Political correctness is a hot topic right now. It is at the heart of many political debates, and the recently elected President Trump is an opponent of it. But what really is political correctness, and where did it come from?
The phenomenon we now call political correctness (or PC) started to appear in American society during the late 1990's. It was formed with the ideas and principles of fairness, sensibility, and open-mindedness. Things that are arguably pretty damn positive.
At its most basic element, political correctness functions as a neutral reference that strives to avoid the marginalization of certain groups.
Most people can agree this is a sensible goal; to abstain from marginalizing people. Though, admittedly it can be taken too far.
Take for example, the University of New Hampshire, when they published a language guide, at the aim of becoming a more politically correct campus; it was labeled, "Bias-Free Language Guide." The guide for the most part, has some very valid points. Offering good solutions to problems like prejudice against those that have mental hindrances. A problem I, for one, can relate to. Being that, I am so ADHD, I have actually been distracted, when talking to someone, by a passing butterfly; just like the ditsy blonde you always see in low-budgeted films.
Though, there are instances, when I did not agree with everything in this guide. It makes the claim that statements like, “The new international student is having language challenges,” invalidates someone based on false assumptions. It suggest that instead one should say, "The new international student is concentrating on learning a new language."
First off: WHAT?
Second, the only way the first statement can be based on false assumptions is if the person making the statement is straight up lying. Which I'm assuming they are not.
These two statements describe two different things. One describes a student who is having hard time learning a language, while the other describes someone who is trying hard to learn a language. Someone can have a hard time learning a language, while at the same time trying really hard to learn said language.
If you feel saying "An international student is having language difficulties," marginalizes international students then don't refer to the particular student, in question, as an international student. Refer to them as "he/she", or if you don't want to be gender specific, then hell, say "they."
Though, in most instances, the call for political correctness is justified, there is also opposition to political correctness that doesn't make sense to me. Take President Trump's comments during a speech of his campaign, for example, "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
Are you inherently going to call everyone who was offended by Trump's obviously highly offensive comments a "whiner." Crying like a spoiled privileged baby, because you don't want to be told anything about offending people, makes you a "whiner?" Are you really going to call someone a "whiner," for being offended when you label them as something they are not?
And just because some Mexican-Americans are okay with Trumps statements, either just because they are too stupid to realize they are getting insulted, or just don't because they do not care, doesn't mean those that are not okay with being insulted are "whiners!" It means they have a backbone; and they won't stand for Trump labeling them as a lie.
You might say Trump wasn't talking about all Mexicans, and guess what? You're right! He's wasn't calling all Mexicans rapist and criminals. He's wasn't calling Mexicans anything! BECAUSE Mexicans live in freaking Mexico! Trump was referring to the people Mexico "sends" over here, to the US. I'm not even going to address the fact that, Trump implied Mexico exiles people to the US. Instead, I'm going to address how Donald Trump blatantly referred to Mexican immigrants as rapist and criminals; an action that is unjustifiable.
And if you think marginalizing rhetoric, like the garbage Trump is splatting out of his mouth, doesn't actually have consequences, THINK AGAIN!
When you put all ALL Mexican immigrants, in America, in the same classification as rapist and criminals, you are going to inspire hate crimes like this!
Back in 2015, two men assaulted a homeless man, in Boston. Urinating on the man; before beating him. All while invoking the name of Trump.
So don't call people, taking a stance against a serious issue, "PC police." You call them brave. A hell of a lot braver than those who just sit back and demand that things not change. When change is obviously needed.
Also, I must address the confusion that comes with political correctness. Recently, it seems some have been confusing political correctness with gender-inclusion.
And by "some" I mean Donald Trump. When, during a "victory tour" speech in Louisiana, he insinuates that he was not content with being awarded, "Person of the Year," by Time Magazine. "They want to be politically correct. That’s OK," he stated before asking, "Who'd rather have it the 'Man of the Year?"
Like, are you serious? Is your masculinity so fragile that you are upset by being placed on the same comparative field as women?
We don't even know why Trump feels the need to exclude women from the title of an award they are considered for; he never even told us why he felt that way, just that he did. And this somehow, makes his sexist ideas justifiable?
The icing on the cake is that the crowd actually cheered. Yes! A crowd that was from my home state of Louisiana, cheered an extremely and blatantly sexist statement. I already knew the south was sexiest, but damn that hit hard.
Political correctness can get annoying. There are times when people are offended over things that are in no way actually offensive. I can admit this.
Though we can't just assume ever person who gets offended over a label is a "whiner." They may actually have valid points, as to why they are offended.
