Re: The Girl with No Shadow
Post colonialism and patriotism are one and the same. Post colonialism is also not limited to colonies, I have ready many articles detailing all the affects of post colonialism on Britain (the dish Chicken Tikka Masala, for example). Patriotism is not the assertion of your country's dominance over all others (that would be more accurately classified as nationalism). It is, rather, the fervent support and enjoyment of your own country.
Everyone has a view of their country, and that can reasonably incorporate Post Colonialism and even, yes, overzealous appreciation of the benefits of other countries.
The term "Orientalism" (according to google definitions) has no implied value judgment:
"In the figurative arts, the tendency to represent eastern subjects, to assume stylistical characteristics original of the East"
My general point is that getting mad at someone for being "too" politically correct is at least as pointless as the original admonishment. The point of "political correctness" is not to silence various forms of speech, but to teach the general public what is insulting or stereotyping behavior so that rational decisions can be made accordingly.
A recent example is the Swine Flu. The name can be misleading, because the flu is as likely (in fact, because of the relative travel rates, more likely) to be spread by humans as by pigs, so the rash of countries quarantining and culling pig herds without checking to see if they even have the virus is entirely pointless. That is why many news organizations have adopted the more politically correct "H1N1 Virus" - it helps people understand that though the virus originated from pigs, they are not the reason it is now spreading. (Ditto for Mexicans)
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