I have seen so many videos and postings, on Facebook and other social media outputs, about how America is going soft because everyone is so afraid of saying the wrong thing and offending someone. It is my belief that everyone, even when they are lying, or, speaking through dislike, speaks a bit of truth. Lately, I have been thinking of these things. In some instances, I agree, that we are creating a softer generation, but in other ways, I believe that it is necessary to create this generation. Especially with the way the world has started changing.

I believe that we should not only be focusing on turning the next generation into both competitors and sympathizers. I believe that by giving trophies out to every person who competes in a tournament, then you take away the motivation of winning. I believe that we have to stop coddling people who compete in sports or any other venue, but we need to change the language we use in everyday situations as well as during sports.

There is a huge misunderstanding between people who are trying to ask people to stop using the words that they see as offensive and the people who claim the people are starting to become too easily offended.

While working during my winter vacation, I took a step back from everything I knew, and let myself really think about words. During my work, I came across the word disability many times. Before my time with the job I currently hold and the friends I had made during my time at Castleton, I never really would have thought about how the what the word really means.

disability |ˌdisəˈbilədē| noun (plural disabilities) a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. • a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law: he had to quit his job and go on disability. -New Oxford American Dictionary.

To me this definition says that people who suffer from any of the conditions listed in it, are broken and different. I have been a volunteer for the Special Olympics, I have friends who cannot walk or run, and yet to me, they show more strength and more resilience than anyone else I know who is able bodied. I am differently abled when it comes to education. With both anxiety and ADHD, it is hard for me to be able to focus on classes and homework, but even I am overcoming the issues and obstacles I face. To call anyone of these people broken, is so far from the truth.

So to people who say that people need to stop being offended by the words people say, I argue that it isn't us that need to stop being offended by what people say. Instead I believe it is you who should try to put yourself into the shoes of that person. Look at them and try to see that they aren't broken. They are conquering. Maybe then you'll understand why a word can be offensive even when it may not be meant to. Maybe then you'll understand why people are asking for words to not be used in conversations again.