“I’m not comfortable with the term dog, but I will be happy to hold your canine American “Mike Myers as the Cat in the Hat. This satire of political correctness sums up what a joke it has become, but what is political correctness exactly? Political correctness is “the concept based on the belief that speech or behavior that is offensive to various groups’ sensibilities should be eliminated, by means of regulations or penalties if necessary” ” (Political correctness. (2008). In J. Vile, D. Hudson & D. Schultz (Eds.). While this concept started with the best intentions to help usher American society out of the days of segregation into the world of multicultural richness we have today, but some have taken it too far. Instead of our society coming …show more content…
The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used, also known as the Freedom of Speech. In America today, political correctness seems to be encroaching on this right. Advocates to the politically correct movement believe that language should be broken down into terms that enhance the self-esteem of certain groups, like the term mankind to them is considered gender bias, therefore is it is not sensitive to females. “Political correctness supplies a language through which it is easy to be a victim and always someone or something that can be blamed. Think of terms like culturally deprived, developmentally challenged, etc. Political correctness involves a lot of people attempting to explain the reasons for their lack of great success.” (Youngkins.E, 2004). Political correctness has made our society afraid to speak freely without the fear of some political correctness group turning an innocent slip of the tongue into an overblown publicity campaign for their own means while tarnishing the accused’s reputation with unfair labels of bigot, racist or sexist. Advocates have the right to their views and opinions but if you do not agree than you are racist or a …show more content…
Political correctness has gone from trying to aid in the diversification of our society to a way for people to stop being free thinkers and become group thinkers. While I do agree that racial slurs and sexual harassment are two things that America could do without , I am not going to sue my employer every time I am told that is too heavy for you to pick your just a girl . I do hate hearing it but it is true there are things I myself am unable to do, I know what I am capable of and what I am not. In the eyes of political correctness I should be offended by this and seek retribution for my emotional stress. Seriously…… What happened to the world of Rosie the Riveter and the” Yes I Can” attitude? Political correctness has turned people into over sensitized over grown children, stop hiding and demanding an apology and start proving them wrong if you do not like what they have to
Free speech. Affirmative action. Political correctness. These three things all have at least one key thing common and that one thing can be summed up as this: To you, the reader; to me, the writer; and to anyone and everyone you talk to about those three things, they will have a different meaning with a different story with a different reason for them being defined that way. The discussion cannot end simply with our own stories, but begin with those stories and transcend into something new with being exposed to different ideas and viewpoints that may or may not match our own. D’souza, Taylor, Robbins and all other authors mentioned in this piece can help everyone to grow in their personal definitions of free speech, affirmative action and political correctness.
Rankin, Aidan. “The repressive openness of political correctness.” Contemporary Review 282.1644 (2003): 33+. Literature resource Center. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.
For instance, in the show Freaks and Geeks, we find individuals, calling themselves freaks, because they do not belong in the ‘status quo,’ and live or desire to live alternative lifestyles. Would this be disrespectful to individuals who according to 19th and 20th century lingo, were called freaks? I think it is highly disrespectful indeed, because in the show, we find these kids who are not disabled, and are all white using a term which has caused so much pain to others,used it in such a free way, to be different and alternate. It goes back to what he was saying about how individuals who identify with the pink triangle and the term freak, need to also be a witness to the pain that other individuals suffered, like the gay POC and non-disabled POC. And it is worse because these kids in no way bear any semblance with either of the categories mentioned. It’s becoming some sort of norm, in which white people of years passed create words which are meant to relegate different individuals to the outside, and then after this relegation is done, choose to use it as freely as they want. For instance the use of the word ‘nigger’, white people want to include this word in their vocabulary so bad, because slavery happened more than 300 years ago. But they forget the pain that comes with this word, but you cannot truly forget what
Unlike many other countries America has freedom of speech. Even in other countries in Europe people are not allowed to use “hate speech” and they can be sent to prison for it. Fortunately, the American constitution defends people’s freedom of speech, no matter how controversial it is. Political correctness diminishes people’s free speech. It may not be direct but even indirectly the knowledge that someone might have adverse consequences; such as losing a job as a result of their speech is unacceptable. People have the right to state their opinions without others infringing on them, it was the principle in which America was founded. The first amendment of the constitution of the United States declares that: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” (US Const. amend. I, sec. i). While the first amendment only affects congress’s control over free speech, it indicates that free speech is a right that people must have. Some people are of the opinion that if something can be found offensive
There was no political correctness in this movie, creating an environment that has great impact. The ugliest character, Officer Ryan, is abusive on the beat and is hard to work with, but still his coworkers have his back. At home he cares for his aging father, and in an attempt to secure better healthcare benefits, he verbally abuses an African American social worker, who has him escorted out. At movie’s end it is the social worker we see in a fender bender spouting racial slurs at the Middle Eastern person who hit
...2009) political correctness build an inclusive society in which people from diverse backgrounds are offered equal opportunities. Another article that defend political correctness talk about the people who are against this movement don’t want to be polite or civil to the people different from them, the important thing to this people is to do what they want when they want even though they used hurtful word they don’t care(angry black woman 2007). This article end by saying political correctness is very important to the language and we need to fight for it so let’s make sure people use it. Allan Goldstein has the same opinion as the two authors before he said that ” political correctness is a small price to pay for keeping the peace between large groups of outraged people” he means people don’t like political correctness but we need it so the people can live peacely.
