When did we lose the ability to laugh at ourselves?

otisptoadwater wrote: The age of political correctness in the United States seems to have taken root in the mid 1980's. Those who smoked in the office were suddenly forced to smoke outside, it was no longer appropriate to comment on the attractiveness of a member of the opposite sex or their attire, heaven forbid you might mention God or any Christian belief at the risk of offending those who have no beliefs or other beliefs.

Seriously? Smoking in a work environment is a health hazard, not political correctness.

Sexual harassment is not a laughing matter when you've been subjected to cat calls, fanny slaps and suggestive comments. It's about creating a safe and productive workplace environment, not about political correctness.

As to your comments about injecting religion into conversations, it has no basis in reality. It is you who is playing the victim card here.

It's one thing to laugh at yourself, it's another thing entirely to mock someone else. One is an avenue to self improvement, the other is cruel. I never find cruelty funny, but then I'm one of those religious types.

Get with the program toad..... Good thing you did not say that at work.

One way something can be funny is a surprise association. In this case the historic display of naked natives in National Geographic and Michelle Obama. Race is the commonality for the surprise association of National Geographic's past displays and the first lady. It is not racist to know this commonality and react to the surprise association. If anything it is a reminder how far we have come....otherwise there would be no surprise association and no humor in the joke.

daisypusher wrote: If anything it is a reminder how far we have come....otherwise there would be no surprise association and no humor in the joke.

Ya think?

I think it's a reminder of how far we HAVEN'T come.

So equating the First Lady based on race with nude native women is just good humor?

So how is making remarks about the First Lady being in "commonality" with nude native women based on their race just "laughing at ourselves" as the title of this topic suggests?

Kate wrote:

otisptoadwater wrote: The age of political correctness in the United States seems to have taken root in the mid 1980's. Those who smoked in the office were suddenly forced to smoke outside, it was no longer appropriate to comment on the attractiveness of a member of the opposite sex or their attire, heaven forbid you might mention God or any Christian belief at the risk of offending those who have no beliefs or other beliefs.

Seriously? Smoking in a work environment is a health hazard, not political correctness.

Sexual harassment is not a laughing matter when you've been subjected to cat calls, fanny slaps and suggestive comments. It's about creating a safe and productive workplace environment, not about political correctness.

As to your comments about injecting religion into conversations, it has no basis in reality. It is you who is playing the victim card here.

You said it all; people were able to live and thrive for decades under these conditions with no apparent harm to themselves or those around them. Not that long ago Doctors were endorsing various brands of cigarettes as being healthy (and I'm not even a smoker). Telling a female coworker you happened to like her mode of dress was welcomed back in the 1970s (NOT smacking her ass, making cat calls, or creating a quid-pro-quo situation), and most people in the US were of the Christian faith (not that I have bias against those who aren't). Schools could have a Christmas vacation, Easter break, and observe other holidays, today the name of the break coincidences with the season. If you are brave enough, consider that the history of this nation has some traditions.

Political correctness drives a wedge between what has been accepted for decades and what special interest groups demand now. You want to continue to smoke, eat, and behave in whatever fashion you choose, do so at your own risk and enjoy the freedom granted to you by the Constitution to do so (until Barry and the Democrats amend it and take away all of your freedoms). I welcome people of every nation, faith, and religion to our nation as long as they get here in a legal manner and pay their share of taxes once they are here. On the other hand, if you want to build a mosque at ground zero, I'm going to have a problem with that. Your mileage may vary but I expect that from those on the left and summarily dismiss it for the obvious contrarianism (that's a big word so here's a link to help you follow the meaning --> http://www.thefreedictionary.com/contrarianism ) that it is.

I would check out a picture of Sarah Palin dressed up like cavewoman Raquel Welch. And that could even be considered satire, since some consider the Right to be Neanderthals.

To answer the question: About the time the leftist teachers taught OUR kids all about bring PC, now those kids are running things!

Bill Maher makes sexist jokes about conservative women almost daily and gets a pass from his hypocritical audience who would never tolerate the same from anyone else, simply because it's masked as "comedy". It's also ok for someone who is black like Chris Rock to make racist jokes because of course, he can't be a racist.

It all depends on your political views or your race as to whether you can tell one of these jokes without beingt called out on it.