Can I Say That?

First, a few words about being offended.  I am not easily offended.  Oh, I find lots of stuff out there that is offensive, but, in order to become offended I must "take offence".  And that's the crux of it.  I won't take something that doesn't belong to me.  So, someone can be as offensive as they choose and I simply refuse to claim something that I reject!  For the most part, it isn't worth the time, effort and emotion to get all puffed up about something.  One thing that is offensive to me is the willful ignorance of the terminally stupid.  I can get somewhat "puffed up" about something stupid.  This kind of got me going this morning...                                                                                                                                                                  

State Department: 'Hold down the fort,' other common phrases could be offensive
Published August 30, 2012

FoxNews.com
Watch your mouth -- everyday phrases like "hold down the fort" and "rule of thumb" are potentially offensive bombshells.
At least according to the State Department.
Chief Diversity Officer John Robinson penned a column in the department's latest edition of "State Magazine"  advising readers on some rather obscure Ps and Qs.
Robinson ticked off several common phrases and went on to explain why their roots are racially or culturally insensitive. The result was a list of no-nos that could easily result in some tongue-tied U.S. diplomats, particularly in an administration that swaps "war on terror" for "overseas contingency operation" and once shied away from using the word "terrorism."
For instance, Robinson warned, "hold down the fort" is a potentially insulting reference to American Indian stereotypes.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/30/state-department-hold-down-fort-other-common-phrases-could-be-offensive/#ixzz258mLei53

The problem here is that even a short effort finds that the reasoning behind the "potentially offensive" phrases is false.  Complete bunk.  These are the same people who bend over backwards to become offended by racist references like "devil's food cake"  and "black hole".  

• The rule of thumb has never had anything to do with wife-beating.  There was never such a thing in English common law.  The length or breadth of a man's thumb has long been used to estimate a measure of something so the phrase evolved meaning "a rough estimate".
• Hold the fort probably originated in the civil war with General Sherman.  He sent a message ahead to "hold the fort" until he arrived with reinforcements.
• Going Dutch means splitting the check equally and probably originated from the "Dutch door" which is divided in the middle so that it has a top and bottom portion.  Anyone remember "Mr. Ed"?  Well, that is a Dutch door.
• Handicap has nothing to do with handouts.  It probably originated in the 1600's with a bartering game, "hand in cap".  It evolved to mean leveling the playing field, which was sort of the point of the game.  That is why the better player gets a handicap, whether it is golf, bowling or a horse race. 

If I could find out these origins in a few minutes, anyone can, if they wanted. The truth, however, has no place in the politically correct world.  Instead, these people would rather spend their time looking for a reason to take offence than to spend a few minutes actually learning something.  

Question Everything!