Political Correctness At Its Worst – Or How The BBC Stole Christmas
Dear Coilers, as some of you know I am politically incorrect. I despise political correctness. It is the worst thing which could happen to any person, nation, culture, tradition... It is also suppressing constitutional right to speak freely, the right every nation which has it in its Constitution can be proud of.
Then, I love The Pogues as much as I hate political correctness.
The Pogues are an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan, founded in Kings Cross, London in 1982, as “Pogue Mahone” – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”.
They always call things as they were to be called and lyrics of their songs are among the best in the whole discography since the beginning of the world.
One of their songs, which is popular throughout the world, is Fairytale of New York, sung by Sean MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl. It is usually played countless times during the Christmas season and became one of the dearest Christmas songs to many people.
BUT – BBC Radio 1 decided to censor the song this year because of its politically incorrect lyrics?!?!
(The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster)
I’m sure most of you know the song but...
It’s beautiful song, isn’t it? Has it offended you?
But BBC said...
BBC Radio 1 will not play the original version of Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl this Christmas, because its audience may be offended by some of the lyrics...
...young listeners were particularly sensitive to derogatory terms for gender and sexuality.
It will instead play an edited version with different lyrics sung by MacColl.
The 1987 original will still be played on Radio 2, while 6 Music DJs on other channels can choose between the two versions.
A BBC spokesman said: “We know the song is considered a Christmas classic and we will continue to play it this year, with our radio stations choosing the version of the song most relevant for their audience.”
MacGowan defended the song, explaining: “The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character. She is not supposed to be a nice person, or even a wholesome person.
She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history, and she is down on her luck and desperate. Her dialogue is as accurate as I could make it, but she is not intended to offend.
She is just supposed to be an authentic character and not all characters in songs and stories are angels or even decent and respectable. Sometimes characters in songs and stories have to be evil or nasty in order to tell the story effectively.”
...
Should we change history? Should we change facts? Should we pretend that the lie is the truth just to be sure we won’t “hurt” or “offend” someone?
Let me put it this way, if there are people “offended” by N-word (In the English language, the word nigger is an ethnic slur typically directed at black people, especially African Americans.) which is said countless times in countless hip-hop raps, will they censor rappers?
Or if people visiting museums start being offended by nudity in paintings and sculptures, will they repaint them or just put pieces of duct tape to cover those “inpolite” places?
I know the answer thou, just like you all know it. It is NO, they will not, as they do not “offend” minorities.
My only wish is for a new ice age to come, so all those snowflakes won’t melt so easily.
Thanks for reading,
Srdan