The Ambiguity of Political Correctness

London, November 2002, The National Gallery of Art. The Ironist and a friend of his are looking at a Victorian painting of a woman dressed in thick white fur with a golden-haired dog at her feet. The following conversation ensues :

Friend : This woman is awesome.

Ironist : So is her dog.

Friend : I would prefer this woman to the dog anyday.

Ironist : Are you nuts? This woman is a white imperialist who was living on the taxes from the African colonies. I would prefer that dog to the woman anyday.

Friend : Erm, I have this funny feeling now.

Ironist : Like what?

Friend : I mean, one of us is being politically incorrect here. But who? You by preferring an animal to a human being, or me by choosing an imperialist woman over a dog?