Do you make this Political Correctness mistake?

I am just reviwing the corrections my editor
has been making to my new book coming out soon.
He's become uncomfortable with one of my
off-hand comments.

What he didn't realise is that it wasn't off-hand
but on-hand and very deliberate.

He admitted that it was funny and keeping with my
tone of writing, but was worried that some
readers may become offended.

I toyed with the idea of saying "Screw them" but
thought that given his past concenrs, he might
not get the irony of those words.

A quick "Courage check" was in order.

First things first, I told him: political correctness
tries to eliminate differences and stereotypes.
Humour on the other thumb, REQUIRES THEM.

Have you ever watched a stand-up show by a comic that
was afraid of offending those with a pole up up their
...?

The comic sucks. He bombs.
The audience doesn't laugh, it cringes.

While writing to my editor, I was reminded of
an old favourite of mine: Eddie Murphy's
"Delerious". Now that guy had some cajones!

He learned from Richard Prior and the tone of it shows.
But you've got to admire both his timing and his
courage to say his lines, knowing that MANY
people will be offended by him.

Hearing that, you might be tempted to think that
speaking without fear of criticism
is something just for comics on stage.

Not so.

Think back over the last 24 hours and ask yourself
how many times you wanted to say something
but didn't because they would not take
it the right way?

Imagine being on a date with someone who's got food stuck
in their teeth (or worse, a booger hanging from
their nose). Would you tell them?

Ever been in a business meeting where one of the
clients farted? I don't remember if keeping a straight
face was more uncomfortable than not being able to breathe,
but for me when it happened it was pretty damn close.

I've even watched co-workers gag over another's B.O. for
months (and constantly bitch about it to everyone else)
rather than solve it with one well timed sentence.

Question: if you can't tell someone they reek, how
can you stand up to a powerful nemesis destroying a
country with funny-munny and dictator-by-stealth laws?

The western world, and America in particular is
following an exact pattern that 1920's Germany followed
where no-one spoke up because of fear.

Where did that get them?

Can't happen again, you say?

We'll see... but I won't be hanging around.

The only antidote is to get courage.
Then to take action.
Do that again and you start to build a habit... the
habit of confidence.

Once you are confident it will extend into every other
area of your life. Your relationships will improve.
Your income will go up (even in this market, just
like one of my members emailed me while I was in
Mexico last week). You will feel healthier and
lighter.

The last self-help book you need is the Blue Book
of Confidence. It's the bible of confidence building.
You can get it from http://www.instantconfidence.com

Matthew White
Love life; live fearlessly

I just got back from Mexico after learning from a Mayan
Elder. I've got a teleseminar coming up where I
will show some of the secret teachings he had passed to
him that are so powerful for building confidence that
the Meican government have tried to keep it hidden for
500 years in case the Mayan people had the confidence
to revolt. That teleseminar is only going to be offered
to members and past customers. Don't miss out - go to
http://www.instancon fidence.com.