Mild unease -- political correctness division

[jhetley]

Got a newsletter this morning from the state housing agency, with the usual bits of throwing their shoulders out of joint by patting themselves on the back for the great job they are doing. And announcing a new boss. She's a well-known lesbian.

A number of the groups I work with on homeless issues, affordable housing, shelters, group homes, etc, are "faith-based" organizations. Some openly call themselves "ministries." I don't argue religion with them. They are keeping people warm and dry and fed, and that counts for a lot in most value systems. Particularly in Maine in winter, when "homeless" can equal "dead."

I looked at that announcement and wondered if the governor's appointment of Ms. New Boss is going to end up hurting some of the agency's "clients" in the long run. If some of those so-called Christians are going to refuse to work with her, killing needed projects.

I know that some activists are in favor of confrontation. Like Billy Sherman, I prefer flanking attacks to frontal assaults. They often achieve the same result at less cost.

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

And yet, if we continue to let such concerns prevent us from appointing qualified people to public office, the net result is that blacks, or gays, or Catholics (remember JFK?) continue to be second-class citizens. Status Quo is always more comfortable, and for that reason there are many plausible arguments in favor of it, some of which are couched in terms of "practicality". But nothing will ever change if no one changes it.

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

hopefully, the folks within the ministries will understand that they, like christ, can work with publicans and sinners if it gets the job done...

[(Anonymous)]

Um, any chance the person in question is the most
qualified for the position?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

This is Dale McCormick? I thought she still needed to be ratified by the Economic Development Committee.

In any case, she's a sharp, tough lady with a long history of public service. I'm thinking she's going to focus on getting more people under roof, and on making the housing office more responsive. I think she's a good choice and I hope the Committee ratfies her appointment.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's qualified. I don't know if she's the best person available for the job, because I don't know who else is available.

I'm just worried that _who_ she is might end up hurting the agency's "clients," for reasons unrelated to her qualifications.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

She has already put in a stint as state treasurer, appointed by the governor and ratified by the legislature. I don't think that rates as "second-class citizen." I understand your argument, but I think there's a likelihood of "collateral damage" in this post that needs to be considered.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

What analysis!

You can take the lady out of the night-side news desk at the newspaper, but you can't really take night-side news desk habits out of the lady...

I hope there won't be problems. Maine's got enough on it's plate without kowtowing to the self-professed righteous.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

The other thing I don't quite get, from your post, is why you consider this to be a "frontal assault". Did she get the position because she was a lesbian, or was that made a big deal of in the announcement? Because if not, then I don't think you can reasonably characterize this as "political correctness".

And if you're saying that she shouldn't have gotten the position because she's known to be a lesbian... well, I don't think I could disagree more. Eliminating qualified candidates on the basis of barbarian prejudice is not the way to get good government, or to get the job done.