Niggardly with Values

NIGGARDLY
–adjective
1. reluctant to give or spend; stingy; miserly.
2. meanly or ungenerously small or scanty: a niggardly tip to a waiter.

I thank my brother Sean for introducing my to the word "Niggardly" a while back. I saw it while reading a book and felt suddenly proud for the awesome mental skills of my family. I'll quote a bit from the page on the Language Shtick:

We feel it lamentable that in a world where understanding and tolerance are preached to the masses, the innocent are attacked in a narrow-minded witch-hunt under the banner of political correctness while the truly ignorant and intolerant receive special treatment and great deference.

Political Correctness, I believe, is the dominant evil and destructive force plaguing the first-world countries today. It's one of those "Oh, yes, chocolate cake sounds great!" kind of deals that one will realize eventually is not so great, but if they don't nip it in the bud, kills the body with obesity and insufficient insulin injections.
(Metaphorically speaking)

Because of my various... unpopular views of the world, I am subject to quite a bit of 'steam'. I tend to not voice my opinions, hoping to keep peace among the people, and I have noticed that those that share my opinions are the same; on the other hand, those who don't share my opinions feel they are on the losing side and that, therefore, it's their civic duty to make sure everyone becomes 'learned' in their ways.

What irks me, however, is that "they" seem to think that, well, since they're right, there's no point in me even voicing my opinion. "They" know what my opinion is, and if I have the audacity to think "they" might be the wrong ones, well, how shameful! How dare I!? Don't I know that this is a free country and that "they" are entitled to their opinion? That "they" have the right of free speech?

"It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is the one who is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right" -Lemony Snicket

I said one day in English class that books SHOULD be controversial, that it is the controversial books that mean something and contribute to society. Controversy works both ways, and so does Tolerance. The adage is "Do unto others and you would have them do unto you." Even if you are not a religion person, that a bit of philosophy survives so long must means it holds truth. It is not "...as they have done unto you."

If you want peace and freedom and social tolerance, remember for a second the other guys, those who you view as idiots and politically incorrect, and try at least to understand - and tolerate - their ideas.