I was going to stay out of this, but I can't stand it.......

There is a difference between PC and common courtesy. If I decide (or recognize) that a particular statement or word would be offensive to an audience, and I refrain from using it, that is courtesy.

PC on the other hand are speech codes imposed on the populace from above and enforced by institutional means.

If it is the government that is the institution in question then it is undeniably censorship and patently unconstitutional....not to mention utterly inimical to the concept of a free society.

Individuals are free to be offended by anything anyone else says. They are free to take steps to express their displeasure.

But the thing about freedom is that everyone has some.

This means that people are free to be offensive and use impolite language and, God help us, even racial and ethnic slurs.

It is not the government's place to enforce the rules of politeness or good manners. It is a task for the populace at large. If a message is so outrageous that a societal consensus exists that it is unacceptable the meesenger will be punished. People won't buy his books/cds/, won't vote for him, or won't do business in his establishment.

But if a person with a message than many find offensive can still obtain an audience that will support him, then obviously no consensus of opinion exists. Eventually statements and ideas must stand or fall on their own merit, not a government fiat.

Personally, I follow the 'sticks and stones' theory. The world is a cold hard terrible place. People do horrible unspeakable things to each other everywhere, every day. If the worst thing that ever happens to you is offensive language.....the Gods have smiled upon you and you should count yourself fortunate.