Two Steps Ahead of the Thought Police

Political correctness is the principal target of this collection of columns reprinted from U.S. News & World Report . Leo contends with our nation's more prickly social issues: censorship, racism (and reverse racism), sex education. He is most convincing in examining the politics of language, including the ``three languages of addiction, victimology, and political evasion,'' as well as what he calls ``journalese,'' ``feminese'' and even ``Bushspeak.'' Adding up the various victimized groups in the U.S., Leo notes wryly that ``America's victims exceed 1.2 billion, not bad for a population of only 251 million.'' His columns offer an odd sort of moderatism, with a number of essays deserving consideration, if not agreement. However, his disregard for society's margins seems particularly unenlightened. (July)