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EU's Political Correctness Attacked Tuesday, 31st March 2009 Three Conservative MEPs have launched an assault on the EU's latest political correctness initiative. Four weeks ago the European parliament introduced a guide to gender-neutral language, arguing that gender-specific language was "discriminatory". No reference can be made to a woman's marital status. Terms like "Mr. and Mrs", Monsieur and Madame, Signor and Signorita are out. MEPs must say "flight attendant", not stewardess; "fire-fighter", not fireman; business executive, not businessman. They are asked not even to say "man-made", but to use "synthetic" or "artificial" instead. Now a group of MEPs, including Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris from the East Midlands, and Martin Callanan from the North East, have hit back, arguing that the EU claims to celebrate diversity, yet it can't even recognise the difference between men and women. They've tabled a "Written Declaration" in the parliament -- equivalent to an Early Day Motion in Westminster -- insisting that most people are comfortable to be one sex or the other, and expect their gender identity to be respected and recognised in forms of address. The booklet insists that a person's sex "is or should be irrelevant in most circumstances". The MEPs argue on the contrary that a person's sex is fundamental to their sense of identity. It is an essential part of who they are, how they wish to be characterised, and how they relate to other people. Speaking in Brussels, Helmer said "This is just another example of political correctness gone mad in the European parliament. It's time to make a stand for common sense". Heaton-Harris added "No one I know wants to be neuter and androgynous. They're happy to be women or men". The MEPs have also demanded to know how much money was spent on the glossy booklet of unnecessary advice. |