We are into the realms of state sanctioned foolishness.
Political correctness has substantially used the ideology of human rights, diversity and equality to drive a coach and horses through the Judeo-Christian foundations of the UK. There are of course good things mixed up in these concepts, but those good things should be passed down through the generations as a common culture taught by example, not imposed by diktat. Human rights should be respected, we should honour those of different backgrounds and cultures, and treat others as of equal value. But when this ideology is used to crush free speech, conscience and simply undermine what is right or common sense behaviour, we have a problem, especially when that ideology is enforced through the law of the land. It began its march with race and gender, and has now moved on to sexual orientation, religion, age and disability, and seeks to enforce a new morality on the people, totally different from the morality that our fathers and grandfathers grew up with. It’s a counterfeit morality, not one that springs from the inner checks and balances of a mature conscience, but one enforced outwardly by the State.
The issue of race is a good example of what has happened. People of different colour or ethnic background should absolutely be treated as equals and not discriminated against in any way. Thank God many of us enjoy good relationships with anyone of another race, colour or language. However,. the word ‘racist’ has been used as a great big club to bully people who do not agree with a certain agenda. Notably it has been used by New Labour and other ‘progressive’ politicians to silence those who disagree with their worldview. Also given human nature, those who have been ‘discriminated against’ will play the race card for all they are worth. We have seen the word ‘racist’ abused and misused for example to shamelessly tarnish anyone who disagrees with the wildly irresponsible policy of mass immigration, as if the desire to properly control your own borders proves that you are a demented zenophobe. More foolishness comes from the idea that somehow every public organisation or body has to accurately reflect ‘diversity’ in its makeup, rather than just taking on those who are most qualified for the job.
Anyone who stands against the agenda of these radicals is now in danger of being hauled before the courts because we are now institutionalising and sanctioning behaviour and attirudes that would have been unacceptable even a few years ago. People who have suffered particularly from political correctness in the last few years have been those who hold to traditional values, and that is because what they stand for is diametrically opposed in many ways to the new morality being lauded in the corridors of power. Political correctness is a direct attack on the heritage of this nation such as what is left of it; much of that heritage is bound up with the Judeo Christian framework, which has served us well for a long time, and you tinker with it at your peril, for it helps to provide a certain stability to the nation. So it is not surprising that traditionalists are in the firing line as they represent a group of people that must be moved out of the way to fulfil the new agenda. A limited number of commentators understand these things well, notably Melanie Phillips, and we are fortunate in this country to have such an eloquent and staunch supporter of our country and its heritage, and such a willing apologist for what is right. It may yet prove again that the pen is mightier than the sword in the UK, for it is the battle for ideas that is raging across the UK; the prevailing world view so strong in the media, political elite and the intelligentsia holds a powerful grip over the minds of men and women, but it is a view suffused with political correctness, and now needs to be faced down head on. This is a time for incredible courage and fortitude, because the lives of our children and grandchildren depend on it. If we do not deal with the Goliath of political correctness now, it will continue to work its way like a cancer into the body politic. It is no less than a strong delusion which will render the UK impotent in the face of incredible challenges. Make no mistake, the spirit behind political correctness hates freedom of speech, it hates our Judeo Christian heritage, it hates the traditional family, it hates patriotism and all those things that we took for granted only a couple of generations ago. It believes in enforcing an ideology through state sanctions. It represents totalitarianism, oppression and darkness, and will enslave and infantilise us. That is why we must rise up and defeat it before it is too late.