The Politics of Political Correctness
The following letter was sent to a number
if
writers, not all of whom were
able to contribute:
We 'd like to ask you to contribute to a symposium, which will be
published in
Partisan Review,
on the subject of what has become known
as "political correctness." As you know, this refers to an ensemble that
takes in various beliefs and causes, and often includes a rejection of the
traditions of the West. Some aspects of these phenomena are individually
acceptable, but as a whole and especially in its extreme forms, this
"movement" has created a dogmatic and intolerant atmosphere in the
universities and elsewhere in the culture that is hostile to the exchange of
ideas and harmful to the education of the students. It has spread a certain
amount of confusion: for example, the fact of multiculturalism has been
transposed into a rejection of the past as the product of "dead white
males." It also has floated the notion that the so-called "canon," which
is supported by opponents of the "politically correct," is frozen and has
not been subject to change and variation, as it always in fact has been. In
an age of mass education, the rejection of the past and the substitution
offashionable but destructive trends leaves students without the standards,
values, and knowledge to judge the politically correct curriculum.
Even though you have expressed yourself on some of these issues be–
fore, we'd like to know what you think the future holds. You may, of
course, approach the subject any way you wish. But you might want to
consider some of the following questions:
1. How strong is this movement?
2. What can - or should - be done to oppose it?
3. Do you see multiculturalism as politically or intellectually
motivated?
4. How do you think standards may be raised in our system of mass
education?
5. How important are traditions, and how would you suggest
teaching them?
The symposium will be published in
Partisan Review's
fall issue.
