ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 20, 1993                   TAG: 9304200420
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POLITICALLY CORRECT SPEECH, NOT PRACTICE

EVEN SOME of us white males are beginning to understand. Earlier this month, I noticed a full-page ad in the Roanoke Times & World-News by an automotive dealership showing photographs of their "excellent team of sales people."

Just a few years ago such ads would have used the term "salesmen" instead of "sales people." And yet, what's the point of using politically correct speech? Every one of the 36 photographs in the advertisement were of white males - no women and no minorities.

This particular dealership is clearly proud of their sales staff, and I imagine they do a fine job selling cars. But their ad made me uneasy and I would think twice before buying from them. I imagine women and minorities have always felt this way.

This business has every right to advertise as they see fit. However, I would think in today's world, having only white males on staff is a liability not to be flaunted in a full-page ad. It makes good business sense to keep such knowledge hidden and better business sense to start hiring women and minorities. DAVID NOVA ROANOKE 


 by CNB