Before I rant, I would like to begin by saying that in being, or at least trying to be, politically correct you are attempting to not offend or put down particular groups in society. Unless I’m crazy and political correctness actually means something other than what I have just stated, I can not fathom a reason other than to perpetuate discrimination and inequality in our society as to why any person would oppose it.
Recently however, Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Henninger referred to the upcoming election as “the revolt of the politically incorrect," it’s leaders none other than the Grand Old Party’s own Donald Trump and Ben Carson. I have noticed that as the 2016 presidential election approaches, the overall morale of the divided nation seems to be at risk. GOP candidates have been spewing racist, sexist and yes, even fascist garbage to the masses, and the scariest part is that this disgusting rhetoric is being celebrated. As a person with morals, values, and people in this world that I actually care about, I won’t stand for this outright discrimination.
I believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe in the right to live, and that is being compromised when we allow people like Trump to get away scot-free when they say extremely problematic things. As a people, we need to stand together in solidarity, and speak up for one another across all bounds whether they be ethnic, gender-based, or anything in between, when the freedom and equality that this nation has worked for over generations is threatened.
Political correctness is important, and should not be as controversial as it has shown to be. We have an obligation as people who expect respect, to give respect to all those around us. Political correctness has not gone too far, in fact, as recent events have shown it has not gone far enough. Racism, sexism and many other -ism’s are alive and well in society today, and we need to combat them rather than break down the progress that generations worth of people have started on a project that will one day work to provide every individual on American soil with equal opportunity and treatment.
It is not wrong of us to hold each other at higher standards of decency than we did in the times of tribal genocide, slavery, segregation, Japanese internment and drugging housewives: the times in which Trump claims America was “great”. Political correctness aims to correct privilege, and if you can’t hop on board with that, you need to check yourself- stop complaining about how your coffee cup isn’t exclusive enough and educate yourself on why safe spaces are important for marginalized black students threatened at primarily white universities.
