Lord M, I think you are pretty much off the hook for that original comment... most of this discussion is not about that anymore, specifically.
I think most of this thread has been about how to be tolerant of other people's opinions, while still having the chance to have one's own opinion heard.
Heard and not belittled, nor personally berated (in a generalized fashion) for how you feel. Just heard. No one has to necessarily agree. Not agreeing is the point at which learning occurs. But dismissing people's thoughts and feelings out of hand just puts a full stop on the discussion, really.
Alatar, I agree that sometimes political correctness is a poisonous influence, and stifles humor. Sometimes we do need to get over ourselves, and learning to laugh at oneself is a true gift.
However, I don't think the responses here were motivated by political correctness, but rather by an honest reaction to the premise of the joke, which seemed unfair to some, and reinforced a stereotype that many people disagree with. You pointed out that the racist comment about the poor Mexican immigrants was not appropriate. Were you being politically correct when you wrote that, or is that honestly how you feel?
Alatar wrote: I personally have learned a lot from this thread, even if I still disagree with the more polar opposite viewpoints.
Me, too. But I always do, when I listen to you guys.
And I officially nominate Wampus as Princess of the Universe.
Well written, friend.
"What do you fear, lady?" Aragorn asked.
"A cage," Éowyn said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
