COLUMN: Just tell it like it is
The other day I was reading the Oct. 11 “My Turn” article written by Robert Hunt. Robert minced no words, and to put it bluntly: Robert was simply blunt! If you didn’t read it, sorry, I’m not going to spend my time telling you about it because it is not the subject matter I want to talk about, even though I agree with him wholeheartedly. It’s the feeling I had when I was done reading that I want to talk about.
There was something about his writing style that made me feel sort of nostalgic. I know you’re scratching your head right now, wondering what I mean by that. Let me explain. Have you ever seen a politician stammer and stutter when trying to answer a question he or she doesn’t want to answer? Or watched someone who has to make an important decision and is painfully indecisive? Or listened to someone who wants to be “politically correct” because they think it will make them sound intelligent and accepted, but they are struggling because the vocabulary for standard political correctness seems to change weekly? Well, that’s why I liked Robert’s article. True, I agreed with it, but even if I hadn’t, it was refreshing to read an article that wasn’t full of flowers, fluff, and if I may say it “bluntly,” a bunch of politically correct bull crap. For you younger folks it’s called old school communication.
I’m sure Robert and I will get “politically correct” flak for the thoughts we have expressed. Oh well, I’m 68 and I think Robert is somewhere around those years himself and we are both old school and can take it.
By the way, when you think about it, the term “politically correct” is sort of an oxymoron. Show me something these days that is political and is all that correct.
In closing, just let me say: If you want to be politically correct and that is you, fine. If you are old school and blunt and to the point, that’s fine. Just don’t conform to something you are not because of societal pressure. Be true and honest to yourself. How can anyone not respect you for that?
JERRY MARTIN
Post Falls