I remember I watched an episode of “South Park” talking about the topic of political correctness. Apparently the kids had a gotten a new principal called “PC principal." (Irony, right?) If anyone would say a slightly offensive joke about women or minorities, then PC principal would come yell at them and correct them. But the way he was portrayed was seen as overly aggressive and hostile.

Now, this episode got controversy from people saying that this episode was portraying people who believe in political correctness as over aggressive people. Some people thought the episode was funny and thought it was kind of true. But I guess the real question in everyone’s mind is: should political correctness be looked at as a good or bad thing in today’s society? If you ask me: I would say both.

Okay, let me just start off with the bad before I get into the good. In this day in age, I do feel as if sometimes people can be politically correct about the wrong things. It’s like when a comedian tells a joke in a standup. I'll admit it, some comedians do come close to being way too offensive, but most comedians that I’ve seen aren’t even that bad. But when people hear it since it’s talking about a certain group of people, they automatically think it's going to be the most offensive thing in the world. So yes, I do feel as though political correctness can be a bad thing because it has made some people so sensitive to every little thing. However, with that being said, I do feel that our society needs political correctness.

Okay, here’s why I think political correctness is a good. Even though I feel as though it has made some people a little too sensitive, I also feel there’s an essential need for it in society. The reason why I say this is because it draws the line to keep a lot of ignorant people from saying some ignorant/racist things to certain minorities. I know someone is getting ready to say “Well there are people who still do it regardless.” Yes, I know. But you have to admit political correctness has set the bar for a lot of people to censor themselves from saying some ignorant crap. Back in the day, there was no bar.

For example, in today’s age, if you are in a supermarket as a black person and an ignorant white person bumps into you and says, “Watch it you dirty coon,” not only would you be outraged and ready to whoop some ass, but other white people would be shocked too because it's a time where that is taboo.

But if you were to look back fifty or sixty years ago, if that same situation occurred, you know what would happen…nothing! Back in that time, a white person could do that and get away with it because one, African Americans were seen as second class citizens, and two, calling a black that was seen as a normal thing. In this age, we would call that a crappy day, but for blacks or other minorities, that was seen as a regular Tuesday. You see where I’m going with this?

Political correctness has served its purpose to keep all those ignorant people in line from saying the wrong stuff to blacks, women, disabled, or homosexuals. It draws that line that says, “Hey! You can’t say that anymore. That’s not cool.” That’s why I think we need it in our society.

I don’t want to go back to a time where someone could call me the n word and I couldn’t do anything about it and it was looked at as “okay.” I’ve heard some people even say, “Well if people are like that, at least you would know which ignorant people to stay away from.” That is true, but I'd rather not go out to a restaurant where people can call me racial slurs free willingly and the other people around me think it’s okay because, guess what? It’s not!

So, for all the people of this generation. Before you say people are too sensitive and believe that political correctness is all bad, do yourself a favor and think about the crap that minorities had to go through fifty years ago. Then ask yourself: Do you want to live in a society like that again? Peace.