In American politics today, issues such racism, misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia are a few of the many topics some of the main talking points that for left wing political activists discuss. It seems as if racially motivated protests have been becoming increasingly prevalent. The creation of safe spaces has become quite a common practice , especially in intellectual environments, to prevent people from being offended or “triggered” by others opposing ideologies arguments, ideas, or statements. During the recent presidential election, cycle mainstream media appeared to be more concerned about Donald Trump not being completely politically correct rather than Hillary Clinton’s extreme carelessness in regards to properly handling classified
Americans are afraid that if we become too politically correct, we will loose our right of free speech, and that is absolutely a reasonable fear. America is the land of the free, and it is terrifying to think that something could lead to the censorship of the people. However, there is a difference between being politically correct, and treating people with the respect they deserve as humans. When we degrade people by using slurs, or appropriating their culture it makes them seem less human. People wonder why there has been a controversy over names of Football teams like the “Redskins” but “In 21st century America, to name a sports team after an African American, Asian or any other ethnic group is unthinkable. So why are Native Americans still fair game?” (Shakely). While the word “retard” may not offend you personally, it can have a totally different past with someone else. “I can only tell you what it means to me and people like me when we hear it. It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group” (Downes). When people use offensive slurs such as “retard” or the n-word, it is almost like dehumanizing
PC policies have also compromised the accuracy of educational content in textbooks. Material close to being offensive is removed or adjusted to satisfy the super-sensitive or to avoid any unforeseen complaints. For example, American Indians can't be depicted with long braids, in rural settings, or on reservations, even though many American Indians do have long braids and live in rural settings or on reservations. If the depictions of our historical figures are incorrect, then the new PC textbooks should ensure their historical accuracy and footnote each change appropriately. In addition, if the information is correct but is being altered to satisfy sensitive groups, it should be changed back, regardless of the offending potential. How far could this evolve? Will we continue to erase provocative and controversial details of our history? It “dumbs down” our textbooks, leaving them bland and far less interesting. This effort to cleanse our history is wrong and it is killing our education efforts/system today.
Political correctness is nice in theory because it advocates sensitivity for others, but this solution does not allow for any progress and regresses any current progress (Gallagher). The solution is truth. The truth shall allow America to grow. The truth can show what the actual problem is instead of shunning an idea of a problem. This ultimately kills the individual’s basic right to express oneself.
With this sudden need to accept everyone’s opinion comes a sudden need to put a filter on everything we say, think, and do in terms of expression. Because of the rigid boundaries that border the ground of political correctness, we, as Americans, have adapted to these boundaries and ingrained them within our minds. These boundaries essentially function in the same way that fences do in that they protect one from a potential danger, while simultaneously reassuring a sense of comfort. The figurative fence that encodes for political correctness protects one from the dangers of social exploitation that result from the failure to be politically correct. Inside the fence, people are assured that they will not, and cannot possibly offend anyone, and thus avoid a potential conflict, argument, or debate. However, what this fence also does is restrict one in a way that arguably takes away the constitutional right to freedom of
Within the spectrum of debate, no matter your political affiliation, the discussion can become heated but beneficial to society. There is a vast majority of emotional baggage that could come with specific topics such as White Supremacy and Radical Feminism. Though, with this type of discussion, an increase of censorship and political correctness seem to be on the rise–making these varieties of arguments difficult. Censorship is the suppression of speech, and political correctness merely described the avoidance of different forms of expression, go hand and hand to the difficulty of free discussion–especially on college campuses. Besides engaging in a debate with diverse individuals, students fear that they cannot speak their views without public
People far too often tell others something that they say is not politically correct and that it offends them, even though they will refuse to give a rational explanation to why what the person stated is so offensive. It is to a point where people seem to be offended by virtually everything. Being too politically correct is hindering societies’ ability to rationally solve problems.
Words are very powerful, and sometimes the words we use offend people. Freedom of speech is highly valued but what happens when your freedom becomes hurtful or disrespectful to someone else? There are so many different kinds of people and different things that offend each person. In this day where we are more inclined to say whatever we want, we see more and more offense being taken to the words that get said. It's hard to understand why certain words can be insulting to someone when it may not seem that way to you. We have to ask ourselves, why do we care what other people say and should we censer everything that goes into the public just so people don't get offended?
Censorship is not a recent development. It wasn’t imposed properly or there weren’t strict regulations before. In the article “Hate Radio” by Patricia J. Williams, the writer says that radio was a powerful source of media. It had influenced a lot of people. The power of media can change the course of history. The host on the radio such as Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern were also influencing a lot of people. The theme was not merely the specific intolerance on hot topics as race and gender, but a much more general contempt for the world, a verbal stoning of anything different. Most of the audience on this radio shows were white and male. Most of the callers have spent their lives walling themselves off from any real experience with blacks, feminists, lesbians or gays. Rush Limbaugh tell his audience “what you believe inside, you can talk about it in the marketplace.” Unfortunately what’s inside is then mistaken for what’s outside, treated empirical and political reality. Most of the talks on the radio were being racist against the blacks. This had influenced so much that a statistics showed that 53 percent of people in America agree that blacks and Latinos are less intelligent than whites, and a majority believed that blacks are lazy, violent, welfare-dependent and unpatriotic. Hence this stereotype among the people was due to the lack of censorship.(Williams,502)