Politeness, political correctness and David Cameron

Cameron says that he did not intervene in the Carol Thatcher row because part of political correctness is about politeness. Well, this is true in that political correctness is about establishing good behaviour towards ethnic minorities, which is a laudable aim; in using the term, "gollywog", Carol Thatcher was being impolite, and rather boorish.

But given the amount of impoliteness and obscenity being broadcast on the BBC, it is clear that political correctness only enforces politeness sometimes. The truth is that PC rules are about enforcing an ideological vision of the world which assumes that white people oppress other races, christians oppress people of other religions and none, men oppress women, and so on. It is understandable to say in relation to BNP members whose names became public on a website, we know where to send the (I paraphrase) excrement; it is edgy to ask David Cameron if he fantasised about Margaret Thatcher and to make lewd comments to Gweneth Paltrow (both Jonathan Ross).

If political correctness is partly about politeness, it is accidental.