By now, I’m sure you have seen one of the many videos by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. His most recent one involves him heading to the University of New Hampshire to talk with young voters. If you have not seen the video, here it is:
Triumph does a fantastic job shedding some light on the issues with which the majority of my generation is most passionate about. No, it wasn’t issues regarding the current state of the economy, public safety, taxes, the future of the job market or even social issues for that matter. These are issues that the majority of Americans are most concerned with, especially now that we're in a presidential election year. However, millennials are not part of this group. Sure, there are some in my generation who are concerned about these important issues as well, but not many. We’re more concerned with “identification” (but no labels please), “free speech” (as long as it is politically correct, anything else will be considered hate speech), “inclusion” (unless we don’t agree with your opinion, in which case “you can’t sit with us!”), and to be “well liked by all” (even if it means becoming a people pleaser and forgoing self-respect!).
While watching this video, I began to see first hand the problems within my generation. While we portray positive qualities of confidence and tolerance our sense of entitlement, the need to be coddled 24/7, and the inability to stand up for oneself are emanated more than the positive. In order for my generation to feel accomplished, we must have a sense of validity, and the only way it is achieved is to adhere to those four main issues mentioned previously. Seeing the way the majority of my generation carries themselves makes me sick to my stomach because of the impact all of this has on one another.
Now, millennials aren’t the root of all of this, but we sure are one of the driving forces behind it. We are one of the most connected generations while simultaneously being the most disconnected generation there is. We communicate with one another through technology all the time, yet we have forgotten how to properly communicate without it. We have distanced ourselves from true human interaction to the extent that we don’t know how to handle a situation with someone who commits or says something hateful against us. Gone are the days where we are able to stand up and brush off what others have said or done to us. We are too insecure to handle that. We either have to have someone do it for us, or we run and hide.
In order to avoid uncomfortable confrontation, we have to have “trigger warnings” on everything and use only “politically correct<” rhetoric to avoid offending each other. If we do discover that someone has offended us, the only way we can truly get over it is to run to a “safe space” where we will be coddled and assured that it won’t happen again. Really? You need a “safe space” in order to feel protected from malicious individuals?
NEWSFLASH: A “safe space” is not going to protect you from a radical Islamic terrorist or a deranged person with a gun. And it most certainly isn’t going to protect you from people’s words.
Do you really think your hypothetical “safe space” is going to keep you safe? In 1944, 18 to 22-year-olds left their “safe space” to storm the beaches of Normandy, only to inhale poison gas, take on enemy fire and be blown up in order to stand up against people whose only mission was to alter our way of life. Now in 2016, 18 to 22-year-olds retreat to a safe space because of what? Words? A “safe space” is a great way to show someone how weak-minded you are. I’ve done extensive research on these “safe spaces” being instituted in universities all over the country, and they’ve all returned with essentially the same definition, “a way for you to associate yourself in a community with people of the same ideals.”
Have I read the history books wrong? Am I misinterpreting what these authors have written? Was there not a group of people in the 1950’s and 60’s fighting to prevent that? The sole purpose of their mass uproar was to make sure we would not be confined to one specific group, and to integrate with one another because we are all equal in the eyes of our Creator. They faced despicable actions committed against them. They were called deplorable names, not to mention the many who died along the way standing up and fighting against the words and actions of others. In 2016, when people spew malicious rhetoric towards us, we cower down before them or run away with the sole purpose of retreating to a “safe space.” We’ve become so distant from one another that we’ve lost the ability to stand up for ourselves.
Please tell me that we are not allowing these “micro-aggressions” to get the best of us. Are we incapable of standing up for ourselves? Is it true that we are so easily offended by words that we have to use only “politically correct” terminology in order to make things okay? The only way we feel comfortable in life is making sure “everyone likes us.” I don’t remember the founding fathers having the same feelings. Last I read, they dumped tea into a harbor as a way of standing up for themselves. They did not retreat to a “safe space,” and they most certainly weren’t concerned with being politically correct when they sent King George a declaration of independence from Great Britain.
The millennial generation has become enamored with making sure that what we say does not spark controversy. It has gotten to the point that the only way for my generation to avoid offending one another or causing people to feel “unsafe” is to be politically correct 100% of the time. Today, we have become so obsessed with being “well liked by all” and making sure we feel “included.” We want to identify with something, but in no way are you allowed to give us a label because that is politically incorrect. Only the person who chooses to identify as something is allowed to use the term. When you use that same term to describe them, you are labeling them and that is racist, or hateful, or bigoted. This generation is to the point that you can’t even refer to someone as “white” or “black” or “Asian” or “Indian” and so forth. That is not politically correct. You must refer to them as a “person of color” in order to ensure that they are not offended or retreat to a “safe space.”
The University of New Hampshire has gone as far as publishing a list of words that are no longer acceptable to use. We can’t say “poor” we have to say “preferred.” “Obese” is now “person of size.” No one is a "failure" they have simply "deferred success." What use to be "ugly" is now "visually challenged." We are so worried about using a phrase that is politically incorrect, that we will further insult them by using language that most won’t understand in the first place. You’re not changing the context of what you say, only the way you say it.
God forbid you cause them to retreat to a “safe space.” Since this generation is so set on not offending anyone, I will rephrase that. I shouldn’t have said the word “God” because it is offensive to people who don’t believe in God. What I meant to say was “my current conception of a higher deity which in no way shall infringe on your conception of a higher deity, or lack thereof" forbid you cause them to retreat to a "safe space."
Toward the end of the video, Triumph was able to use the politically correct terminology these students were so consciously using and turn it completely against them! No matter how much you try and monitor what you say or do, someone is always going to get offended. Even the things someone may say or do to you! If we don’t realize what we are doing to one another, we are in for a world of hurt. It is time for millennials to grow up and get over themselves. We are subconsciously allowing what other people are doing to define us. Even the “ultra” PC stuff. Stop! This is madness. Don’t immediately seek refuge to a “safe space.” Stop whining about what someone said or did to you. Look them in the eye. Tell them that what they say or do isn’t going to define who you are or change the person you want to be. Stand up and face the reality that there are people who don’t like you. They are going to say things and do things that are wrong. Show some strength, and defend yourself! Quit trying to please everyone, and say what is on your mind. Call it what it is. We need to quit acting like coddled kids and be grown-ass adults.
Let our confidence show without being narcissistic. Be tolerant but not to the point where ignorance allows hate in. This generation has so much more to offer, not just this country, but the rest of the world!
