DON’T UPSET THE POTATOES

Now we hear that Political Correctness is extending into the vegetable world. Protesters are gathering out side the office of the Oxford English Dictionary to object at the inclusion of the term, ‘couch potato’.

In reality the potato lovers have another agenda beyond the sensitivities of the little round vegetables; potatoes may have eyes, but no feelings – that we know of anyway! The use of the term has caused concern amongst grocers and food manufacturers. They are worried that people may drift away from the liberal use of the good ol’ spud. You see, as you guessed; there’s money behind most things. People may favour a lettuce leaf to avoid the ‘CP un-PC’ label. Maybe I could suggest diversifying into the lettuce chips might avoid the worry of a potato crash.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first use of the derogatory term 'couch potato' is apparently found in 1979 in The Los Angeles Times. The phrase describes, ‘a lazy person whose recreation consists chiefly of watching TV and videos’. CP’s are sedentary animals, often depicted as slumped in a horizontal position with no interest in anything physical – except to watch others exertions.

The PC reaction makes me think. We do need to be careful with our words. Summing up a person’s whole character with such a term is a sloppy and careless use of words. How easy it is to pigeon hole others – as they do it to us.

The Biblical writer, James, reminds us that words can hurt “…the tongue is a small part of the body… consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3v5. Our words can damage and destroy.  Often labels are slapped on people with no understanding of who or what they really are. James continues,”…the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3v8. Steady on James, but then I guess I know what you mean. So, please take care to build up and not put down. May your daily speech be affirming.

And lastly, the original disciples were called, ‘saints’, brothers’, believers’ or ’people of the Way’. However it seems the inhabitants of Antioch reacted to the phenomenal church growth in the city by coining a new un-PC phrase to describe these disciples of Jesus. We read, “So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Acts 11v26. I think it was supposed to be derogatory. Bring it on… I’m happy to be called a Christian … it won’t upset me.

Graeme Skinner