Politically Correct--Mentally Dishonest

I wish we could go back to the time before all this “politically correct” nonsense. To a time before people started dreaming up euphemisms for every uncomfortable word and thought (like “aggressive interrogation” when we mean “torture” or a “campaign contribution” when we mean a “bribe”) or to disguise the fact that they feel inadequate by dreaming up ways to make themselves or what they do sound important (like “custodial engineer” when we mean “janitor”). What happened to the days when people spoke simply, directly, honestly? The days when you could call something what it was without having to worry about finding yourself in serious trouble because you hurt someone’s precious feelings?

The language we use, regardless of its origin, reveals much of how we think. If we use plain words to express simple thoughts in an honest and open way, the people we are speaking to able to understand us clearly. It shows that we respect the people we are trying to communicate with by because we tell them the truth in terms they can easily understand. When we use euphemisms, we insult the people we are talking to because we are implying that they either cannot understand what we really mean or that they cannot handle the truth when it is uncomfortable or unpleasant.

I’m not saying that we should not be considerate of others’ feelings in how we speak; I am saying that we should not consider those feelings to the point of being insulting or dishonest. Trying to soften a painful truth with pretty words does not make it any less painful, it only distances us from the pain which makes it much harder to come to terms with. Those who would chose a pretty lie over a painful truth do a disservice to the truth and to themselves.
There are some pretty simple rules that I follow when talking to other people:

1. Say what you mean and mean what you say. For example, always apologize when you can do it honestly, but never just because someone else insists that you do.
2. Speak clearly, using simple words to convey a clear thought. Impress people with your integrity, not your vocabulary.
3. Do not be afraid to call things what they are. For example, if someone is a cheat and a liar, don’t say they are “ethically challenged.”
4. Silence is sometimes the best answer. It’s better to say nothing than to tell a lie.
5. Don’t make other people lie by asking questions to which you can’t handle an honest answer. Don’t ask “does this make me look fat?” if you can’t handle being told that it does.
6. When someone asks you a question, especially about something you did or said, answer it honestly and directly. If your first impulse is to lie, for whatever reason, it's a tacit admission that you know what you did or said was wrong and you don't want to admit it.