“I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people and I don’t, frankly, have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time, either.” - Donald Trump
While Trump is not necessarily an image to uphold regarding moral or ethical standards, he brings up a relevant issue about the way this country handles political correctness. It seems that these days, everyone takes offense to almost anything.
The recent hypersensitivity to being political correct in this country has been considered, by some, an “epidemic.” As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, politically correct means adhering to the idea that all members of society make a conscious effort not to offend a particular group of people using language. Within the last few years, the term "politically correct" has become an increasingly talked about topic, bringing in all sorts of opinions. Back in September, for instance, during a political debate, Presidential Candidate Donald Trump announced that he is, "tired of this politically correct crap."
Trump isn't the only big-name celebrity to share his opinion on the topic. In mid-2015, comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, spoke out against it saying, "I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that. But everyone else is kind of, with their calculating—is this the exact right mix? I think that’s—to me it’s anti-comedy. It’s more about PC-nonsense." Unfortunately, we are not here to discuss those loaded claims with you today. Rather, we would like to share a brief run-down of the most recent PC cases in an effort to teach those interested how to be politically correct (how to stay safe from the "PC Nazis"--I mean radicals!).
After analyzing the effect political correctness has had, and continues to have on society, and the hypersensitivity towards it, we feel that it is imperative for the average college student to have a basic understand of recent news topics regarding political correctness, as not to offend anyone.
The most recent news story is almost a reverse case of being politically correct. Starbucks' newest seasonal cups are simply red, that's it, and have been criticized for not being “Christmas-y enough.” The lack of seasonal decoration on the cup in comparison to previous years is being seen as an attack on Christianity. While this is quite the ridiculous argument, it is one example of the country’s culture of criticizing everything--politically correct or not correct enough, according to standards which the media has deemed appropriate.
It seems that if America continues on its current trajectory, we may end up in Ray Bradbury’s fictional world of Fahrenheit 451, in which books stopped being written due to content offending someone in any way. The media in this country has seemed to wage a war around being politically correct. The second a prominent figure says something the public deems “incorrect," it is splayed across the front pages of news sites and they are ostracized for their speech and lack of consideration.
The line between what is and isn't correct has blurred increasingly in recent years. While it is imperative to change your speech to reflect the times, there is a difference between the incorrectness of derogatory terms and people just speaking their minds using acceptable language. It seems that Americans should take tips from other countries and not tiptoe around every subject. Sometimes, it's necessary to just come out and say what everyone else is thinking.
